How much does a paralegal make? Paralegal salary and hourly pay
A paralegal in the US earns a median of $62,890 a year, about $30.24 an hour. The lowest-paid 10% earn under $44,740 and the top 10% earn over $101,500. Pay depends heavily on the state: the top-paying state, District of Columbia, has a median of $89,750.
Paralegal pay calculator
Gross pay before taxes. If you enter your own hourly rate, it replaces the BLS figure. Otherwise hourly rate = BLS annual figure ÷ 2,080 hours (40 hours × 52 weeks), the same convention BLS uses.
How much does a paralegal make an hour?
The median paralegal earns $30.24 an hour. Hourly pay ranges from about $21.51 for the lowest-paid 10% to $48.80 for the highest-paid 10%.
| Pay level | Per year | Per hour |
|---|---|---|
| Entry level (bottom 10%) | $44,740 | $21.51 |
| Lower 25% | $50,340 | $24.20 |
| Median (typical) | $62,890 | $30.24 |
| Upper 25% | $80,080 | $38.50 |
| Top 10% | $101,500 | $48.80 |
Paralegal salary by state
Median annual pay for paralegals in every state, from BLS May 2025 data.
| State | Median per year | ≈ Per hour |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $47,260 | $22.72 |
| Alaska | $68,700 | $33.03 |
| Arizona | $61,630 | $29.63 |
| Arkansas | $47,420 | $22.80 |
| California | $77,390 | $37.21 |
| Colorado | $78,190 | $37.59 |
| Connecticut | $63,820 | $30.68 |
| Delaware | $63,110 | $30.34 |
| District of Columbia | $89,750 | $43.15 |
| Florida | $61,000 | $29.33 |
| Georgia | $62,400 | $30.00 |
| Hawaii | $62,840 | $30.21 |
| Idaho | $49,690 | $23.89 |
| Illinois | $63,670 | $30.61 |
| Indiana | $57,030 | $27.42 |
| Iowa | $54,550 | $26.23 |
| Kansas | $55,000 | $26.44 |
| Kentucky | $59,830 | $28.76 |
| Louisiana | $60,250 | $28.97 |
| Maine | $62,420 | $30.01 |
| Maryland | $65,640 | $31.56 |
| Massachusetts | $77,640 | $37.33 |
| Michigan | $62,170 | $29.89 |
| Minnesota | $75,570 | $36.33 |
| Mississippi | $46,180 | $22.20 |
| Missouri | $61,410 | $29.52 |
| Montana | $57,290 | $27.54 |
| Nebraska | $63,250 | $30.41 |
| Nevada | $64,680 | $31.10 |
| New Hampshire | $62,040 | $29.83 |
| New Jersey | $71,500 | $34.38 |
| New Mexico | $59,840 | $28.77 |
| New York | $68,410 | $32.89 |
| North Carolina | $57,500 | $27.64 |
| North Dakota | $59,430 | $28.57 |
| Ohio | $60,420 | $29.05 |
| Oklahoma | $53,170 | $25.56 |
| Oregon | $61,490 | $29.56 |
| Pennsylvania | $63,370 | $30.47 |
| Rhode Island | $56,250 | $27.04 |
| South Carolina | $53,880 | $25.90 |
| South Dakota | $58,320 | $28.04 |
| Tennessee | $58,820 | $28.28 |
| Texas | $62,310 | $29.96 |
| Utah | $63,220 | $30.39 |
| Vermont | $67,160 | $32.29 |
| Virginia | $63,990 | $30.76 |
| Washington | $79,400 | $38.17 |
| West Virginia | $59,000 | $28.37 |
| Wisconsin | $58,500 | $28.12 |
| Wyoming | $49,490 | $23.79 |
Highest-paying states for paralegals
- District of Columbia: $89,750 median
- Washington: $79,400 median
- Colorado: $78,190 median
- Massachusetts: $77,640 median
- California: $77,390 median
The lowest medians are in Mississippi ($46,180), Alabama ($47,260), Arkansas ($47,420), Wyoming ($49,490), Idaho ($49,690). The most paralegal jobs are in California (47,130 jobs), Florida (40,950 jobs), New York (34,220 jobs), Texas (29,540 jobs), Pennsylvania (14,670 jobs).
How much does a paralegal make a month?
At the median salary of $62,890, a paralegal earns about $5,241 a month, $2,419 every two weeks or $1,209 a week, before taxes.
Entry-level vs. experienced paralegal pay
New paralegals typically start near the bottom of the range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $44,740 a year and the lowest 25% under $50,340. The top 25% earn over $80,080 and the top 10% over $101,500. BLS does not break pay down by years of experience; these percentiles are the closest official measure.
Paralegal salary vs. similar jobs
| Job | Median per year |
|---|---|
| Paralegal | $62,890 |
| Pilot | $232,140 |
| Police officer | $76,210 |
| Firefighter | $59,280 |
| Real estate agent | $52,830 |
| Flight attendant | $63,580 |
| Air traffic controller | $148,080 |
Common questions
How much does a paralegal make?
The US median is $62,890 a year ($30.24 an hour), based on BLS May 2025 data.
How much does a paralegal make an hour?
The median is about $30.24 an hour. The bottom 10% earn about $21.51 and the top 10% about $48.80 an hour.
Which state pays paralegals the most?
District of Columbia has the highest median at $89,750, followed by Washington ($79,400) and Colorado ($78,190).
How much does a paralegal make a month?
At the US median of $62,890 a year, about $5,241 a month or $2,419 every two weeks, before taxes.
How much does an entry-level paralegal make?
The lowest-paid 10% earn under $44,740 a year and the lowest 25% under $50,340, the closest official measure of starting pay.
How much do the top 10% of paralegals make?
The top 10% earn over $101,500 a year; the top 25% earn over $80,080.
How much does a paralegal make in California, Texas, Florida and New York?
Median annual pay is $77,390 in California, $62,310 in Texas, $61,000 in Florida, $68,410 in New York, per BLS May 2025 data.
Last reviewed October 31, 2026. All figures are from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 survey (occupation code 23-2011, “Paralegals and Legal Assistants”), the most recent official release; “median” means half earn more and half earn less. Figures are gross pay before taxes and benefits. See the BLS OEWS tables and the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. This page is general information, not career or financial advice.