Legal45% remote-eligible+3.8% YoY growth

Paralegal Salary
by City (2026)

Assist attorneys with legal research, document preparation, and case management. National median: $56K/year. See how your city compares.

National median

$56K

Top 10% earn

$95K

Entry level

$42K

Salary growth

+3.8%/yr

Paralegal salary by city

Sorted by median salary

City	Entry	Median	Senior	COL	Tax
San Francisco, CA	$65K	$87K	$115K	224	9.3%
San Jose, CA	$62K	$83K	$110K	210	9.3%
Washington, DC	$61K	$81K	$107K	152	8.5%
Oakland, CA	$60K	$80K	$105K	185	9.3%
New York City, NY	$60K	$80K	$106K	187	6.85%
Cambridge, MA	$60K	$80K	$105K	185	5%
Jersey City, NJ	$60K	$80K	$105K	162	10.75%
Pearl City, HI	$60K	$80K	$105K	185	11%
Bellevue, WA	$58K	$77K	$102K	175	None ✓
Los Angeles, CA	$57K	$76K	$100K	163	9.3%
Irvine, CA	$57K	$76K	$101K	172	9.3%
Arlington, VA	$57K	$76K	$100K	148	5.75%
Newark, NJ	$57K	$76K	$100K	155	10.75%
Yonkers, NY	$56K	$74K	$98K	165	6.85%
Bethesda, MD	$56K	$74K	$98K	165	5.75%
Kirkland, WA	$55K	$73K	$97K	162	None ✓
Boston, MA	$55K	$73K	$96K	162	5%
San Diego, CA	$54K	$72K	$95K	148	9.3%
Stamford, CT	$54K	$72K	$95K	158	6.99%
Hilo, HI	$54K	$71K	$94K	155	11%
Long Beach, CA	$53K	$70K	$93K	155	9.3%
Santa Ana, CA	$53K	$70K	$93K	150	9.3%
Seattle, WA	$53K	$70K	$93K	150	None ✓
Anaheim, CA	$52K	$69K	$92K	148	9.3%
Alexandria, VA	$51K	$69K	$91K	145	5.75%
Rockville, MD	$52K	$69K	$92K	148	5.75%
Elizabeth, NJ	$51K	$69K	$91K	145	10.75%
Sacramento, CA	$50K	$67K	$89K	128	9.3%
Chula Vista, CA	$50K	$67K	$88K	138	9.3%
Paterson, NJ	$50K	$67K	$89K	140	10.75%
Edison, NJ	$50K	$67K	$88K	138	10.75%
Fairbanks, AK	$50K	$67K	$88K	138	None ✓
Chicago, IL	$50K	$66K	$87K	107	4.95%
Philadelphia, PA	$48K	$64K	$85K	110	3.07%
Portland, OR	$48K	$64K	$85K	130	9.9%
Baltimore, MD	$48K	$64K	$85K	115	5.75%
Honolulu, HI	$48K	$64K	$85K	192	11%
Miami, FL	$47K	$63K	$83K	123	None ✓
Scottsdale, AZ	$47K	$63K	$83K	118	2.5%
Denver, CO	$47K	$63K	$83K	118	4.55%
Worcester, MA	$47K	$63K	$83K	120	5%
Hartford, CT	$47K	$63K	$83K	118	6.99%
Dallas, TX	$46K	$62K	$81K	96	None ✓
Tacoma, WA	$46K	$62K	$81K	128	None ✓
New Haven, CT	$47K	$62K	$82K	122	6.99%
Nashua, NH	$46K	$62K	$81K	120	None ✓
Anchorage, AK	$46K	$62K	$81K	128	None ✓
Frisco, TX	$46K	$61K	$81K	118	None ✓
Riverside, CA	$46K	$61K	$81K	118	9.3%
Naperville, IL	$46K	$61K	$81K	118	4.95%
Vancouver, WA	$46K	$61K	$81K	118	None ✓
Lowell, MA	$46K	$61K	$81K	118	5%
Gresham, OR	$46K	$61K	$81K	118	9.9%
Bridgeport, CT	$46K	$61K	$81K	118	6.99%
Manchester, NH	$46K	$61K	$81K	118	None ✓
Burlington, VT	$46K	$61K	$81K	118	6.6%
Providence, RI	$46K	$61K	$81K	118	5.99%
Austin, TX	$45K	$60K	$80K	110	None ✓
Plano, TX	$45K	$60K	$80K	105	None ✓
Hialeah, FL	$45K	$60K	$80K	115	None ✓
Fort Lauderdale, FL	$45K	$60K	$80K	118	None ✓
Hollywood, FL	$45K	$60K	$80K	115	None ✓
Lakewood, CO	$45K	$60K	$80K	115	4.55%
Atlanta, GA	$45K	$60K	$80K	99	5.75%
Ann Arbor, MI	$45K	$60K	$80K	115	4.25%
Minneapolis, MN	$45K	$60K	$80K	106	6.8%
Frederick, MD	$45K	$60K	$80K	115	5.75%
Portland, ME	$45K	$60K	$80K	115	7.15%
Concord, NH	$45K	$60K	$80K	115	None ✓
Warwick, RI	$45K	$60K	$80K	115	5.99%
Houston, TX	$44K	$59K	$78K	91	None ✓
Irving, TX	$44K	$59K	$78K	97	None ✓
McKinney, TX	$44K	$59K	$78K	108	None ✓
Pembroke Pines, FL	$45K	$59K	$79K	112	None ✓
Aurora, CO	$45K	$59K	$78K	112	4.55%
Fort Collins, CO	$45K	$59K	$79K	112	4.55%
Charlotte, NC	$44K	$59K	$78K	100	4.75%
Raleigh, NC	$44K	$59K	$78K	102	4.75%
Durham, NC	$44K	$59K	$78K	100	4.75%
Cary, NC	$45K	$59K	$79K	112	4.75%
St. Paul, MN	$44K	$59K	$78K	104	6.8%
Eugene, OR	$44K	$59K	$78K	110	9.9%
Salt Lake City, UT	$44K	$59K	$78K	105	4.85%
Round Rock, TX	$44K	$58K	$77K	108	None ✓
Stockton, CA	$43K	$58K	$76K	105	9.3%
Gilbert, AZ	$44K	$58K	$77K	108	2.5%
Tempe, AZ	$44K	$58K	$77K	108	2.5%
Thornton, CO	$44K	$58K	$77K	108	4.55%
Springfield, MA	$43K	$58K	$76K	105	5%
Salem, OR	$43K	$58K	$76K	105	9.9%
Henderson, NV	$43K	$58K	$76K	105	None ✓
Boise, ID	$44K	$58K	$77K	108	5.8%
Meridian, ID	$43K	$58K	$76K	105	5.8%
Wilmington, DE	$44K	$58K	$77K	108	6.6%
Fort Worth, TX	$43K	$57K	$75K	93	None ✓
Carrollton, TX	$43K	$57K	$75K	102	None ✓
Tampa, FL	$43K	$57K	$75K	102	None ✓
Phoenix, AZ	$43K	$57K	$75K	100	2.5%
Chandler, AZ	$43K	$57K	$75K	105	2.5%
Nashville, TN	$43K	$57K	$75K	102	None ✓
Missoula, MT	$43K	$57K	$75K	102	6.75%
Arlington, TX	$42K	$56K	$74K	94	None ✓
Garland, TX	$42K	$56K	$74K	91	None ✓
Denton, TX	$42K	$56K	$74K	100	None ✓
San Bernardino, CA	$42K	$56K	$74K	100	9.3%
Albany, NY	$42K	$56K	$73K	98	6.85%
Orlando, FL	$42K	$56K	$74K	100	None ✓
Port St. Lucie, FL	$42K	$56K	$73K	98	None ✓
Cape Coral, FL	$42K	$56K	$74K	100	None ✓
Peoria, AZ	$42K	$56K	$74K	100	2.5%
Chesapeake, VA	$42K	$56K	$73K	98	5.75%
Richmond, VA	$42K	$56K	$74K	98	5.75%
Pittsburgh, PA	$42K	$56K	$74K	90	3.07%
Rochester, MN	$42K	$56K	$74K	100	6.8%
Las Vegas, NV	$42K	$56K	$74K	102	None ✓
Reno, NV	$42K	$56K	$74K	108	None ✓
North Las Vegas, NV	$42K	$56K	$73K	98	None ✓
West Valley City, UT	$42K	$56K	$73K	98	4.85%
Provo, UT	$42K	$56K	$74K	100	4.85%
West Jordan, UT	$42K	$56K	$74K	100	4.85%
Orem, UT	$42K	$56K	$73K	98	4.85%
Overland Park, KS	$42K	$56K	$74K	100	5.7%
Nampa, ID	$42K	$56K	$73K	98	5.8%
Billings, MT	$42K	$56K	$73K	98	6.75%
Lewiston, ME	$42K	$56K	$73K	98	7.15%
Dover, DE	$42K	$56K	$74K	100	6.6%
Bakersfield, CA	$41K	$55K	$72K	95	9.3%
St. Petersburg, FL	$41K	$55K	$73K	105	None ✓
Aurora, IL	$41K	$55K	$72K	95	4.95%
Mesa, AZ	$41K	$55K	$73K	98	2.5%
Glendale, AZ	$41K	$55K	$72K	95	2.5%
Virginia Beach, VA	$41K	$55K	$73K	98	5.75%
Norfolk, VA	$41K	$55K	$72K	95	5.75%
Newport News, VA	$41K	$55K	$72K	95	5.75%
Columbus, OH	$41K	$55K	$73K	90	3.99%
Allentown, PA	$41K	$55K	$72K	95	3.07%
Madison, WI	$41K	$55K	$73K	102	5.3%
Charleston, SC	$41K	$55K	$73K	105	6.5%
North Charleston, SC	$41K	$55K	$72K	95	6.5%
Midland, TX	$40K	$54K	$71K	92	None ✓
Colorado Springs, CO	$40K	$54K	$71K	102	4.55%
Athens, GA	$40K	$54K	$71K	92	5.75%
Cincinnati, OH	$40K	$54K	$71K	88	3.99%
Kansas City, MO	$40K	$54K	$71K	90	5.3%
St. Louis, MO	$40K	$54K	$71K	86	5.3%
Duluth, MN	$40K	$54K	$71K	92	6.8%
Greenville, SC	$40K	$54K	$71K	92	6.5%
Cheyenne, WY	$40K	$54K	$71K	92	None ✓
San Antonio, TX	$40K	$53K	$70K	87	None ✓
Grand Prairie, TX	$40K	$53K	$70K	90	None ✓
Pasadena, TX	$40K	$53K	$70K	88	None ✓
Mesquite, TX	$40K	$53K	$70K	88	None ✓
Fresno, CA	$40K	$53K	$70K	102	9.3%
Buffalo, NY	$40K	$53K	$70K	88	6.85%
Rochester, NY	$40K	$53K	$70K	90	6.85%
Syracuse, NY	$40K	$53K	$70K	88	6.85%
Jacksonville, FL	$40K	$53K	$70K	93	None ✓
Tallahassee, FL	$40K	$53K	$70K	90	None ✓
Gainesville, FL	$40K	$53K	$70K	88	None ✓
Joliet, IL	$40K	$53K	$70K	90	4.95%
Greensboro, NC	$40K	$53K	$70K	88	4.75%
Chattanooga, TN	$40K	$53K	$70K	88	None ✓
Detroit, MI	$40K	$53K	$70K	82	4.25%
Sterling Heights, MI	$40K	$53K	$70K	90	4.25%
Indianapolis, IN	$40K	$53K	$70K	88	3.23%
Milwaukee, WI	$40K	$53K	$70K	90	5.3%
Green Bay, WI	$40K	$53K	$70K	88	5.3%
Kenosha, WI	$40K	$53K	$70K	90	5.3%
Lexington, KY	$40K	$53K	$70K	88	5%
Huntsville, AL	$40K	$53K	$70K	88	5%
Great Falls, MT	$40K	$53K	$70K	88	6.75%
Casper, WY	$40K	$53K	$70K	88	None ✓
Fargo, ND	$40K	$53K	$70K	90	2.5%
Bismarck, ND	$40K	$53K	$70K	88	2.5%
Sioux Falls, SD	$40K	$53K	$70K	88	None ✓
Rapid City, SD	$40K	$53K	$70K	88	None ✓
Beaumont, TX	$39K	$52K	$69K	85	None ✓
Odessa, TX	$39K	$52K	$69K	85	None ✓
Tyler, TX	$39K	$52K	$69K	85	None ✓
Winston-Salem, NC	$39K	$52K	$69K	85	4.75%
Cleveland, OH	$39K	$52K	$68K	82	3.99%
Warren, MI	$39K	$52K	$69K	85	4.25%
Lansing, MI	$39K	$52K	$69K	85	4.25%
Independence, MO	$39K	$52K	$69K	85	5.3%
Louisville, KY	$39K	$52K	$68K	85	5%
New Orleans, LA	$39K	$52K	$68K	92	6%
Lafayette, LA	$39K	$52K	$69K	85	6%
Des Moines, IA	$39K	$52K	$68K	88	4.82%
Cedar Rapids, IA	$39K	$52K	$69K	85	4.82%
Kansas City, KS	$39K	$52K	$69K	85	5.7%
Lincoln, NE	$39K	$52K	$69K	85	5.84%
Rio Rancho, NM	$39K	$52K	$69K	85	5.9%
Fayetteville, AR	$39K	$52K	$69K	85	4.9%
Amarillo, TX	$38K	$51K	$68K	82	None ✓
Killeen, TX	$38K	$51K	$67K	80	None ✓
Waco, TX	$38K	$51K	$68K	82	None ✓
Rockford, IL	$38K	$51K	$67K	80	4.95%
Pueblo, CO	$38K	$51K	$68K	82	4.55%
Columbus, GA	$38K	$51K	$68K	82	5.75%
Augusta, GA	$38K	$51K	$68K	82	5.75%
Macon, GA	$38K	$51K	$67K	80	5.75%
Fayetteville, NC	$38K	$51K	$68K	82	4.75%
Clarksville, TN	$38K	$51K	$68K	82	None ✓
Akron, OH	$38K	$51K	$67K	80	3.99%
Dayton, OH	$38K	$51K	$67K	80	3.99%
Erie, PA	$38K	$51K	$67K	80	3.07%
Springfield, MO	$38K	$51K	$67K	80	5.3%
Fort Wayne, IN	$38K	$51K	$67K	80	3.23%
South Bend, IN	$38K	$51K	$68K	82	3.23%
Bowling Green, KY	$38K	$51K	$67K	80	5%
Montgomery, AL	$38K	$51K	$67K	80	5%
Mobile, AL	$38K	$51K	$68K	82	5%
Norman, OK	$38K	$51K	$67K	80	4.75%
Broken Arrow, OK	$38K	$51K	$68K	82	4.75%
Davenport, IA	$38K	$51K	$68K	82	4.82%
Las Cruces, NM	$38K	$51K	$67K	80	5.9%
Gulfport, MS	$38K	$51K	$67K	80	5%
Abilene, TX	$38K	$50K	$66K	78	None ✓
Spokane, WA	$38K	$50K	$67K	95	None ✓
Toledo, OH	$38K	$50K	$66K	78	3.99%
Grand Rapids, MI	$38K	$50K	$67K	90	4.25%
Evansville, IN	$38K	$50K	$66K	78	3.23%
Birmingham, AL	$38K	$50K	$67K	82	5%
Shreveport, LA	$38K	$50K	$66K	78	6%
Omaha, NE	$38K	$50K	$67K	88	5.84%
Jackson, MS	$38K	$50K	$66K	78	5%
Charleston, WV	$38K	$50K	$66K	78	6.5%
Corpus Christi, TX	$37K	$49K	$65K	84	None ✓
Brownsville, TX	$37K	$49K	$65K	75	None ✓
Tucson, AZ	$37K	$49K	$65K	90	2.5%
Savannah, GA	$37K	$49K	$65K	92	5.75%
Memphis, TN	$37K	$49K	$65K	82	None ✓
Knoxville, TN	$37K	$49K	$65K	85	None ✓
Columbia, SC	$37K	$49K	$65K	88	6.5%
Oklahoma City, OK	$37K	$49K	$65K	82	4.75%
Baton Rouge, LA	$37K	$49K	$65K	88	6%
Albuquerque, NM	$37K	$49K	$65K	88	5.9%
Fort Smith, AR	$37K	$49K	$65K	75	4.9%
Huntington, WV	$37K	$49K	$65K	75	6.5%
El Paso, TX	$36K	$48K	$63K	82	None ✓
Tulsa, OK	$36K	$48K	$64K	80	4.75%
Wichita, KS	$36K	$48K	$63K	82	5.7%
Little Rock, AR	$36K	$48K	$63K	82	4.9%
Lubbock, TX	$34K	$46K	$61K	78	None ✓
Laredo, TX	$33K	$44K	$58K	76	None ✓

COL-adjusted: where does your salary go furthest?

A $56K Paralegal salary in Houston (COL 91, no tax) has significantly more purchasing power than the same salary in San Francisco (COL 224, 9.3% state tax). Use our calculator to see the real numbers.

Try COL Calculator →

Paralegal Salary Guide (2026)

The national median salary for a Paralegal is $56,000 per year. Entry-level positions typically start at $42,000, while experienced professionals in the top 25% earn $74,000 or more. The highest-paid 10% of Paralegals nationally earn $95,000+.

Education and requirements

Associate's or Bachelor's in Paralegal Studies; CP certification. This role is 45% remote-eligible nationally, which significantly expands the geographic job market for workers in lower cost-of-living cities.

Salary growth outlook

Paralegal compensation is growing at 3.8% annually, above the national average wage growth rate.

Paralegal salary FAQ

How much does a Paralegal make?

The median Paralegal salary in the US is $56,000 per year — about $27/hour. Most earn between $42,000 (25th percentile) and $74,000 (75th percentile).

What is the starting salary for a Paralegal?

Entry-level Paralegal positions typically start around $42,000 per year. Pay rises with experience, specialization, and location.

How much do the highest-paid Paralegals earn?

The top 10% of Paralegals earn $95,000 or more per year — usually senior, lead, or specialized professionals in high-cost or high-demand markets.

Which city pays Paralegals the most?

San Francisco has the highest median Paralegal salary at $87K among the cities we track. But high-cost metros like San Francisco and New York often have lower real purchasing power once cost of living and taxes are factored in.

Are Paralegal salaries going up?

Yes — Paralegal pay is growing about 3.8% year over year, above the US average wage-growth rate.

Paralegal Salaryby City (2026)