Paralegals and Legal Assistants salary by state
The U.S. median wage for paralegals and legal assistants is $62,890 a year. District of Columbia pays the most on average. Take-home pay and buying power use Wagevane's calculators.
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. SOC 23-2011.
| State | Median salary | Average salary | Take-home (median) | Buying power |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $47,260 | $52,730 | $38,055 | $42,844 |
| Alaska | $68,700 | $73,440 | $56,618 | $55,314 |
| Arizona | $61,630 | $67,850 | $50,561 | $50,221 |
| Arkansas | $47,420 | $60,110 | $39,015 | $44,877 |
| California | $77,390 | $81,320 | $59,302 | $53,560 |
| Colorado | $78,190 | $80,760 | $60,761 | $58,961 |
| Connecticut | $63,820 | $69,040 | $51,193 | $49,410 |
| Delaware | $63,110 | $69,860 | $49,811 | $49,907 |
| District of Columbia | $89,750 | $95,400 | $67,309 | $61,245 |
| Florida | $61,000 | $63,250 | $51,194 | $49,503 |
| Georgia | $62,400 | $71,210 | $49,953 | $51,876 |
| Hawaii | $62,840 | $65,400 | $49,386 | $44,916 |
| Idaho | $49,690 | $54,640 | $40,581 | $42,495 |
| Illinois | $63,670 | $72,310 | $50,332 | $50,353 |
| Indiana | $57,030 | $61,830 | $46,351 | $49,664 |
| Iowa | $54,550 | $58,780 | $44,590 | $50,808 |
| Kansas | $55,000 | $57,680 | $44,103 | $48,967 |
| Kentucky | $59,830 | $59,240 | $48,277 | $53,546 |
| Louisiana | $60,250 | $59,360 | $49,170 | $55,743 |
| Maine | $62,420 | $64,260 | $48,991 | $50,480 |
| Maryland | $65,640 | $73,060 | $52,167 | $49,703 |
| Massachusetts | $77,640 | $81,160 | $59,431 | $56,195 |
| Michigan | $62,170 | $67,240 | $49,742 | $51,698 |
| Minnesota | $75,570 | $73,960 | $58,046 | $58,857 |
| Mississippi | $46,180 | $49,500 | $38,170 | $43,898 |
| Missouri | $61,410 | $64,380 | $49,574 | $54,587 |
| Montana | $57,290 | $58,930 | $46,277 | $48,895 |
| Nebraska | $63,250 | $63,480 | $51,003 | $56,605 |
| Nevada | $64,680 | $66,350 | $54,150 | $54,162 |
| New Hampshire | $62,040 | $66,940 | $52,029 | $49,949 |
| New Jersey | $71,500 | $72,550 | $56,045 | $51,510 |
| New Mexico | $59,840 | $61,530 | $48,615 | $52,721 |
| New York | $68,410 | $76,890 | $53,533 | $49,603 |
| North Carolina | $57,500 | $60,770 | $46,596 | $49,399 |
| North Dakota | $59,430 | $58,880 | $49,932 | $56,129 |
| Ohio | $60,420 | $64,180 | $49,848 | $53,731 |
| Oklahoma | $53,170 | $55,510 | $43,055 | $49,014 |
| Oregon | $61,490 | $69,830 | $46,606 | $45,091 |
| Pennsylvania | $63,370 | $68,510 | $51,064 | $52,334 |
| Rhode Island | $56,250 | $58,630 | $45,266 | $44,257 |
| South Carolina | $53,880 | $55,790 | $44,413 | $47,374 |
| South Dakota | $58,320 | $62,260 | $49,040 | $55,359 |
| Tennessee | $58,820 | $60,790 | $49,442 | $53,817 |
| Texas | $62,310 | $65,480 | $52,246 | $53,830 |
| Utah | $63,220 | $67,810 | $50,545 | $51,126 |
| Vermont | $67,160 | $69,020 | $54,031 | $55,157 |
| Virginia | $63,990 | $70,740 | $50,731 | $50,177 |
| Washington | $79,400 | $83,740 | $63,586 | $59,419 |
| West Virginia | $59,000 | $63,590 | $47,763 | $53,368 |
| Wisconsin | $58,500 | $61,270 | $47,392 | $50,366 |
| Wyoming | $49,490 | $52,540 | $41,945 | $45,253 |