Paralegal Salaries & Salary Outlook

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Are you interested in working in the judicial system, but don’t have the grades, time or money for a full on law degree? Maybe a career as a paralegal is right for you. Paralegals are in demand in both the government and the private sector. Learn more about paralegal salaries, and start working towards your paralegal degree today.

The employment outlook for paralegals is better than for many other types of jobs with an expected growth rate of 22 percent between 2006 and 2016, but expect competition for these high-paying, interesting positions. The minimum education is a paralegal degree (certificate or associate’s degree in paralegal studies). However, many paralegals have a Bachelor’s degree and specialized paralegal training.

Location: The Best Place to be a Paralegal–Stockton, California?

Yes, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) for 2008, the metropolitan area that pays the most for paralegals is Stockton, California, where the annual mean wage is $65,890–a pretty attractive number for graduates of paralegal degree programs. So, how does that compare with salaries elsewhere? Currently there are approximately 250,000 paralegals working in the United States. The mean annual wage for all paralegals is $48,790, or $23.46 an hour.

Not surprisingly, states with large populations have relatively high numbers of paralegals, but not all offer the same level of compensation. For example, the states with the largest number of paralegals are, in descending order: New York, California, Florida, Texas and Pennsylvania. Only New York and California paralegals earn above the national mean annual salary, those in Texas are just about at mean, while Florida and Pennsylvania paralegals earn less than the mean.

Paralegal Salaries by Industry

If you are thinking of a career as a paralegal, chances are likely that you will work for a law firm; approximately 70 percent of all paralegals do. Yet, it pays, literally, to think beyond law firms and consider the possibility of working for a business in information services, software publishing, instrument manufacturing, or telecommunications, as these industries all pay well above the national mean, ranging from $65,890 (Stockton) to $59,580 (Washinghton D.C. metro). Keep these alternative careers in mind when earning your paralegal degree; an extra class or two to help you better understand the industry could be what gets you the job.

The Real Influence of Technology on Paralegal Salaries

As might be expected, the metropolitan areas with dense concentrations of high technology companies are where the best paying jobs are to be had. Stockton, California leads the way followed by the San Francisco Bay area and environs all the way south to San Jose, the New York area including White Plains, and Washington D.C.

In summary, the prospect for paralegals is good in all states, and especially in metropolitan areas with a large base of high tech firms. The key to landing a good paying paralegal position is relevant education, including a paralegal degree.

Lorraine Watkins
Lorraine Watkins is a business writer and a regular contributor to business and education websites. She is a graduate of California State University, East Bay with an MA in English.

Paralegals and Legal Assistants • 0000-00-00 • http://www.bls.gov • http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes232011.htm • Bureau of Labor Statistics

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