376 metro areas

Paralegal Salary by City (2026)

Paralegals earn the most in San Jose, CA, an average of $103,080 a year, against $69,700 nationally. After local prices, pay goes furthest in San Jose, CA ($93,350 in national-average dollars). Every metro area with its own BLS estimate is ranked below.

US average (mean): $69,700BLS OEWS, May 2025
Highest-paying city: $103,080San Jose, CA
Best after cost of living: $93,350San Jose, CA
Metro areas: 376With their own estimate

Top cities

Highest-paying cities for paralegals

Mean annual wage

Top 10 metro areas

San Jose, CA$103,080
San Francisco, CA$92,830
Seattle, WA$92,230
Washington, DC-VA-MD-WV$87,900
Denver, CO$85,240
Boston, MA-NH$84,570
Sacramento, CA$81,560
New York, NY-NJ$80,270
Santa Maria, CA$79,830
Los Angeles, CA$79,560

Top 10 metro areas by mean wage for paralegals
Item	Value
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	$103,080
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA	$92,830
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA	$92,230
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV	$87,900
Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO	$85,240
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH	$84,570
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA	$81,560
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ	$80,270
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA	$79,830
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	$79,560

Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025

At national-average prices

Mean wage ÷ BEA price level

San Jose, CA$103,080 nominal$93,350
Parkersburg, WV$73,110 nominal$83,970
Seattle, WA$92,230 nominal$82,990
Washington, DC-VA-MD-WV$87,900 nominal$80,730
Denver, CO$85,240 nominal$80,580
San Francisco, CA$92,830 nominal$80,290
Boston, MA-NH$84,570 nominal$78,110
Carson City, NV$75,380 nominal$76,820
Atlanta, GA$76,560 nominal$76,520
Sacramento, CA$81,560 nominal$76,460

Top 10 metro areas by price-adjusted mean wage for paralegals
Item	Value
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	$93,350
Parkersburg-Vienna, WV	$83,970
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA	$82,990
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV	$80,730
Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO	$80,580
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA	$80,290
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH	$78,110
Carson City, NV	$76,820
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA	$76,520
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA	$76,460

Source: BLS OEWS 2025 · BEA RPP 2024

Every city

Paralegal salary in every metro area

Mean annual wage, with the Department of Labor's entry (Level I) and experienced (Level IV) prevailing-wage benchmarks for the same metro, and the mean at national-average prices. Sorted by mean pay.

Paralegal pay in every metro area with a BLS estimate
#	Metro area	Mean	Entry (Level I)	Experienced (Level IV)	At US prices
1	San Jose, CA	$103,080	$67,370	$120,660	$93,350
2	San Francisco, CA	$92,830	$63,980	$107,040	$80,290
3	Seattle, WA	$92,230	$65,230	$105,520	$82,990
4	Washington, DC-VA-MD-WV	$87,900	$59,550	$101,860	$80,730
5	Denver, CO	$85,240	$62,630	$96,390	$80,580
6	Boston, MA-NH	$84,570	$57,350	$97,990	$78,110
7	Sacramento, CA	$81,560	$56,990	$93,660	$76,460
8	New York, NY-NJ	$80,270	$54,480	$92,960	$71,310
9	Santa Maria, CA	$79,830	$60,990	$89,130	$73,370
10	Los Angeles, CA	$79,560	$53,680	$92,310	$70,060
11	San Diego, CA	$78,850	$52,440	$91,870	$70,470
12	Santa Rosa, CA	$77,830	$54,290	$89,420	$72,210
13	Vallejo, CA	$77,730	$54,540	$89,150	$71,650
14	Napa, CA	$77,230	$56,800	$87,300	$68,620
15	Atlanta, GA	$76,560	$46,530	$91,350	$76,520
16	Minneapolis, MN-WI	$76,230	$52,310	$88,000	$72,720
17	Trenton, NJ	$75,980	$53,060	$87,280	$73,640
18	Colorado Springs, CO	$75,900	$55,520	$85,920	$75,370
19	Carson City, NV	$75,380	$51,000	$87,380	$76,820
20	Fairbanks, AK	$74,980	$59,720	$82,490	$72,650
21	Chicago, IL-IN	$74,920	$52,580	$85,920	$72,320
22	Wenatchee, WA	$74,730	$55,270	$84,340	$71,960
23	Oxnard, CA	$74,280	$51,750	$85,360	$67,200
24	Salinas, CA	$74,050	$52,640	$84,590	$67,910
25	Portland, OR-WA	$73,570	$52,920	$83,740	$69,790
26	Parkersburg, WV	$73,110	$41,950	$88,460	$83,970
27	Stockton, CA	$72,780	$54,250	$81,910	$69,260
28	San Luis Obispo, CA	$72,760	$54,700	$81,660	$67,000
29	Boulder, CO	$72,450	$53,890	$81,580	$68,870
30	Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD	$72,400	$52,000	$82,450	$70,600
31	Anchorage, AK	$71,840	$55,660	$79,830	$68,150
32	Bremerton, WA	$71,720	$52,600	$81,140	$67,910
33	Salt Lake City, UT	$71,610	$48,380	$83,030	$70,990
34	Hartford, CT	$71,590	$48,880	$82,780	$69,680
35	Lexington Park, MD	$71,590	$46,880	$83,760	$71,050
36	Santa Cruz, CA	$71,410	$53,910	$80,040	$64,980
37	Baltimore, MD	$71,010	$50,650	$81,040	$67,960
38	Austin, TX	$70,870	$45,220	$83,510	$72,270
39	El Centro, CA	$70,800	$46,900	$82,580	$74,390
40	Hanford, CA	$70,720	$46,030	$82,890	$69,600
41	Detroit, MI	$70,320	$52,060	$79,330	$70,110
42	Worcester, MA	$70,240	$47,400	$81,470	$68,510
43	Phoenix, AZ	$70,030	$47,610	$81,080	$67,780
44	Iowa City, IA	$69,760	$50,540	$79,250	$76,230
45	Waterbury, CT	$69,760	$48,260	$80,370	$69,920
46	Burlington, VT	$69,740	$54,480	$77,250	$69,080
47	Hagerstown, MD-WV	$69,580	$44,700	$81,850	$73,890
48	Bakersfield, CA	$69,330	$49,210	$79,250	$68,720
49	Houston, TX	$69,240	$45,360	$81,020	$70,200
50	Olympia, WA	$69,100	$53,830	$76,610	$66,650
51	Portland, ME	$69,100	$58,010	$74,570	$67,840
52	Bridgeport, CT	$68,910	$50,690	$77,880	$64,480
53	Barnstable Town, MA	$68,830	$46,740	$79,730	$69,980
54	Kansas City, MO-KS	$68,680	$47,960	$78,870	$74,210
55	Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN	$68,640	$49,710	$77,980	$71,970
56	Jackson, MI	$68,640	$47,110	$79,230	$74,790
57	Dallas, TX	$68,520	$43,890	$80,640	$66,470
58	Las Vegas, NV	$68,390	$50,670	$77,130	$68,240
59	Greeley, CO	$68,180	$51,230	$76,540	$68,060
60	Fort Collins, CO	$68,100	$54,450	$74,840	$67,340
61	Grand Rapids, MI	$68,100	$46,160	$78,890	$71,270
62	Pittsburgh, PA	$67,930	$47,340	$78,080	$71,750
63	Richmond, VA	$67,930	$49,730	$76,920	$69,420
64	Grand Junction, CO	$67,910	$56,310	$73,650	$71,130
65	Midland, TX	$67,790	$42,990	$80,000	$70,770
66	Yuba City, CA	$67,660	$48,190	$77,250	$64,910
67	Kahului, HI	$67,580	$52,750	$74,900	$61,780
68	Columbus, OH	$67,370	$50,810	$75,550	$70,570
69	Fresno, CA	$67,310	$48,010	$76,810	$65,890
70	Riverside, CA	$66,910	$50,770	$74,860	$62,860
71	Kingston, NY	$66,620	$48,150	$75,730	$66,150
72	Springfield, MA	$66,620	$44,740	$77,420	$69,350
73	Bend, OR	$66,540	$50,130	$74,610	$64,220
74	Yakima, WA	$66,460	$50,500	$74,320	$69,560
75	Naples, FL	$66,370	$44,660	$77,080	$64,310
76	Indianapolis, IN	$66,330	$44,240	$77,210	$69,310
77	Urban Honolulu, HI	$66,330	$50,190	$74,280	$59,780
78	New Haven, CT	$66,290	$42,870	$77,810	$63,400
79	Manchester, NH	$66,270	$47,990	$75,280	$62,720
80	Santa Fe, NM	$66,250	$53,560	$72,510	$67,080
81	Bellingham, WA	$66,210	$47,990	$75,190	$64,070
82	Charlotte, NC-SC	$66,210	$45,340	$76,480	$68,010
83	Miami, FL	$66,120	$45,550	$76,250	$57,920
84	Pittsfield, MA	$66,120	$44,390	$76,840	$69,520
85	Peoria, IL	$66,080	$45,090	$76,420	$72,430
86	Ann Arbor, MI	$65,870	$46,180	$75,590	$65,300
87	Omaha, NE-IA	$65,830	$46,920	$75,150	$71,620
88	Allentown, PA-NJ	$65,420	$47,880	$74,030	$65,440
89	Kiryas Joel, NY	$65,400	$48,150	$73,900	$59,770
90	Syracuse, NY	$65,330	$48,670	$73,530	$68,240
91	Kennewick, WA	$65,290	$46,760	$74,420	$65,240
92	Lebanon, PA	$65,290	$46,470	$74,570	$70,040
93	Visalia, CA	$65,230	$48,780	$73,320	$65,340
94	Nashville, TN	$65,150	$46,510	$74,300	$67,630
95	Rochester, MN	$65,040	$47,050	$73,900	$71,610
96	Jacksonville, FL	$64,940	$46,030	$74,240	$65,280
97	Morgantown, WV	$64,750	$36,070	$78,870	$69,380
98	St. Louis, MO-IL	$64,730	$44,990	$74,440	$68,070
99	Lancaster, PA	$64,670	$48,570	$72,590	$65,820
100	St. Cloud, MN	$64,670	$45,510	$74,110	$73,800
101	Walla Walla, WA	$64,650	$45,970	$73,860	$65,620
102	Salem, OR	$64,580	$51,400	$71,070	$62,310
103	Ogden, UT	$64,540	$43,700	$74,800	$64,320
104	Redding, CA	$64,460	$47,110	$73,030	$64,020
105	Milwaukee, WI	$64,380	$45,860	$73,490	$66,410
106	New Orleans, LA	$64,380	$45,030	$73,900	$69,530
107	Sioux Falls, SD-MN	$64,380	$52,190	$70,370	$71,040
108	Crestview, FL	$64,290	$46,880	$72,880	$66,260
109	Amherst Town, MA	$64,150	$38,960	$76,560	$63,990
110	Modesto, CA	$64,150	$48,820	$71,700	$61,620
111	Mankato, MN	$64,110	$46,680	$72,680	$70,490
112	Bloomington, IL	$63,670	$46,630	$72,050	$68,070
113	Little Rock, AR	$63,670	$41,750	$74,480	$71,250
114	Cleveland, OH	$63,590	$44,390	$73,030	$67,700
115	Ithaca, NY	$63,560	$47,920	$71,280	$61,520
116	Reading, PA	$63,500	$47,220	$71,510	$65,420
117	Lexington, KY	$63,360	$44,990	$72,400	$68,210
118	Akron, OH	$63,320	$45,390	$72,130	$67,820
119	Toledo, OH	$63,190	$41,700	$73,780	$69,090
120	Madison, WI	$63,110	$46,610	$71,220	$64,870
121	Lansing, MI	$63,090	$45,930	$71,550	$66,420
122	North Port, FL	$63,070	$46,360	$71,300	$61,580
123	Raleigh, NC	$63,070	$44,010	$72,450	$64,250
124	Albany, NY	$62,940	$48,320	$70,140	$63,210
125	Harrisburg, PA	$62,920	$48,320	$70,120	$63,780
126	Atlantic City, NJ	$62,690	$45,610	$71,090	$63,410
127	Tampa, FL	$62,650	$44,120	$71,780	$62,100
128	Billings, MT	$62,550	$48,130	$69,660	$66,880
129	Salisbury, MD	$62,550	$44,510	$71,430	$65,420
130	Dayton, OH	$62,520	$43,370	$71,970	$67,450
131	Springfield, IL	$62,480	$44,970	$71,140	$67,370
132	Merced, CA	$62,440	$44,550	$71,240	$63,540
133	Charlottesville, VA	$62,360	$46,950	$69,950	$62,900
134	Lincoln, NE	$62,340	$45,720	$70,530	$68,070
135	Las Cruces, NM	$62,300	$51,560	$67,580	$69,060
136	Mount Vernon, WA	$62,300	$47,130	$69,760	$60,810
137	Des Moines, IA	$62,280	$42,740	$71,910	$67,920
138	Glens Falls, NY	$62,210	$48,780	$68,830	$65,580
139	Fort Wayne, IN	$62,150	$45,010	$70,600	$67,140
140	Medford, OR	$62,070	$46,470	$69,760	$61,190
141	Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN	$62,050	$43,870	$71,010	$66,670
142	Spokane, WA	$62,050	$48,780	$68,560	$61,840
143	Cape Coral, FL	$61,920	$44,990	$70,260	$60,500
144	Helena, MT	$61,920	$48,460	$68,540	$64,720
145	Wildwood, FL	$61,860	$41,060	$72,090	$72,420
146	Decatur, IL	$61,840	$45,470	$69,890	$69,940
147	Rockford, IL	$61,800	$44,050	$70,530	$67,060
148	Durham, NC	$61,690	$47,470	$68,680	$63,230
149	Great Falls, MT	$61,690	$44,680	$70,080	$63,700
150	Grants Pass, OR	$61,570	$45,340	$69,560	$62,980
151	Chico, CA	$61,530	$45,590	$69,390	$60,800
152	Yuma, AZ	$61,530	$43,660	$70,320	$66,370
153	Winchester, VA-WV	$61,420	$43,910	$70,050	$63,680
154	Champaign, IL	$61,400	$44,680	$69,640	$66,230
155	Eugene, OR	$61,260	$46,260	$68,660	$60,310
156	Charleston, WV	$61,210	$37,170	$73,050	$68,990
157	Johnstown, PA	$60,940	$41,750	$70,410	$70,920
158	Dover, DE	$60,920	$45,430	$68,540	$62,480
159	Savannah, GA	$60,860	$43,910	$69,220	$63,920
160	State College, PA	$60,820	$45,220	$68,490	$62,860
161	Memphis, TN-MS-AR	$60,690	$44,350	$68,740	$65,840
162	Virginia Beach, VA-NC	$60,610	$46,970	$67,310	$61,880
163	Corvallis, OR	$60,570	$43,720	$68,890	$58,230
164	Duluth, MN-WI	$60,570	$43,890	$68,790	$68,230
165	Norwich, CT	$60,570	$48,880	$66,330	$60,300
166	York, PA	$60,530	$44,140	$68,600	$63,050
167	Bozeman, MT	$60,510	$48,730	$66,290	$59,030
168	Bismarck, ND	$60,360	$47,880	$66,520	$66,310
169	Asheville, NC	$60,300	$46,990	$66,850	$62,480
170	Albuquerque, NM	$60,240	$42,640	$68,890	$63,050
171	Amarillo, TX	$60,240	$40,560	$69,910	$65,610
172	Binghamton, NY	$60,130	$47,490	$66,350	$64,750
173	Orlando, FL	$60,050	$42,410	$68,720	$59,210
174	Buffalo, NY	$59,950	$45,780	$66,910	$62,550
175	Roanoke, VA	$59,920	$45,300	$67,120	$64,000
176	Kokomo, IN	$59,880	$43,450	$67,970	$66,790
177	Bangor, ME	$59,860	$47,530	$65,940	$62,030
178	Oshkosh, WI	$59,680	$44,800	$67,020	$64,220
179	Erie, PA	$59,650	$42,620	$68,060	$65,590
180	Tucson, AZ	$59,650	$42,200	$68,240	$61,560
181	Providence, RI-MA	$59,630	$42,180	$68,240	$58,590
182	Flagstaff, AZ	$59,590	$45,450	$66,560	$59,400
183	Albany, OR	$59,470	$46,160	$66,020	$58,250
184	Utica, NY	$59,470	$45,760	$66,230	$64,170
185	Palm Bay, FL	$59,450	$42,830	$67,620	$59,450
186	Odessa, TX	$59,400	$42,760	$67,620	$63,260
187	San Antonio, TX	$59,380	$41,080	$68,410	$62,690
188	Vineland, NJ	$59,360	$46,900	$65,500	$61,850
189	Pueblo, CO	$59,340	$43,330	$67,230	$64,670
190	Traverse City, MI	$59,340	$44,760	$66,520	$63,550
191	Watertown, NY	$59,280	$43,430	$67,100	$67,600
192	Farmington, NM	$59,220	$43,740	$66,830	$67,520
193	Rochester, NY	$59,220	$43,060	$67,200	$61,030
194	Sebastian, FL	$59,110	$42,600	$67,230	$60,130
195	Bay City, MI	$59,070	$41,230	$67,850	$64,260
196	Deltona, FL	$59,030	$42,970	$66,930	$59,410
197	Elmira, NY	$58,950	$43,040	$66,790	$62,450
198	Augusta, GA-SC	$58,910	$43,260	$66,600	$64,100
199	Port St. Lucie, FL	$58,780	$40,620	$67,720	$58,650
200	Greensboro, NC	$58,740	$42,180	$66,890	$63,250
201	Springfield, MO	$58,720	$42,040	$66,930	$66,290
202	Blacksburg, VA	$58,640	$44,220	$65,730	$63,250
203	Huntington, WV-KY-OH	$58,640	$36,340	$69,600	$66,320
204	Baton Rouge, LA	$58,610	$44,930	$65,350	$64,560
205	Fargo, ND-MN	$58,610	$42,870	$66,370	$64,500
206	Ocala, FL	$58,610	$41,180	$67,200	$61,540
207	Charleston, SC	$58,570	$43,120	$66,190	$58,010
208	Chattanooga, TN-GA	$58,570	$41,930	$66,790	$64,040
209	Elizabethtown, KY	$58,570	$40,600	$67,410	$64,670
210	Kenosha, WI	$58,550	$44,760	$65,330	$57,900
211	Killeen, TX	$58,470	$42,870	$66,160	$64,160
212	Wheeling, WV-OH	$58,410	$36,360	$69,280	$66,130
213	Bloomington, IN	$58,390	$42,020	$66,460	$61,410
214	Rapid City, SD	$58,390	$48,300	$63,360	$65,490
215	Harrisonburg, VA	$58,300	$45,260	$64,710	$61,440
216	Davenport, IA-IL	$58,240	$42,580	$65,960	$65,380
217	Reno, NV	$58,240	$42,970	$65,750	$57,660
218	Lewiston, ME	$58,160	$47,960	$63,170	$61,390
219	Scranton, PA	$58,140	$42,330	$65,920	$62,140
220	Flint, MI	$58,070	$44,950	$64,520	$62,420
221	St. George, UT	$57,890	$42,580	$65,420	$59,480
222	Prescott Valley, AZ	$57,870	$44,120	$64,650	$58,900
223	Fayetteville, AR	$57,800	$40,210	$66,480	$63,270
224	Green Bay, WI	$57,800	$43,800	$64,690	$62,090
225	College Station, TX	$57,740	$38,920	$67,020	$63,480
226	Columbus, IN	$57,700	$42,850	$65,000	$62,040
227	Waco, TX	$57,700	$42,740	$65,080	$62,340
228	Paducah, KY-IL	$57,640	$40,140	$66,270	$66,960
229	Columbia, MO	$57,600	$42,390	$65,080	$64,400
230	Dubuque, IA	$57,530	$42,080	$65,170	$65,880
231	Bowling Green, KY	$57,510	$43,760	$64,270	$63,770
232	Clarksville, TN-KY	$57,490	$43,350	$64,440	$63,210
233	Fayetteville, NC	$57,490	$42,430	$64,920	$62,500
234	Logan, UT-ID	$57,470	$39,870	$66,120	$59,910
235	Rome, GA	$57,470	$39,790	$66,160	$63,740
236	Oklahoma City, OK	$57,450	$40,520	$65,790	$63,550
237	Kalamazoo, MI	$57,430	$44,660	$63,710	$60,550
238	Appleton, WI	$57,370	$44,660	$63,650	$62,080
239	Jonesboro, AR	$57,300	$38,540	$66,560	$66,720
240	La Crosse, WI-MN	$57,280	$44,030	$63,790	$62,420
241	Canton, OH	$57,220	$41,500	$64,960	$64,000
242	Sioux City, IA-NE-SD	$57,120	$43,720	$63,710	$66,070
243	Hilton Head Island, SC	$57,080	$44,410	$63,290	$58,230
244	Minot, ND	$57,080	$41,680	$64,650	$65,590
245	Corpus Christi, TX	$56,950	$39,020	$65,790	$61,450
246	Columbia, SC	$56,930	$42,520	$64,020	$60,780
247	El Paso, TX	$56,930	$38,790	$65,850	$63,320
248	Gainesville, GA	$56,930	$42,000	$64,270	$58,830
249	Greenville, SC	$56,910	$43,330	$63,610	$61,020
250	Fort Smith, AR-OK	$56,890	$37,960	$66,210	$66,240
251	Wilmington, NC	$56,850	$41,680	$64,310	$58,960
252	Coeur d'Alene, ID	$56,830	$43,310	$63,480	$57,820
253	Laredo, TX	$56,760	$37,610	$66,190	$65,270
254	Staunton, VA	$56,720	$44,510	$62,710	$62,240
255	Lafayette, IN	$56,600	$42,370	$63,610	$60,580
256	Tallahassee, FL	$56,580	$41,520	$64,000	$60,240
257	Beaumont, TX	$56,560	$37,810	$65,770	$62,810
258	Muncie, IN	$56,560	$41,370	$64,020	$64,160
259	Kingsport, TN-VA	$56,530	$41,750	$63,840	$65,390
260	Evansville, IN	$56,510	$41,970	$63,670	$61,740
261	Alexandria, LA	$56,490	$39,940	$64,650	$65,930
262	Birmingham, AL	$56,490	$36,000	$66,580	$61,640
263	Williamsport, PA	$56,470	$42,950	$63,130	$61,150
264	Cedar Rapids, IA	$56,450	$42,790	$63,170	$63,450
265	Shreveport, LA	$56,450	$40,930	$64,080	$66,600
266	Abilene, TX	$56,430	$38,940	$65,040	$62,450
267	Athens, GA	$56,430	$40,330	$64,360	$60,450
268	Macon, GA	$56,390	$39,850	$64,540	$63,700
269	Racine, WI	$56,310	$42,790	$62,980	$58,680
270	Pensacola, FL	$56,080	$39,150	$64,400	$57,390
271	Slidell, LA	$56,080	$39,790	$64,110	$60,480
272	Brunswick, GA	$56,040	$41,950	$62,960	$63,890
273	Hinesville, GA	$56,040	$38,900	$64,480	$59,660
274	Provo, UT	$55,910	$40,020	$63,730	$56,920
275	Spartanburg, SC	$55,890	$43,240	$62,110	$61,380
276	Lawton, OK	$55,850	$38,360	$64,460	$64,990
277	Lake Havasu City, AZ	$55,830	$42,470	$62,400	$59,330
278	Missoula, MT	$55,830	$47,800	$59,800	$57,890
279	Texarkana, TX-AR	$55,810	$37,070	$65,020	$66,430
280	Knoxville, TN	$55,740	$43,040	$62,000	$60,210
281	Niles, MI	$55,720	$44,260	$61,360	$60,320
282	St. Joseph, MO-KS	$55,700	$42,490	$62,210	$64,480
283	Jackson, TN	$55,620	$41,040	$62,820	$65,040
284	Joplin, MO-KS	$55,600	$35,920	$65,290	$64,860
285	Boise City, ID	$55,520	$36,860	$64,710	$56,430
286	Warner Robins, GA	$55,520	$40,750	$62,770	$59,200
287	Terre Haute, IN	$55,490	$41,870	$62,210	$63,200
288	Janesville, WI	$55,470	$43,910	$61,190	$59,200
289	Lafayette, LA	$55,390	$40,520	$62,730	$63,510
290	Jacksonville, NC	$55,350	$38,560	$63,630	$60,110
291	Sebring, FL	$55,350	$41,250	$62,300	$59,860
292	Lynchburg, VA	$55,330	$42,520	$61,650	$61,920
293	Sandusky, OH	$55,290	$43,010	$61,340	$61,930
294	Ames, IA	$55,270	$42,200	$61,710	$62,220
295	Burlington, NC	$55,270	$41,600	$61,980	$59,310
296	Owensboro, KY	$55,240	$40,830	$62,360	$62,340
297	Winston, NC	$55,240	$39,540	$62,980	$60,020
298	Pinehurst, NC	$55,140	$41,390	$61,920	$62,420
299	Lakeland, FL	$55,100	$41,370	$61,860	$56,720
300	Saginaw, MI	$55,100	$42,060	$61,530	$60,620
301	South Bend, IN-MI	$55,040	$41,230	$61,820	$59,270
302	Sheboygan, WI	$55,020	$44,800	$60,050	$58,520
303	Lewiston, ID-WA	$54,870	$41,950	$61,210	$60,190
304	Punta Gorda, FL	$54,850	$41,390	$61,480	$54,560
305	Eau Claire, WI	$54,810	$43,600	$60,320	$59,070
306	Panama City, FL	$54,700	$39,830	$62,030	$56,220
307	Tyler, TX	$54,580	$38,480	$62,520	$59,230
308	Casper, WY	$54,520	$40,440	$61,440	$58,110
309	Elkhart, IN	$54,410	$44,870	$59,110	$60,240
310	Tulsa, OK	$54,310	$36,650	$63,020	$60,880
311	Mansfield, OH	$54,120	$37,790	$62,150	$60,900
312	Altoona, PA	$53,960	$39,120	$61,260	$60,290
313	Wichita, KS	$53,960	$40,790	$60,440	$60,670
314	Huntsville, AL	$53,910	$35,360	$63,040	$57,920
315	Columbus, GA-AL	$53,850	$37,210	$62,030	$60,310
316	Mobile, AL	$53,770	$36,300	$62,380	$61,030
317	Sherman, TX	$53,770	$35,130	$62,960	$57,340
318	Topeka, KS	$53,620	$39,730	$60,490	$60,370
319	Gainesville, FL	$53,600	$40,750	$59,920	$55,410
320	Michigan City, IN	$53,520	$38,920	$60,690	$58,380
321	Valdosta, GA	$53,310	$42,330	$58,740	$60,390
322	Longview, TX	$53,120	$37,500	$60,840	$59,360
323	Jackson, MS	$53,100	$38,360	$60,380	$59,630
324	Montgomery, AL	$53,040	$35,090	$61,880	$59,140
325	Waterloo, IA	$52,940	$42,600	$58,010	$60,810
326	Lawrence, KS	$52,920	$37,980	$60,260	$58,640
327	Grand Forks, ND-MN	$52,850	$42,740	$57,840	$60,980
328	Fond du Lac, WI	$52,670	$44,350	$56,760	$57,470
329	Cleveland, TN	$52,580	$40,500	$58,530	$59,700
330	Rocky Mount, NC	$52,580	$37,960	$59,780	$59,740
331	Pocatello, ID	$52,560	$39,420	$59,030	$59,120
332	Houma, LA	$52,500	$37,130	$60,070	$61,690
333	Twin Falls, ID	$52,350	$38,730	$59,070	$56,840
334	Albany, GA	$52,330	$39,670	$58,570	$59,690
335	Jefferson City, MO	$52,290	$40,020	$58,340	$59,440
336	Springfield, OH	$52,270	$38,440	$59,070	$57,770
337	Lake Charles, LA	$52,190	$40,140	$58,120	$60,790
338	Idaho Falls, ID	$52,150	$39,560	$58,320	$55,240
339	Muskegon, MI	$52,120	$42,290	$56,970	$56,330
340	Homosassa Springs, FL	$52,080	$37,250	$59,380	$55,720
341	Myrtle Beach, SC	$51,920	$40,850	$57,370	$55,450
342	Manhattan, KS	$51,810	$35,960	$59,630	$57,460
343	Cape Girardeau, MO-IL	$51,630	$41,160	$56,780	$59,980
344	Lima, OH	$51,630	$39,310	$57,700	$57,580
345	Monroe, LA	$51,600	$39,400	$57,620	$61,720
346	Sierra Vista, AZ	$51,600	$41,520	$56,580	$57,820
347	Dalton, GA	$51,420	$36,860	$58,590	$57,230
348	Florence, SC	$51,330	$38,830	$57,510	$59,150
349	Goldsboro, NC	$51,250	$36,460	$58,530	$57,930
350	Hickory, NC	$51,230	$38,560	$57,470	$57,900
351	Wichita Falls, TX	$51,230	$36,210	$58,640	$57,230
352	Florence, AL	$51,080	$35,360	$58,820	$60,220
353	Wausau, WI	$51,080	$42,410	$55,370	$55,130
354	Brownsville, TX	$51,020	$34,200	$59,320	$59,340
355	McAllen, TX	$50,840	$34,050	$59,090	$59,190
356	Sumter, SC	$50,560	$38,810	$56,370	$57,440
357	Johnson City, TN	$50,040	$41,500	$54,270	$56,910
358	Eagle Pass, TX	$49,500	$36,770	$55,790	$59,070
359	Chambersburg, PA	$49,400	$37,070	$55,490	$52,200
360	Morristown, TN	$49,380	$40,600	$53,730	$57,180
361	Dothan, AL	$49,360	$37,790	$55,060	$58,880
362	Greenville, NC	$49,340	$34,920	$56,450	$55,810
363	Youngstown, OH	$49,230	$37,770	$54,870	$56,330
364	Auburn, AL	$49,000	$30,740	$57,990	$55,720
365	Decatur, AL	$48,780	$32,550	$56,760	$55,930
366	Lubbock, TX	$48,760	$32,140	$56,930	$53,400
367	Cheyenne, WY	$48,610	$35,780	$54,910	$50,380
368	Hattiesburg, MS	$48,530	$34,110	$55,620	$55,380
369	Gulfport, MS	$48,010	$36,400	$53,750	$53,340
370	Tuscaloosa, AL	$47,260	$32,990	$54,310	$53,870
371	Daphne, AL	$46,360	$34,360	$52,290	$48,960
372	Beckley, WV	$46,300	$33,320	$52,690	$52,390
373	San Juan, PR	$46,110	$30,870	$53,640	N/A
374	Anniston, AL	$43,580	$30,830	$49,860	$50,700
375	Enid, OK	$43,390	$32,390	$48,800	$51,490
376	Gadsden, AL	$40,910	$29,160	$46,700	$47,760

More on paralegals

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Method

About these numbers

Mean wages are BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2025 estimates for each metropolitan statistical area, as published in the Department of Labor’s 2026–27 OFLC prevailing-wage file. Only metros with their own BLS estimate are listed.
Entry (Level I) and experienced (Level IV) are the Department of Labor’s prevailing-wage levels for the occupation in that metro, used for employer visa filings. They are benchmarks from the same OEWS survey, not percentiles.
OEWS top-codes wages at $115 an hour ($239,200 a year); top-coded means are shown as "$239,200+" and left out of rankings.
At US prices divides the mean by the metro’s BEA Regional Price Parity (2024) over 100, a NueCareer calculation.

Questions

Paralegal salary by city: FAQ

Which city pays paralegals the most?

San Jose, CA, where the average (mean) wage is $103,080 a year, followed by San Francisco, CA ($92,830), Seattle, WA ($92,230), Washington, DC-VA-MD-WV ($87,900). The national mean is $69,700 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Where do paralegals earn the most after cost of living?

Divided by each metro's BEA price level, pay goes furthest in San Jose, CA ($93,350 at national prices, $103,080 nominal), Parkersburg, WV ($83,970 at national prices, $73,110 nominal), Seattle, WA ($82,990 at national prices, $92,230 nominal).

How much do paralegals make in the biggest cities?

New York, NY-NJ: $80,270; Los Angeles, CA: $79,560; Chicago, IL-IN: $74,920; Dallas, TX: $68,520; Houston, TX: $69,240 (mean annual wage, BLS OEWS May 2025).

Where do paralegals earn the least?

Of the 376 metro areas with their own estimate, Gadsden, AL has the lowest mean wage, $40,910. At local prices that is worth $47,760.