Salary Outlook
The BLS reports that the median annual wage for paralegals was $46,730 in 2011. The best-paid 10 percent in the field made $75,400, while the bottom 10 percent made approximately $29,390. The highest-paid in the profession work in the metropolitan areas of San Francisco, San Jose, Calif., and Washington, D.C.
| Job Salary | Year |
|---|---|
| 2002 | $39,630.00 |
| 2004 | $43,830.00 |
| 2006 | $48,700.00 |
| 2008 | $51,270.00 |
| 2010 | $49,640.00 |
Average Paralegal Pay vs. All Social Services Jobs
Paralegals sometimes have overlapping duties with lawyers but they make far less, on average. In 2011, the highest-paid in the profession still made approximately $38,000 less than the median-paid lawyer. Paralegals make an average salary that's comparable with the take-home pay of social workers, and slightly higher than the average salary of a maintenance worker.
| Job Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Lawyer | $113,310.00 |
| Patrol Officer | $54,230.00 |
| Paralegal | $46,730.00 |
| Child & Family Social Worker | $40,680.00 |
| Maintenance & Repair Worker | $35,030.00 |
See Complete List of Best Social Services Jobs
Best Paying Cities for Paralegals
The highest paid in the paralegal profession work in the metropolitan areas of San Francisco, CA, San Jose, CA, and Washington, DC. The Flint, MI area also pays well, as does the city of Napa, CA.
San Francisco, CA
Average Salary: $70,410 | See Job Openings
The annual median wage of a paralegal working in San Francisco, CA is $70,410, which is $23,680 more than the average pay in the profession.
San Jose, CA
Average Salary: $69,000 | See Job Openings
The annual median wage of a paralegal working in San Jose, CA is $69,000, which is $22,270 more than the average pay in the profession.
Washington, DC
Average Salary: $64,830 | See Job Openings
The annual median wage of a paralegal working in Washington, DC is $64,830, which is $18,100 more than the average pay in the profession.
Flint, MI
Average Salary: $64,830 | See Job Openings
The annual median wage of a paralegal working in Flint, MI is $64,830, which is $18,100 more than the average pay in the profession.
Napa, CA
Average Salary: $63,450 | See Job Openings
The annual median wage of a paralegal working in Napa, CA is $63,450, which is $16,720 more than the average pay in the profession.
