Paralegals and Legal Assistants Salary

BLS May 2025 median wages — with computed take-home after taxes for all 51 reporting states. Tax year 2026.

Quick answer

According to payandtaxes.com's analysis of BLS May 2025 data, the median paralegals and legal assistants in the US earns $62,890 per year (392,880 employed). Gross pay is highest in Washington DC ($89,750) and lowest in Mississippi ($46,180) — but what you keep depends on the state's taxes; see the table.

Paralegals and Legal Assistants pay by stategross median vs take-home

State	Median wage	After taxes	Monthly net	Kept	Employed
Paralegals and Legal Assistants in Washington DC	$89,750	$67,309	$5,609	75%	6,400
Paralegals and Legal Assistants in Washington	$79,400	$64,688	$5,391	81.5%	9,460
Paralegals and Legal Assistants in Colorado	$78,190	$61,105	$5,092	78.1%	5,620
Paralegals and Legal Assistants in Massachusetts	$77,640	$59,788	$4,982	77%	7,800
Paralegals and Legal Assistants in California	$77,390	$60,295	$5,025	77.9%	47,130
Paralegals and Legal Assistants in Minnesota	$75,570	$58,378	$4,865	77.3%	7,400
Paralegals and Legal Assistants in New Jersey	$71,500	$56,726	$4,727	79.3%	12,010
Paralegals and Legal Assistants in Alaska	$68,700	$57,161	$4,763	83.2%	570
Paralegals and Legal Assistants in New York	$68,410	$53,859	$4,488	78.7%	34,220
Paralegals and Legal Assistants in Vermont	$67,160	$54,105	$4,509	80.6%	660
Paralegals and Legal Assistants in Maryland	$65,640	$52,167	$4,347	79.5%	6,460
Paralegals and Legal Assistants in Nevada	$64,680	$54,150	$4,513	83.7%	3,620
Paralegals and Legal Assistants in Virginia	$63,990	$50,731	$4,228	79.3%	10,250
Paralegals and Legal Assistants in Connecticut	$63,820	$51,512	$4,293	80.7%	5,210
Paralegals and Legal Assistants in Illinois	$63,670	$50,332	$4,194	79.1%	14,130
Paralegals and Legal Assistants in Pennsylvania	$63,370	$51,152	$4,263	80.7%	14,670
Paralegals and Legal Assistants in Nebraska	$63,250	$51,003	$4,250	80.6%	1,630
Paralegals and Legal Assistants in Utah	$63,220	$50,132	$4,178	79.3%	3,250
Paralegals and Legal Assistants in Delaware	$63,110	$50,063	$4,172	79.3%	2,480
Paralegals and Legal Assistants in Hawaii	$62,840	$49,426	$4,119	78.7%	1,170
Paralegals and Legal Assistants in Maine	$62,420	$49,303	$4,109	79%	1,210
Paralegals and Legal Assistants in Georgia	$62,400	$49,703	$4,142	79.7%	14,160
Paralegals and Legal Assistants in Texas	$62,310	$52,246	$4,354	83.8%	29,540
Paralegals and Legal Assistants in Michigan	$62,170	$49,742	$4,145	80%	7,730
Paralegals and Legal Assistants in New Hampshire	$62,040	$52,029	$4,336	83.9%	1,430
Paralegals and Legal Assistants in Arizona	$61,630	$50,368	$4,197	81.7%	7,890
Paralegals and Legal Assistants in Oregon	$61,490	$47,036	$3,920	76.5%	4,870
Paralegals and Legal Assistants in Missouri	$61,410	$49,574	$4,131	80.7%	7,130
Paralegals and Legal Assistants in Florida	$61,000	$51,194	$4,266	83.9%	40,950
Paralegals and Legal Assistants in Ohio	$60,420	$49,848	$4,154	82.5%	9,270
Paralegals and Legal Assistants in Louisiana	$60,250	$49,170	$4,097	81.6%	4,890
Paralegals and Legal Assistants in New Mexico	$59,840	$48,615	$4,051	81.2%	1,740
Paralegals and Legal Assistants in Kentucky	$59,830	$48,277	$4,023	80.7%	3,540
Paralegals and Legal Assistants in North Dakota	$59,430	$49,932	$4,161	84%	730
Paralegals and Legal Assistants in West Virginia	$59,000	$47,666	$3,972	80.8%	1,660
Paralegals and Legal Assistants in Tennessee	$58,820	$49,442	$4,120	84.1%	6,080
Paralegals and Legal Assistants in Wisconsin	$58,500	$47,392	$3,949	81%	4,780
Paralegals and Legal Assistants in South Dakota	$58,320	$49,040	$4,087	84.1%	600
Paralegals and Legal Assistants in North Carolina	$57,500	$46,596	$3,883	81%	13,650
Paralegals and Legal Assistants in Montana	$57,290	$46,277	$3,856	80.8%	1,010
Paralegals and Legal Assistants in Indiana	$57,030	$46,351	$3,863	81.3%	5,910
Paralegals and Legal Assistants in Rhode Island	$56,250	$45,884	$3,824	81.6%	2,070
Paralegals and Legal Assistants in Kansas	$55,000	$44,103	$3,675	80.2%	2,210
Paralegals and Legal Assistants in Iowa	$54,550	$44,590	$3,716	81.7%	2,980
Paralegals and Legal Assistants in South Carolina	$53,880	$43,397	$3,616	80.5%	7,420
Paralegals and Legal Assistants in Oklahoma	$53,170	$43,055	$3,588	81%	3,110
Paralegals and Legal Assistants in Idaho	$49,690	$40,581	$3,382	81.7%	2,030
Paralegals and Legal Assistants in Wyoming	$49,490	$41,945	$3,495	84.8%	600
Paralegals and Legal Assistants in Arkansas	$47,420	$38,645	$3,220	81.5%	1,610
Paralegals and Legal Assistants in Alabama	$47,260	$38,055	$3,171	80.5%	5,700
Paralegals and Legal Assistants in Mississippi	$46,180	$38,170	$3,181	82.7%	2,270

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