Paralegal
Salary, job outlook, education and requirements
Assist lawyers by investigating facts, preparing legal documents, or researching legal precedent. Conduct research to support a legal proceeding, to formulate a defense, or to initiate legal action.
Also called: Immigration Paralegal · Law Associate · Legal Analyst · Legal Assistant · Legal Clerk · Legal Processing Assistant · Litigation Paralegal · Paralegal
O*NET-SOC 23-2011.00 (Paralegals and Legal Assistants)
Paralegal salary
Wages for paralegals and legal assistants across all employers, 2025 data. The 10th percentile is typical entry-level pay; the 90th percentile reflects the most experienced and highest-paid workers.
National median hourly wage: $30.24.
Paralegal pay by state
Ten largest states by population, annual wages.
| State | 10th percentile | Median | 90th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $50,460 | $77,390 | $119,580 |
| Texas | $39,190 | $62,310 | $98,440 |
| Florida | $38,830 | $61,000 | $83,410 |
| New York | $48,330 | $68,410 | $115,720 |
| Pennsylvania | $45,710 | $63,370 | $96,080 |
| Illinois | $46,860 | $63,670 | $104,580 |
| Ohio | $41,720 | $60,420 | $94,660 |
| Georgia | $39,530 | $62,400 | $101,210 |
| North Carolina | $38,570 | $57,500 | $84,410 |
| Michigan | $46,590 | $62,170 | $96,610 |
Paralegal job outlook
- Employment is projected to go from 404,900 jobs in 2025 to 403,800 in 2035 (-0% change).
- About 40,800 openings are projected each year, including jobs that open up as workers retire or change occupations.
- CareerOneStop outlook rating: Below Average.
How to become a paralegal
- Typical entry education
- Associate's degree
- Work experience
- No work experience
- On-the-job training
- No on-the-job training
Education level of current workers
- Less than high school diploma1.3%
- High school diploma or equivalent11.1%
- Some college, no degree20.3%
- Associate's degree17.4%
- Bachelor's degree38.7%
- Master's degree7.6%
- Doctoral or professional degree3.5%
Related training programs
- Legal Assistant/Paralegal
- Legal Studies
What does a paralegal do?
Common tasks
- Prepare affidavits or other documents, such as legal correspondence, and organize and maintain documents in paper or electronic filing system.
- Prepare, edit, or review legal documents, including legislation, briefs, pleadings, appeals, wills, contracts, and real estate closing statements.
- Investigate facts and law of cases and search pertinent sources, such as public records and internet sources, to determine causes of action and to prepare cases.
- Prepare for trial by performing tasks such as organizing exhibits.
- Meet with clients and other professionals to discuss details of cases.
- File pleadings with court clerks.
- Gather and analyze research data, such as statutes, decisions, and legal articles, codes, and documents.
- Direct and coordinate law office activity, including delivery of subpoenas.
- Arbitrate disputes between parties and assist in the real estate closing process, such as by reviewing title searches.
- Call upon witnesses to testify at hearings.
Most important skills
- Writing
- Writing things for co-workers or customers.
- Active Listening
- Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
- Reading Comprehension
- Reading work-related information.
- Speaking
- Talking to others.
- Critical Thinking
- Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
- Monitoring
- Keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements.
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Thinking about the pros and cons of different options and picking the best one.
- Service Orientation
- Looking for ways to help people.
Paralegal certifications
The certifications CareerOneStop maps to this occupation. Requirements vary by employer and state.
- National Federation of Paralegal Associations · Core
- National Court Reporters Association · Specialty
- National Association of Legal Assistants, Inc. · Advanced
- National Association for Legal Support Professionals · Advanced
- National Federation of Paralegal Associations · Core
- Association of Certified E-Discovery Specialists · Specialty
- Certified Paralegal (CP)National Association of Legal Assistants, Inc. · Core
Paralegal jobs
Current federal openings from USAJOBS. For more attorneys & legal jobs, including private-sector listings, see the Attorneys & Legal jobs hub.
Job data from USAJOBS.gov. Careers.org is not affiliated with or endorsed by OPM.
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More attorneys & legal careers
This page includes information from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (DOLETA), and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED).
Source: CareerOneStop occupation profile for Paralegals and Legal Assistants. Wages are from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program; projections are national long-term projections.