Research
What lawyers and paralegals earn, by state and metro
The average lawyer employed in the US earned $185,840 a year in May 2025, and the average paralegal or legal assistant $69,700. Pay ranges from $108,930 for lawyers in Mississippi to $242,800 in District of Columbia. These figures cover employees only, not what a firm’s owners earn.
Key facts
- Lawyers, mean annual pay (US)
- $185,840
- 754,500 employed, May 2025
- Paralegals and legal assistants, mean pay (US)
- $69,700
- 392,880 employed, May 2025
- Highest-paid state or DC for lawyers
- $242,800
- District of Columbia
- Lowest-paid state or DC for lawyers
- $108,930
- Mississippi
- Paralegals per lawyer (US)
- 0.52
- employed, May 2025
- Paralegal pay as a share of lawyer pay (US)
- 38%
- mean pay
Download the US and states (CSV) Metros and all files Free under CC BY 4.0. No email or login.
What does this survey count?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics asks employers each year how many people they employ in each occupation and what they pay them. The survey counts employees on a payroll. It does not count owners, partners or the self-employed, so it says what firms pay staff, not what an owner takes home. The pay is for the month of May.
What did we find?
- 754,500 lawyers and 392,880 paralegals and legal assistants work as employees in the US. That is 0.52 paralegals for every lawyer. A paralegal’s mean pay is 38% of a lawyer’s.
- Lawyers are paid most in District of Columbia, at $242,800, and least in Mississippi, at $108,930. California’s lawyers average $230,040. The top five are District of Columbia ($242,800), California ($230,040), New York ($220,180), Colorado ($206,440), Massachusetts ($205,980).
- Paralegals earn the most relative to local lawyers in West Virginia, where a paralegal’s mean pay is 52% of a lawyer’s, and the least in Nevada, at 32%.
- The paralegal-to-lawyer ratio runs from 0.19 in District of Columbia to 1.13 in Rhode Island. A low ratio means few paralegals employed for each lawyer; it does not say how a firm there is staffed.
- Among the 376 metros read so far, lawyer pay is highest in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA, at $288,980, and lowest in Lawton, OK, at $94,400. The list grows as each month’s pull reads more metros, largest first.
What are lawyers and paralegals paid in each state?
Every state and DC, highest lawyer pay first, for May 2025. “Suppressed” means BLS did not release the figure, and we do not estimate it.
| State | Lawyers employed | Lawyers, mean pay | Lawyers, median pay | Paralegals employed | Paralegals, mean pay | Paralegals per lawyer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 754,500 | $185,840 | $159,670 | 392,880 | $69,700 | 0.52 |
| District of Columbia | 33,070 | $242,800 | $195,190 | 6,400 | $95,400 | 0.19 |
| California | 95,770 | $230,040 | $195,080 | 47,130 | $81,320 | 0.49 |
| New York | 91,870 | $220,180 | $207,860 | 34,220 | $76,890 | 0.37 |
| Colorado | 16,720 | $206,440 | $168,520 | 5,620 | $80,760 | 0.34 |
| Massachusetts | 23,560 | $205,980 | $176,680 | 7,800 | $81,160 | 0.33 |
| Nevada | 6,490 | $205,630 | $150,510 | 3,620 | $66,350 | 0.56 |
| Delaware | 2,920 | $199,970 | $173,510 | 2,480 | $69,860 | 0.85 |
| Georgia | 23,930 | $191,190 | $134,830 | 14,160 | $71,210 | 0.59 |
| Connecticut | 8,420 | $186,170 | $163,600 | 5,210 | $69,040 | 0.62 |
| New Jersey | 23,160 | $184,090 | $161,430 | 12,010 | $72,550 | 0.52 |
| Illinois | 33,590 | $181,240 | $160,800 | 14,130 | $72,310 | 0.42 |
| Texas | 56,580 | $180,370 | $154,200 | 29,540 | $65,480 | 0.52 |
| Vermont | 1,330 | $179,630 | $127,310 | 660 | $69,020 | 0.50 |
| Virginia | 18,580 | $179,240 | $167,210 | 10,250 | $70,740 | 0.55 |
| Indiana | 8,970 | $175,850 | $126,860 | 5,910 | $61,830 | 0.66 |
| Minnesota | 12,380 | $174,300 | $155,140 | 7,400 | $73,960 | 0.60 |
| New Hampshire | 2,250 | $172,990 | $120,810 | 1,430 | $66,940 | 0.64 |
| Wisconsin | 9,160 | $171,200 | $126,760 | 4,780 | $61,270 | 0.52 |
| Washington | 12,770 | $169,940 | $154,130 | 9,460 | $83,740 | 0.74 |
| Utah | 7,020 | $169,480 | $132,830 | 3,250 | $67,810 | 0.46 |
| Pennsylvania | 27,170 | $169,170 | $157,180 | 14,670 | $68,510 | 0.54 |
| Alaska | 1,120 | $167,890 | $149,940 | 570 | $73,440 | 0.51 |
| Tennessee | 9,010 | $163,870 | $136,180 | 6,080 | $60,790 | 0.67 |
| Missouri | 11,560 | $162,820 | $133,450 | 7,130 | $64,380 | 0.62 |
| Florida | 55,210 | $162,060 | $133,180 | 40,950 | $63,250 | 0.74 |
| North Carolina | 17,000 | $160,340 | $127,710 | 13,650 | $60,770 | 0.80 |
| Rhode Island | 1,840 | $159,690 | $138,960 | 2,070 | $58,630 | 1.13 |
| Maryland | 13,810 | $157,370 | $139,110 | 6,460 | $73,060 | 0.47 |
| Arizona | 11,640 | $157,190 | $134,260 | 7,890 | $67,850 | 0.68 |
| Oregon | 7,150 | $156,620 | $138,210 | 4,870 | $69,830 | 0.68 |
| Ohio | 19,950 | $151,140 | $131,020 | 9,270 | $64,180 | 0.46 |
| Michigan | 16,620 | $148,820 | $130,520 | 7,730 | $67,240 | 0.47 |
| Alabama | 6,730 | $146,630 | $131,970 | 5,700 | $52,730 | 0.85 |
| Iowa | 3,550 | $144,760 | $123,550 | 2,980 | $58,780 | 0.84 |
| South Carolina | 7,890 | $144,700 | $120,310 | 7,420 | $55,790 | 0.94 |
| New Mexico | 3,380 | $138,250 | $119,680 | 1,740 | $61,530 | 0.51 |
| Nebraska | 3,490 | $133,490 | $109,170 | 1,630 | $63,480 | 0.47 |
| South Dakota | 1,360 | $132,270 | $102,040 | 600 | $62,260 | 0.44 |
| Arkansas | 3,430 | $131,680 | $98,880 | 1,610 | $60,110 | 0.47 |
| Kansas | 4,190 | $130,530 | $106,650 | 2,210 | $57,680 | 0.53 |
| Maine | 2,280 | $129,600 | $113,120 | 1,210 | $64,260 | 0.53 |
| North Dakota | 1,050 | $128,680 | $106,880 | 730 | $58,880 | 0.70 |
| Louisiana | 10,200 | $127,520 | $104,100 | 4,890 | $59,360 | 0.48 |
| Hawaii | 2,270 | $127,280 | $124,990 | 1,170 | $65,400 | 0.52 |
| Idaho | 2,490 | $125,070 | $103,400 | 2,030 | $54,640 | 0.82 |
| Wyoming | 900 | $125,050 | $100,130 | 600 | $52,540 | 0.67 |
| West Virginia | 2,440 | $123,210 | $102,420 | 1,660 | $63,590 | 0.68 |
| Oklahoma | 6,980 | $122,750 | $103,060 | 3,110 | $55,510 | 0.45 |
| Kentucky | 5,770 | $120,730 | $101,550 | 3,540 | $59,240 | 0.61 |
| Montana | 2,380 | $115,830 | $103,720 | 1,010 | $58,930 | 0.42 |
| Mississippi | 3,100 | $108,930 | $91,690 | 2,270 | $49,500 | 0.73 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, one series per figure (series ids in the data files). Employees only.
What are lawyers and paralegals paid in each metro area?
387 metro areas read so far, those with the most lawyers first. The monthly pull keeps adding metros until all are in.
| Metro area | Lawyers employed | Lawyers, mean pay | Paralegals employed | Paralegals, mean pay | Paralegals per lawyer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 94,610 | $224,840 | 33,850 | $80,260 | 0.36 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 46,840 | $226,780 | 12,990 | $87,900 | 0.28 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 41,580 | $241,500 | 22,240 | $79,550 | 0.53 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 28,320 | $187,420 | 11,590 | $74,920 | 0.41 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 23,270 | $173,960 | 17,820 | $66,130 | 0.77 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 20,080 | $215,680 | 6,300 | $84,580 | 0.31 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 19,040 | $186,600 | 11,150 | $72,410 | 0.59 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 18,760 | $206,950 | 10,290 | $76,560 | 0.55 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 18,470 | $237,060 | 7,630 | $92,830 | 0.41 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 17,110 | $188,640 | 8,320 | $68,520 | 0.49 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 16,810 | $193,390 | 7,320 | $69,250 | 0.44 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 11,860 | $203,690 | 3,740 | $85,240 | 0.32 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 10,160 | $183,110 | 5,990 | $76,230 | 0.59 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 10,110 | $152,950 | 4,550 | $70,330 | 0.45 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 9,210 | $180,920 | 6,310 | $92,230 | 0.69 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 8,820 | $161,240 | 6,280 | $70,030 | 0.71 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | 8,330 | $148,940 | 6,630 | $62,650 | 0.80 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 8,020 | $203,680 | 4,440 | $78,860 | 0.55 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | 7,620 | $187,020 | 2,590 | $81,560 | 0.34 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | 7,540 | $184,630 | 4,390 | $70,870 | 0.58 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | 7,520 | $154,190 | 3,880 | $71,010 | 0.52 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | 6,100 | $167,880 | 4,030 | $64,720 | 0.66 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 6,040 | $288,980 | 2,030 | $103,080 | 0.34 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | 5,890 | $155,770 | 5,480 | $60,040 | 0.93 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 5,550 | $159,760 | 2,620 | $67,940 | 0.47 |
Show the other 362 metro areas
| Metro area | Lawyers employed | Lawyers, mean pay | Paralegals employed | Paralegals, mean pay | Paralegals per lawyer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cleveland, OH | 5,540 | $159,710 | 2,960 | $63,580 | 0.53 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | 5,480 | $207,920 | 2,660 | $68,400 | 0.49 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 5,380 | $186,020 | 4,140 | $66,200 | 0.77 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | 5,310 | $166,230 | 2,900 | $68,680 | 0.55 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 5,170 | $164,090 | 3,510 | $73,580 | 0.68 |
| Columbus, OH | 4,960 | $154,090 | 2,260 | $67,380 | 0.46 |
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | 4,830 | $177,200 | 2,140 | $71,600 | 0.44 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | 4,450 | suppressed | 2,770 | $66,330 | 0.62 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | 4,350 | $164,230 | 2,540 | $63,060 | 0.58 |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | 4,330 | $144,250 | 2,120 | $64,370 | 0.49 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | 4,310 | $123,050 | 1,650 | $57,450 | 0.38 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | 4,040 | $187,570 | 1,880 | $64,370 | 0.47 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | 4,020 | $169,120 | 2,900 | $59,390 | 0.72 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | 3,990 | $172,980 | 2,660 | $65,140 | 0.67 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | 3,880 | $170,110 | 1,930 | $71,590 | 0.50 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | 3,870 | $154,320 | 1,700 | $68,640 | 0.44 |
| Richmond, VA | 3,780 | $173,400 | 1,930 | $67,940 | 0.51 |
| Jacksonville, FL | 3,760 | $145,930 | 2,170 | $64,930 | 0.58 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 3,470 | suppressed | 2,460 | $66,910 | 0.71 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | 3,180 | $150,520 | 1,340 | $62,930 | 0.42 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | 2,930 | $143,440 | 2,060 | $59,940 | 0.70 |
| Birmingham, AL | 2,800 | $165,910 | 2,420 | $56,490 | 0.86 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | 2,470 | $160,740 | 790 | $75,990 | 0.32 |
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | 2,380 | $157,320 | 2,420 | $59,640 | 1.02 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | 2,300 | $112,100 | 960 | $58,610 | 0.42 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | 2,280 | $159,670 | 1,670 | $60,600 | 0.73 |
| Tallahassee, FL | 2,170 | $130,060 | 780 | $56,570 | 0.36 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | 2,100 | $231,710 | 1,600 | $68,910 | 0.76 |
| Omaha, NE-IA | 2,010 | $149,080 | 1,010 | $65,840 | 0.50 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | 2,000 | $135,380 | 1,460 | $62,050 | 0.73 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | 1,960 | $126,580 | 880 | $66,330 | 0.45 |
| Albuquerque, NM | 1,960 | $141,000 | 1,070 | $60,230 | 0.55 |
| Columbia, SC | 1,950 | $139,580 | 1,790 | $56,930 | 0.92 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | 1,930 | $146,670 | 1,000 | $62,920 | 0.52 |
| Madison, WI | 1,860 | $163,780 | 850 | $63,100 | 0.46 |
| Tulsa, OK | 1,820 | $130,060 | 980 | $54,320 | 0.54 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | 1,760 | $159,230 | 1,190 | $62,280 | 0.68 |
| Rochester, NY | 1,710 | $180,460 | 1,300 | $59,220 | 0.76 |
| Tucson, AZ | 1,690 | $147,830 | 980 | $59,640 | 0.58 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | 1,670 | $159,520 | 1,120 | $60,700 | 0.67 |
| Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | 1,670 | $133,600 | 680 | $63,680 | 0.41 |
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | 1,590 | $149,310 | 1,490 | $58,570 | 0.94 |
| Fresno, CA | 1,570 | $183,920 | 920 | $67,320 | 0.59 |
| North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | 1,440 | $162,800 | 990 | $63,070 | 0.69 |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | 1,430 | $156,470 | 870 | $68,090 | 0.61 |
| Jackson, MS | 1,390 | $118,090 | 960 | $53,110 | 0.69 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | 1,390 | $138,450 | 560 | $75,900 | 0.40 |
| Portland-South Portland, ME | 1,360 | $139,490 | 700 | $69,100 | 0.51 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | 1,290 | $158,390 | 1,600 | $56,900 | 1.24 |
| New Haven, CT | 1,280 | $174,080 | 780 | $66,280 | 0.61 |
| Knoxville, TN | 1,250 | $148,910 | 770 | $55,750 | 0.62 |
| Boise City, ID | 1,250 | $138,660 | 1,140 | $55,510 | 0.91 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | 1,220 | $191,100 | 520 | $74,270 | 0.43 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | 1,220 | $159,260 | 890 | $61,690 | 0.73 |
| Worcester, MA | 1,210 | $152,380 | 480 | $70,240 | 0.40 |
| Syracuse, NY | 1,190 | $156,340 | 970 | $65,330 | 0.82 |
| Boulder, CO | 1,160 | suppressed | 400 | $72,440 | 0.34 |
| Akron, OH | 1,150 | $147,270 | 410 | $63,310 | 0.36 |
| Lansing-East Lansing, MI | 1,130 | $136,470 | 400 | $63,090 | 0.35 |
| Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | 1,090 | $152,800 | 910 | $61,930 | 0.83 |
| Lexington-Fayette, KY | 1,040 | $128,950 | 640 | $63,350 | 0.62 |
| Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | 1,040 | $135,050 | 470 | $62,530 | 0.45 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | 980 | $151,830 | 860 | $58,740 | 0.88 |
| Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL | 960 | $153,910 | 810 | $56,070 | 0.84 |
| Montgomery, AL | 960 | $135,740 | 790 | $53,040 | 0.82 |
| Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT | 950 | $166,130 | 450 | $55,910 | 0.47 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | 950 | $146,010 | 430 | $65,410 | 0.45 |
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | 910 | $164,780 | 600 | $65,400 | 0.66 |
| Charleston, WV | 880 | $120,250 | 480 | $61,220 | 0.55 |
| McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | 850 | $130,680 | 560 | $50,820 | 0.66 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | 830 | $151,960 | 830 | $55,240 | 1.00 |
| Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL | 830 | $149,530 | 510 | $59,020 | 0.61 |
| Toledo, OH | 820 | $141,710 | 340 | $63,190 | 0.41 |
| Lincoln, NE | 820 | $116,770 | 420 | $62,340 | 0.51 |
| Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | 810 | $116,000 | 400 | $58,130 | 0.49 |
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | 810 | $155,630 | 380 | $57,810 | 0.47 |
| Anchorage, AK | 780 | $174,860 | 390 | $71,850 | 0.50 |
| Salem, OR | 780 | $158,620 | 480 | $64,580 | 0.62 |
| El Paso, TX | 780 | $152,370 | 490 | $56,920 | 0.63 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | 770 | $135,500 | 610 | $62,040 | 0.79 |
| Springfield, MA | 770 | $141,510 | 430 | $66,630 | 0.56 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | 740 | $170,640 | 530 | $58,580 | 0.72 |
| Manchester-Nashua, NH | 740 | $178,950 | 500 | $66,260 | 0.68 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | 740 | $158,140 | 410 | $56,960 | 0.55 |
| Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | 730 | $144,920 | 630 | $55,100 | 0.86 |
| Huntsville, AL | 730 | $143,250 | 440 | $53,910 | 0.60 |
| Springfield, MO | 710 | $155,930 | 530 | $58,710 | 0.75 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | 700 | $178,720 | 360 | $79,840 | 0.51 |
| Wichita, KS | 690 | $131,240 | 480 | $53,960 | 0.70 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | 680 | $156,590 | 610 | $59,440 | 0.90 |
| Topeka, KS | 680 | $114,520 | 350 | $53,630 | 0.51 |
| Naples-Marco Island, FL | 660 | suppressed | 520 | $66,380 | 0.79 |
| Lafayette, LA | 650 | $131,600 | 470 | $55,400 | 0.72 |
| Ann Arbor, MI | 640 | $153,320 | 380 | $65,880 | 0.59 |
| Savannah, GA | 640 | $140,960 | 610 | $60,860 | 0.95 |
| Reno, NV | 630 | $206,210 | 770 | $58,230 | 1.22 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | 630 | $131,910 | 420 | $58,900 | 0.67 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | 630 | $134,560 | 570 | $69,100 | 0.90 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | 610 | $155,160 | 300 | $69,330 | 0.49 |
| Gainesville, FL | 600 | $130,030 | 360 | $53,590 | 0.60 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | 590 | $248,950 | 290 | $77,820 | 0.49 |
| Port St. Lucie, FL | 570 | $154,430 | 490 | $58,780 | 0.86 |
| Sioux Falls, SD-MN | 570 | $138,000 | 260 | $64,370 | 0.46 |
| Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA | 560 | $101,630 | 200 | $56,070 | 0.36 |
| Mobile, AL | 560 | $143,670 | 520 | $53,770 | 0.93 |
| Peoria, IL | 560 | $171,780 | 370 | $66,090 | 0.66 |
| Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | 550 | $150,570 | 330 | $62,680 | 0.60 |
| Burlington-South Burlington, VT | 550 | $152,030 | 300 | $69,730 | 0.55 |
| Springfield, IL | 530 | $143,130 | 230 | $62,490 | 0.43 |
| Santa Fe, NM | 530 | $137,140 | 280 | $66,250 | 0.53 |
| Bloomington, IL | 530 | $136,440 | 260 | $63,660 | 0.49 |
| Lancaster, PA | 520 | $142,810 | 330 | $64,660 | 0.63 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | 510 | $169,510 | 490 | $62,150 | 0.96 |
| Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | 500 | $165,560 | 350 | $68,100 | 0.70 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | 500 | $158,920 | 220 | $56,540 | 0.44 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | 490 | $181,830 | 290 | $72,780 | 0.59 |
| Ogden, UT | 490 | $150,040 | 380 | $64,540 | 0.78 |
| Missoula, MT | 490 | $114,210 | 270 | $55,830 | 0.55 |
| Jefferson City, MO | 490 | $119,550 | 170 | $52,290 | 0.35 |
| Wilmington, NC | 480 | $142,470 | 580 | $56,840 | 1.21 |
| Roanoke, VA | 480 | $153,590 | 390 | $59,920 | 0.81 |
| Asheville, NC | 470 | $135,480 | 590 | $60,290 | 1.26 |
| Lubbock, TX | 470 | $137,770 | 340 | $48,750 | 0.72 |
| Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | 460 | $115,550 | 240 | $56,440 | 0.52 |
| Waterbury-Shelton, CT | 450 | $177,300 | 420 | $69,770 | 0.93 |
| Canton-Massillon, OH | 450 | $132,950 | 210 | $57,220 | 0.47 |
| Reading, PA | 440 | $148,690 | 200 | $63,500 | 0.45 |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC | 440 | $135,780 | 500 | $51,910 | 1.14 |
| Eugene-Springfield, OR | 420 | $131,290 | 280 | $61,260 | 0.67 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | 420 | $150,980 | 280 | $58,240 | 0.67 |
| Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL | 420 | $140,550 | 180 | $64,300 | 0.43 |
| Fargo, ND-MN | 410 | $137,180 | 310 | $58,610 | 0.76 |
| Macon-Bibb County, GA | 410 | $132,500 | 350 | $56,400 | 0.85 |
| Amarillo, TX | 410 | $144,980 | 190 | $60,230 | 0.46 |
| Helena, MT | 410 | $115,170 | 170 | $61,910 | 0.41 |
| York-Hanover, PA | 400 | $141,560 | 240 | $60,520 | 0.60 |
| Youngstown-Warren, OH | 400 | $133,470 | 160 | $49,230 | 0.40 |
| Columbia, MO | 400 | $132,290 | 230 | $57,590 | 0.57 |
| Charlottesville, VA | 390 | $157,910 | 190 | $62,360 | 0.49 |
| Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | 390 | $123,180 | 320 | $51,030 | 0.82 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | 390 | $117,940 | 240 | $58,620 | 0.62 |
| Salinas, CA | 380 | $178,560 | 230 | $74,060 | 0.61 |
| Gulfport-Biloxi, MS | 380 | $108,930 | 290 | $48,010 | 0.76 |
| Billings, MT | 380 | $122,350 | 170 | $62,550 | 0.45 |
| Modesto, CA | 370 | $195,450 | 420 | $64,150 | 1.14 |
| Evansville, IN | 370 | $146,730 | 280 | $56,510 | 0.76 |
| Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC | 370 | $139,250 | 300 | $57,070 | 0.81 |
| Lake Charles, LA | 350 | $122,000 | 220 | $52,180 | 0.63 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | 350 | $169,270 | 150 | $71,410 | 0.43 |
| Rockford, IL | 340 | $136,090 | 200 | $61,790 | 0.59 |
| College Station-Bryan, TX | 340 | $166,990 | 180 | $57,750 | 0.53 |
| Kalamazoo-Portage, MI | 330 | $178,610 | 170 | $57,420 | 0.52 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | 330 | $157,430 | 310 | $56,440 | 0.94 |
| Fayetteville, NC | 320 | $130,510 | 420 | $57,500 | 1.31 |
| Tyler, TX | 310 | $148,430 | 360 | $54,590 | 1.16 |
| Spartanburg, SC | 310 | $150,250 | 280 | $55,890 | 0.90 |
| Green Bay, WI | 310 | $163,010 | 220 | $57,800 | 0.71 |
| Ocala, FL | 300 | suppressed | 300 | $58,610 | 1.00 |
| Binghamton, NY | 300 | $147,600 | 240 | $60,130 | 0.80 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | 300 | $139,480 | 200 | $56,540 | 0.67 |
| Bend, OR | 300 | $139,000 | 230 | $66,530 | 0.77 |
| St. Cloud, MN | 300 | $134,660 | 210 | $64,670 | 0.70 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | 290 | $193,770 | 280 | $72,760 | 0.97 |
| Columbus, GA-AL | 290 | $129,080 | 220 | $53,840 | 0.76 |
| Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL | 290 | $150,500 | 190 | $54,710 | 0.66 |
| Bismarck, ND | 290 | $130,740 | 160 | $60,360 | 0.55 |
| St. George, UT | 290 | $137,470 | 110 | $57,880 | 0.38 |
| Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT | 280 | $155,810 | 260 | $60,570 | 0.93 |
| Waco, TX | 280 | $152,730 | 250 | $57,710 | 0.89 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | 280 | $135,950 | 210 | $55,030 | 0.75 |
| Midland, TX | 280 | $203,400 | 100 | $67,780 | 0.36 |
| Monroe, LA | 270 | $116,840 | 180 | $51,610 | 0.67 |
| Cheyenne, WY | 270 | $120,900 | 250 | $48,600 | 0.93 |
| Coeur d'Alene, ID | 270 | $131,240 | 230 | $56,820 | 0.85 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | 270 | $127,750 | 200 | $51,240 | 0.74 |
| Visalia, CA | 270 | $149,440 | 120 | $65,220 | 0.44 |
| Greeley, CO | 260 | $152,970 | 90 | $68,180 | 0.35 |
| Killeen-Temple, TX | 260 | $160,130 | 220 | $58,480 | 0.85 |
| Erie, PA | 260 | $144,230 | 170 | $59,660 | 0.65 |
| Grand Junction, CO | 260 | $151,810 | 100 | $67,920 | 0.38 |
| Duluth, MN-WI | 260 | $151,310 | 180 | $60,560 | 0.69 |
| Flint, MI | 260 | $130,820 | 240 | $58,070 | 0.92 |
| Rapid City, SD | 260 | $119,690 | 150 | $58,380 | 0.58 |
| Barnstable Town, MA | 250 | $135,000 | 190 | $68,830 | 0.76 |
| Utica-Rome, NY | 250 | $157,560 | 170 | $59,470 | 0.68 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | 250 | $160,490 | 100 | $61,400 | 0.40 |
| Appleton, WI | 250 | $164,010 | 180 | $57,370 | 0.72 |
| Redding, CA | 250 | $142,900 | 120 | $64,470 | 0.48 |
| Lynchburg, VA | 250 | $147,240 | 140 | $55,330 | 0.56 |
| Bowling Green, KY | 250 | $107,700 | 160 | $57,500 | 0.64 |
| Athens-Clarke County, GA | 240 | $120,890 | 200 | $56,420 | 0.83 |
| Wheeling, WV-OH | 240 | $134,180 | 110 | $58,410 | 0.46 |
| Longview, TX | 240 | $133,500 | 140 | $53,130 | 0.58 |
| Dover, DE | 240 | suppressed | 220 | $60,910 | 0.92 |
| Laredo, TX | 240 | $133,860 | 140 | $56,760 | 0.58 |
| Morgantown, WV | 230 | $131,520 | 100 | $64,740 | 0.43 |
| Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | 230 | $121,120 | 330 | $69,580 | 1.43 |
| Yakima, WA | 230 | $140,210 | 180 | $66,460 | 0.78 |
| Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor, FL | 230 | $155,530 | 190 | $59,100 | 0.83 |
| Gainesville, GA | 230 | suppressed | 200 | $56,930 | 0.87 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | 230 | $153,860 | 270 | $65,290 | 1.17 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | 220 | $146,040 | 190 | $71,720 | 0.86 |
| Vallejo, CA | 220 | $170,980 | 160 | $77,730 | 0.73 |
| Kingston, NY | 220 | $143,660 | 140 | $66,630 | 0.64 |
| Greenville, NC | 220 | $109,990 | 200 | $49,340 | 0.91 |
| Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA | 220 | $101,700 | 80 | $52,500 | 0.36 |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | 220 | $136,540 | 130 | $56,600 | 0.59 |
| Bangor, ME | 210 | $125,150 | 120 | $59,860 | 0.57 |
| Bloomington, IN | 210 | $134,940 | 130 | $58,390 | 0.62 |
| Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | 210 | $154,650 | 120 | $59,680 | 0.57 |
| Rochester, MN | 210 | $154,200 | 200 | $65,040 | 0.95 |
| Terre Haute, IN | 210 | $171,300 | 130 | $55,490 | 0.62 |
| Lexington Park, MD | 200 | $147,220 | 100 | $71,590 | 0.50 |
| Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ | 200 | $134,660 | 90 | $57,870 | 0.45 |
| Bozeman, MT | 200 | $117,010 | 90 | $60,500 | 0.45 |
| Alexandria, LA | 200 | $139,710 | 120 | $56,490 | 0.60 |
| Brunswick-St. Simons, GA | 200 | $151,220 | 170 | $56,020 | 0.85 |
| Saginaw, MI | 200 | $135,840 | 110 | $55,100 | 0.55 |
| Tuscaloosa, AL | 190 | $128,020 | 190 | $47,270 | 1.00 |
| Punta Gorda, FL | 190 | $121,190 | 130 | $54,860 | 0.68 |
| Jackson, TN | 190 | $164,680 | 110 | $55,620 | 0.58 |
| Bellingham, WA | 190 | $132,730 | 180 | $66,210 | 0.95 |
| Florence, SC | 190 | $130,310 | 210 | $51,340 | 1.11 |
| Idaho Falls, ID | 190 | $110,970 | 130 | $52,140 | 0.68 |
| Las Cruces, NM | 190 | $131,390 | 130 | $62,300 | 0.68 |
| Traverse City, MI | 190 | $141,920 | 120 | $59,330 | 0.63 |
| Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL | 180 | $114,230 | 220 | $46,370 | 1.22 |
| Joplin, MO-KS | 180 | $117,970 | 100 | $55,600 | 0.56 |
| Amherst Town-Northampton, MA | 170 | $131,160 | 100 | $64,150 | 0.59 |
| Medford, OR | 170 | $144,230 | 170 | $62,070 | 1.00 |
| Carson City, NV | 170 | $155,740 | 80 | $75,380 | 0.47 |
| Eau Claire, WI | 170 | $155,420 | 110 | $54,800 | 0.65 |
| Fort Smith, AR-OK | 170 | $125,870 | 120 | $56,890 | 0.71 |
| Jacksonville, NC | 170 | $100,380 | 210 | $55,360 | 1.24 |
| Kahului-Wailuku, HI | 160 | $138,140 | 100 | $67,580 | 0.63 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | 160 | $132,690 | 240 | $57,480 | 1.50 |
| Glens Falls, NY | 160 | $148,600 | 100 | $62,200 | 0.63 |
| Pittsfield, MA | 160 | $125,450 | 80 | $66,120 | 0.50 |
| Abilene, TX | 160 | $137,180 | 80 | $56,430 | 0.50 |
| Hattiesburg, MS | 160 | $103,010 | 100 | $48,520 | 0.63 |
| Jackson, MI | 160 | suppressed | 70 | $68,630 | 0.44 |
| Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI | 160 | $136,920 | 130 | $56,310 | 0.81 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | 160 | $155,780 | 120 | $52,930 | 0.75 |
| Logan, UT-ID | 150 | $121,430 | 40 | $57,460 | 0.27 |
| Albany, GA | 150 | $122,720 | 140 | $52,330 | 0.93 |
| Hammond, LA | 150 | $103,010 | suppressed | suppressed | suppressed |
| Lewiston-Auburn, ME | 150 | $120,850 | 90 | $58,150 | 0.60 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | 150 | $106,290 | 90 | $57,640 | 0.60 |
| Salisbury, MD | 150 | $144,560 | 80 | $62,550 | 0.53 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | 150 | $142,440 | 80 | $57,120 | 0.53 |
| Wausau, WI | 150 | $145,520 | 130 | $51,090 | 0.87 |
| Great Falls, MT | 140 | $109,690 | 70 | $61,690 | 0.50 |
| Lawrence, KS | 140 | $126,660 | 110 | $52,900 | 0.79 |
| Janesville-Beloit, WI | 140 | $147,600 | 80 | $55,480 | 0.57 |
| Flagstaff, AZ | 140 | $155,600 | 90 | $59,600 | 0.64 |
| State College, PA | 140 | $129,530 | 80 | $60,810 | 0.57 |
| Casper, WY | 140 | $124,440 | 80 | $54,510 | 0.57 |
| Chico, CA | 140 | $136,120 | 90 | $61,530 | 0.64 |
| Dothan, AL | 140 | $133,050 | 120 | $49,360 | 0.86 |
| Elkhart-Goshen, IN | 140 | suppressed | 140 | $54,410 | 1.00 |
| Iowa City, IA | 140 | $142,540 | 330 | $69,770 | 2.36 |
| Mankato, MN | 140 | $133,570 | 100 | $64,100 | 0.71 |
| Pueblo, CO | 140 | $161,290 | 70 | $59,330 | 0.50 |
| Vineland, NJ | 140 | $124,890 | 80 | $59,370 | 0.57 |
| Winchester, VA-WV | 140 | $135,990 | 80 | $61,420 | 0.57 |
| Yuma, AZ | 140 | $133,280 | 90 | $61,530 | 0.64 |
| Williamsport, PA | 130 | $123,410 | 90 | $56,470 | 0.69 |
| Ithaca, NY | 130 | $160,930 | 80 | $63,570 | 0.62 |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | 130 | $134,490 | 70 | $58,620 | 0.54 |
| Harrisonburg, VA | 130 | $142,340 | 110 | $58,290 | 0.85 |
| Johnson City, TN | 130 | $135,460 | 120 | $50,050 | 0.92 |
| La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | 130 | $137,690 | 100 | $57,270 | 0.77 |
| Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ | 130 | $123,370 | 60 | $55,830 | 0.46 |
| Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI | 130 | $111,500 | 60 | $52,120 | 0.46 |
| Sandusky, OH | 130 | $129,360 | 50 | $55,290 | 0.38 |
| Valdosta, GA | 130 | $137,230 | 140 | $53,320 | 1.08 |
| Warner Robins, GA | 120 | $122,450 | 110 | $55,510 | 0.92 |
| Kenosha, WI | 120 | $145,650 | 110 | $58,540 | 0.92 |
| Auburn-Opelika, AL | 120 | $132,940 | 100 | $48,990 | 0.83 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | 120 | $120,010 | 60 | $51,630 | 0.50 |
| Dalton, GA | 120 | $125,600 | 80 | $51,420 | 0.67 |
| Elizabethtown, KY | 120 | $106,460 | 80 | $58,560 | 0.67 |
| Manhattan, KS | 120 | $124,160 | 70 | $51,820 | 0.58 |
| Merced, CA | 120 | $156,900 | 90 | $62,440 | 0.75 |
| Texarkana, TX-AR | 120 | $128,620 | 60 | $55,800 | 0.50 |
| Napa, CA | 110 | $175,280 | 80 | $77,240 | 0.73 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | 110 | suppressed | 80 | $62,290 | 0.73 |
| Niles, MI | 110 | $156,740 | 60 | $55,720 | 0.55 |
| El Centro, CA | 110 | $157,830 | 60 | $70,800 | 0.55 |
| Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL | 110 | $115,590 | 100 | $51,090 | 0.91 |
| Odessa, TX | 110 | $169,910 | 100 | $59,410 | 0.91 |
| Owensboro, KY | 110 | $109,230 | 60 | $55,240 | 0.55 |
| Burlington, NC | 100 | $123,650 | 110 | $55,260 | 1.10 |
| Chambersburg, PA | 100 | $132,070 | 100 | $49,410 | 1.00 |
| Dubuque, IA | 100 | $134,060 | 80 | $57,540 | 0.80 |
| Farmington, NM | 100 | $119,340 | 30 | $59,210 | 0.30 |
| Homosassa Springs, FL | 100 | $117,870 | 80 | $52,080 | 0.80 |
| Midland, MI | 100 | suppressed | 80 | suppressed | 0.80 |
| Parkersburg-Vienna, WV | 100 | $111,410 | 200 | $73,110 | 2.00 |
| Pocatello, ID | 100 | $112,000 | 70 | $52,560 | 0.70 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | 100 | $126,450 | 120 | $52,580 | 1.20 |
| St. Joseph, MO-KS | 100 | $124,350 | 50 | $55,710 | 0.50 |
| Twin Falls, ID | 100 | $111,210 | 70 | $52,360 | 0.70 |
| Altoona, PA | 90 | $110,170 | 60 | $53,960 | 0.67 |
| Ames, IA | 90 | $130,550 | 60 | $55,270 | 0.67 |
| Fairbanks-College, AK | 90 | $141,110 | 60 | $74,980 | 0.67 |
| Grand Forks, ND-MN | 90 | $109,810 | 110 | $52,860 | 1.22 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | 90 | $193,170 | 50 | $70,730 | 0.56 |
| Hot Springs, AR | 90 | $117,660 | suppressed | suppressed | suppressed |
| Jonesboro, AR | 90 | $135,890 | 70 | $57,310 | 0.78 |
| Lima, OH | 90 | $104,480 | 30 | $51,630 | 0.33 |
| San Angelo, TX | 90 | $137,490 | 100 | suppressed | 1.11 |
| Sherman-Denison, TX | 90 | $152,590 | 60 | $53,780 | 0.67 |
| Yuba City, CA | 90 | $145,860 | 40 | $67,660 | 0.44 |
| Elmira, NY | 80 | $148,210 | 50 | $58,960 | 0.63 |
| Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | 80 | $126,060 | 50 | $56,710 | 0.63 |
| Beckley, WV | 80 | $99,320 | 40 | $46,300 | 0.50 |
| Enid, OK | 80 | $99,050 | 40 | $43,380 | 0.50 |
| Johnstown, PA | 80 | $117,280 | 50 | $60,950 | 0.63 |
| Lebanon, PA | 80 | $119,100 | 40 | $65,300 | 0.50 |
| Mansfield, OH | 80 | $103,390 | 30 | $54,110 | 0.38 |
| Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | 80 | $118,010 | 120 | $55,140 | 1.50 |
| Sheboygan, WI | 80 | $179,280 | 70 | $55,020 | 0.88 |
| Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ | 80 | $126,210 | 40 | $51,610 | 0.50 |
| Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | 80 | $144,750 | 70 | $74,740 | 0.88 |
| Wichita Falls, TX | 80 | $130,080 | 50 | $51,240 | 0.63 |
| Michigan City-La Porte, IN | 70 | $147,810 | 40 | $53,510 | 0.57 |
| Battle Creek, MI | 70 | $129,350 | suppressed | suppressed | suppressed |
| Columbus, IN | 70 | $149,200 | 50 | $57,690 | 0.71 |
| Corvallis, OR | 70 | $141,720 | 50 | $60,580 | 0.71 |
| Decatur, AL | 70 | $147,610 | 60 | $48,770 | 0.86 |
| Decatur, IL | 70 | $126,430 | 30 | $61,830 | 0.43 |
| Gadsden, AL | 70 | $99,390 | 70 | $40,920 | 1.00 |
| Goldsboro, NC | 70 | $140,320 | 80 | $51,240 | 1.14 |
| Minot, ND | 70 | $122,470 | 70 | $57,080 | 1.00 |
| Monroe, MI | 70 | $127,510 | suppressed | suppressed | suppressed |
| Morristown, TN | 70 | $131,540 | 30 | $49,390 | 0.43 |
| Springfield, OH | 70 | $106,260 | 40 | $52,270 | 0.57 |
| Sumter, SC | 70 | $135,290 | 90 | $50,570 | 1.29 |
| Victoria, TX | 70 | $137,390 | suppressed | suppressed | suppressed |
| Watertown-Fort Drum, NY | 70 | $149,190 | 50 | $59,280 | 0.71 |
| Wildwood-The Villages, FL | 70 | $142,310 | 50 | $61,850 | 0.71 |
| Bay City, MI | 60 | $121,570 | 40 | $59,060 | 0.67 |
| Anniston-Oxford, AL | 60 | $119,500 | 90 | $43,580 | 1.50 |
| Cleveland, TN | 60 | $147,080 | 40 | $52,580 | 0.67 |
| Eagle Pass, TX | 60 | $130,320 | 50 | $49,510 | 0.83 |
| Fond du Lac, WI | 60 | $147,690 | 30 | $52,670 | 0.50 |
| Gettysburg, PA | 60 | $125,870 | suppressed | suppressed | suppressed |
| Kokomo, IN | 60 | $132,480 | 50 | $59,890 | 0.83 |
| Lawton, OK | 60 | $94,400 | 40 | $55,840 | 0.67 |
| Muncie, IN | 60 | $134,950 | 50 | $56,550 | 0.83 |
| Sebring, FL | 60 | $129,050 | 60 | $55,350 | 1.00 |
| Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH | 60 | $124,070 | suppressed | suppressed | suppressed |
| Albany, OR | 50 | $145,290 | 60 | $59,470 | 1.20 |
| Grand Island, NE | 50 | $106,160 | suppressed | suppressed | suppressed |
| Hinesville, GA | 50 | $117,520 | 70 | $56,040 | 1.40 |
| Kankakee, IL | 50 | $142,730 | suppressed | suppressed | suppressed |
| Lewiston, ID-WA | 50 | $123,060 | 60 | $54,860 | 1.20 |
| Longview-Kelso, WA | 50 | $126,510 | suppressed | suppressed | suppressed |
| Grants Pass, OR | 40 | $130,820 | 30 | $61,560 | 0.75 |
| Walla Walla, WA | 40 | $134,910 | 50 | $64,650 | 1.25 |
| Rome, GA | suppressed | $110,510 | 90 | $57,460 | suppressed |
How did we build it?
We read each figure from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ public data interface by series id: employment and mean annual wage for lawyers and for paralegals and legal assistants in the US, every state and DC and the metros read so far, the median and the 10th, 25th, 75th and 90th percentile wages, with BLS’s standard errors. The interface allows a limited number of requests a day, so the pull runs in daily steps, largest metros first. Ratios are computed from the published figures.
- This is not what owners earn. The survey counts wage and salary employees only; partners, owners and the self-employed are left out.
- Means are pulled up by the best paid. Compare the median, which is in the data files for every area read.
- Suppressed means suppressed. Where BLS does not release a figure, the record has no value and says so. We never fill the gap.
- Employment is rounded by BLS, and a metro area’s boundaries are the ones BLS uses for this survey.
- Pay is for May. It leaves out benefits, payroll taxes and bonuses paid in other months.
- Not legal advice, and not a salary guide for any one firm.
How to cite this study
You can reuse, adapt and republish this data, including commercially, under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license (CC BY 4.0). The only condition is that you credit Probative and link to the source.
- Version
- 1.0.0, released October 28, 2026
- Every version
- 10.5281/zenodo.23734839 (always points to the newest)
- License
- CC BY 4.0
Download the data
- CSV: data.csv 32 KB · the US and every state
- CSV: lawyer-wages.csv 630 KB · every area and occupation read
- JSON: lawyer-wages.json 1584 KB · every record with its source
Free, no email or login. The files are hosted on this site and Zenodo, a public research archive.
Suggested citation
Probative. (2026). Lawyer, paralegal and legal-staff pay by state and metro (BLS OEWS) (Version 1.0.0) [Data set]. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.23734840
Credit line for a chart, table or article
Source: Probative, Lawyer, paralegal and legal-staff pay by state and metro (BLS OEWS), version 1.0.0, https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.23734840, licensed CC BY 4.0.
Not legal advice. These are wage and employment statistics from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, kept for marketing planning. They cover employees only, not owners or partners.
Where can I read more?
- What legal services cost: the legal services price index.
- Spanish-speaking demand and lawyer supply: the Spanish-demand map.
- The official page: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
- Report an error: the data corrections log.
Questions about lawyer and paralegal pay
How much do lawyers make in the United States?
The mean annual wage of lawyers employed in the US was $185,840 in May 2025, with 754,500 lawyers employed, per the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That counts employees only: owners, partners and the self-employed are not in it.
How much do paralegals make?
The mean annual wage of paralegals and legal assistants was $69,700 in May 2025, with 392,880 employed. It ranges by state; the table above lists every state.
Is this what a law firm’s owners earn?
No. The survey counts wage and salary employees. It leaves out owners, partners and the self-employed, who may earn much more or much less. Use it to price staff, not to judge what an owner takes home.
What does “mean” pay mean?
It is the average: total wages divided by the number of employees. A few very high salaries raise it, so the median (the middle value) is often lower. The median and the percentiles are in the data files.
Why is a metro area missing or blank?
Either BLS did not release the estimate (we mark it suppressed and never fill it in), or the monthly pull has not reached that metro yet. The pull reads the largest metros first.
Can I reuse the lawyer and paralegal pay figures?
Yes. The BLS figures are public domain and our compilation is free under CC BY 4.0. Credit Probative with a link to this page.
The data behind this study, with its API and MCP server: Lawyer and paralegal pay data: BLS dataset, CSV and API.
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