Paralegal
Paralegals & Legal Assistants
SOC 23-2011
How Much Does a Paralegal Make?
The national median salary for a Paralegal is $60,970 per year ($29.31/hour), according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2024 data).
That's 7% below the national median salary of $65,470 for all occupations.
How to Become a Paralegal
Associate's or bachelor's in paralegal studies. Certificate programs available.
No national license; voluntary state certifications
Paralegal Job Outlook
Faster than avg — the BLS projects 4% growth from 2024 to 2034.
That's faster than the average across all occupations (4%).
About 27,300 positions are expected to open annually, from both new roles and replacement needs.
Legal cost control; law firm efficiency
What It's Like to Work as a Paralegal
This is primarily desk-based or low-physical-effort work.
Some employers offer remote or hybrid arrangements.
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Career data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2024-34 projections (released August 2025). Salary data: BLS OEWS May 2024.
View on BLS.gov