What is the Average Paralegal Salary?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average annual paralegal salary, including bonuses, ranged from $33,920 to $54,690 in May 2006. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $27,450, while the top 10 percent earned more than $67,540.
September 2008 data from Salary.com indicates that paralegals can definitely boost their annual earnings as they gain more experience in the field.
| Experience Level | Lowest 10% | Average Salary | Highest 10% |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 – 2 years | $32,106 or less | $45,080 | $58,844 or more |
| 2 – 5 years | $39,190 or less | $52,288 | $65,657 or more |
| 5 – 8 years | $44,556 or less | $57,574 | $71,221 or more |
| 8+ years | $52,792 or less | $68,779 | $86,440 or more |
| Paralegal Manager | $56,189 or less | $86,285 | $120,517 or more |
Paralegals with the least experience typically work under the direction of attorneys, using instructions and established guidelines to perform their job duties. The more years they gain in the field, the more employers expect paralegals to rely on their experience and judgment to conduct tasks and to work with less supervision.
Beyond five years of experience, paralegals gain a wide degree of creativity and latitude in performing their jobs and may earn supervisory responsibilities. In particular, paralegal managers use their extensive experience and expertise to train and direct the work of other paralegals, maintaining responsibility for the timely completion of all the work assigned to their team.
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What Factors Impact Paralegal Salary?
There are a several factors that affect paralegal salaries, and because of this there is a wide range for paralegal pay scale. The following are examples of things that may impact your earning potential:
- Education level
- Number of years of experience working in the field
- Type and size of employer
- Job location
In general, paralegals can earn more working for large law firms or in larger metropolitan areas than they can working for smaller firms or in less populated areas. Also, the higher your level of paralegal education and the more years of experience you gain in the field, the greater your income potential.
Another factor that can impact paralegal pay scale is specialization. Paralegal salary data from Payscale.com shows that the practice area in which paralegals work can influence the pay they earn. For example, paralegals working in corporate arenas earn a median annual wage of $43,840, while those focusing on family law receive a median salary of $37,659 per year. General practice paralegals take home a median income of $39,480 annually
What Major Industries Employ Paralegals?
The largest numbers of paralegals find employment in the following industries and positions:
- Federal government
- Management of companies and enterprises
- Local government
- Legal services
- State government
The BLS shows that the average annual paralegal income in the above industries ranges from $38,020 to $56,080, with state governments paying the low end of the range and the federal government paying the most.
What Other Income Benefits Do Paralegals Receive?
In addition to their salaries, paralegals can receive monetary bonuses as part of their overall compensation package. Employers may also provide their paralegals with paid vacation and sick leave, a 401(k) savings plan, life and health insurance, and tuition reimbursement for continuing legal education.
Paralegals have the extraordinary advantage of working in one of the fastest growing professions in the country. With a solid paralegal education, you can build the experience you need to climb the paralegal salary ladder and broaden your career prospects.
