Paralegal Salary: Pay and Take-Home by State
The typical (median) paralegal in the US earns $30.24 an hour, or $62,890 a year, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates for 392,880 jobs (May 2025, occupation: paralegals and legal assistants). The middle half earn between $50,340 and $80,080 a year, and the top 10% earn more than $101,500.
After federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare, the median salary leaves a single filer about $52,712 a year ($4,393 a month) in a state with no income tax. Using each state's own median pay for this job, take-home is highest in Washington ($63,579 a year) and lowest in Mississippi ($38,168).
Paralegal pay range
| Pay level | Hourly | Yearly | Take-home a year* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bottom 10% earn less than | $21.51 | $44,740 | $38,128 |
| 25th percentile | $24.20 | $50,340 | $42,628 |
| Median (half earn more) | $30.24 | $62,890 | $52,712 |
| 75th percentile | $38.50 | $80,080 | $65,166 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $48.80 | $101,500 | $80,235 |
The average (mean) is $69,700 a year ($33.51 an hour), above the median because a minority of high earners pull it up. *Take-home after federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare for a single filer in a state with no income tax (2026). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, occupation 23-2011. Source
Paralegal salary by state
The highest median pay for paralegals is in District of Columbia ($89,750), Washington ($79,390), Colorado ($78,190), Massachusetts ($77,650), California ($77,400). The lowest is in Mississippi ($46,180), Alabama ($47,260), Arkansas ($47,420).
The most paralegals work in California (47,130), Florida (40,950), New York (34,220).
After each state's taxes, the most take-home at the local median is in Washington ($63,579), Colorado ($60,295), Massachusetts ($59,734), California ($59,011), Minnesota ($57,325). A state with no income tax can come out ahead of a state that pays more before tax.
Median pay in each state for this job (BLS, May 2025), and take-home at that pay. Take-home is after federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and the state's income tax and payroll programs, for a single filer with a 2026 W-4 and no deductions. Local taxes are not included. *District of Columbia: federal taxes only (DC income tax is not modeled yet).
| State | Median hourly | Median yearly | Take-home a year | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $22.72 | $47,260 | $38,205 | 5,700 |
| Alaska | $33.03 | $68,700 | $56,817 | 570 |
| Arizona | $29.63 | $61,630 | $50,467 | 7,890 |
| Arkansas | $22.80 | $47,420 | $39,015 | 1,610 |
| California | $37.21 | $77,400 | $59,011 | 47,130 |
| Colorado | $37.59 | $78,190 | $60,295 | 5,620 |
| Connecticut | $30.68 | $63,810 | $50,379 | 5,210 |
| Delaware | $30.34 | $63,110 | $49,811 | 2,480 |
| District of Columbia | $43.15 | $89,750 | $71,969* | 6,400 |
| Florida | $29.33 | $61,010 | $51,202 | 40,950 |
| Georgia | $30.00 | $62,400 | $49,953 | 14,160 |
| Hawaii | $30.21 | $62,840 | $49,109 | 1,170 |
| Idaho | $23.89 | $49,690 | $40,338 | 2,030 |
| Illinois | $30.61 | $63,670 | $50,332 | 14,130 |
| Indiana | $27.42 | $57,030 | $45,219 | 5,910 |
| Iowa | $26.23 | $54,560 | $44,480 | 2,980 |
| Kansas | $26.44 | $55,000 | $44,103 | 2,210 |
| Kentucky | $28.76 | $59,820 | $48,269 | 3,540 |
| Louisiana | $28.97 | $60,260 | $49,134 | 4,890 |
| Maine | $30.01 | $62,420 | $49,292 | 1,210 |
| Maryland | $31.56 | $65,640 | $50,228 | 6,460 |
| Massachusetts | $37.33 | $77,650 | $59,734 | 7,800 |
| Michigan | $29.89 | $62,170 | $49,742 | 7,730 |
| Minnesota | $36.33 | $75,570 | $57,325 | 7,400 |
| Mississippi | $22.20 | $46,180 | $38,168 | 2,270 |
| Missouri | $29.52 | $61,400 | $49,565 | 7,130 |
| Montana | $27.54 | $57,280 | $46,281 | 1,010 |
| Nebraska | $30.41 | $63,250 | $50,731 | 1,630 |
| Nevada | $31.10 | $64,690 | $54,159 | 3,620 |
| New Hampshire | $29.83 | $62,050 | $52,037 | 1,430 |
| New Jersey | $34.38 | $71,510 | $55,804 | 12,010 |
| New Mexico | $28.77 | $59,840 | $48,236 | 1,740 |
| New York | $32.89 | $68,410 | $53,500 | 34,220 |
| North Carolina | $27.64 | $57,490 | $46,553 | 13,650 |
| North Dakota | $28.57 | $59,430 | $49,906 | 730 |
| Ohio | $29.05 | $60,420 | $49,302 | 9,270 |
| Oklahoma | $25.56 | $53,160 | $43,048 | 3,110 |
| Oregon | $29.56 | $61,480 | $47,061 | 4,870 |
| Pennsylvania | $30.47 | $63,380 | $51,115 | 14,670 |
| Rhode Island | $27.04 | $56,240 | $44,679 | 2,070 |
| South Carolina | $25.90 | $53,870 | $43,512 | 7,420 |
| South Dakota | $28.04 | $58,320 | $49,040 | 600 |
| Tennessee | $28.28 | $58,820 | $49,442 | 6,080 |
| Texas | $29.96 | $62,320 | $52,254 | 29,540 |
| Utah | $30.40 | $63,230 | $50,177 | 3,250 |
| Vermont | $32.29 | $67,160 | $53,836 | 660 |
| Virginia | $30.77 | $64,000 | $50,738 | 10,250 |
| Washington | $38.17 | $79,390 | $63,579 | 9,460 |
| West Virginia | $28.37 | $59,010 | $47,770 | 1,660 |
| Wisconsin | $28.12 | $58,490 | $46,502 | 4,780 |
| Wyoming | $23.80 | $49,500 | $41,953 | 600 |
Overtime and pay rules for paralegals
Paralegals who are paid by the hour are owed overtime at 1.5 times their regular rate for hours over 40 in a workweek under federal law, and some states also require daily overtime. The new no-tax-on-overtime deduction covers the extra half of time-and-a-half pay, up to $12,500 a year for a single filer. Only overtime that the federal Fair Labor Standards Act requires counts; overtime paid only under a contract, a state law or an employer policy does not. Source Estimate your deduction.
How the exemptions work across jobs: who gets overtime pay.
Taxes on a paralegal's pay
On the median $62,890, federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare take about 16.2% of pay for a single filer: $5,367 of income tax and $4,811 of Social Security and Medicare a year.
Tax bracket. After the $16,100 standard deduction, taxable income is $46,790, so the top federal rate is 12%. Each extra dollar from a raise or extra shifts is taxed at about 19.65% before state tax: 12% income tax plus 7.65% Social Security and Medicare. Source
401(k). Putting 5% ($3,144 a year) into a traditional 401(k) lowers federal income tax by about $378, so it costs about $2,767 of take-home pay.
Self-employed or contract work
BLS pay figures cover employees only; self-employed paralegals are not counted. If you work as a contractor (1099), you pay both halves of Social Security and Medicare (15.3% self-employment tax) and usually make quarterly estimated payments. Use the 1099 Tax Calculator to see what to set aside, and see 1099 vs W-2 take-home pay for how much more a contractor needs to earn.
Jobs with similar pay
| Job | Median yearly | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teacher | $63,970 | — |
| Plumber | $63,800 | $30.67 |
| Flight Attendant | $63,580 | — |
| Electrician | $63,190 | $30.38 |
| Medical Lab Technologist | $62,930 | $30.26 |
For a full breakdown of a similar wage, see $30 an hour is how much a year.
Paralegal salary questions
How much does a paralegal make?
The median pay is $30.24 an hour, or $62,890 a year (May 2025, Bureau of Labor Statistics). The bottom 10% earn less than $44,740 and the top 10% more than $101,500.
How much does a paralegal make after taxes?
About $52,712 a year, or $2,027 every two weeks, on the median salary for a single filer in a state with no income tax. In Mississippi, at that state's own median pay, it is about $38,168.
How much does a paralegal make a month?
About $5,241 a month before taxes at the median salary, and roughly $4,393 after federal taxes in a state with no income tax.
Which state pays paralegals the most?
District of Columbia, with a median of $89,750 a year ($43.15 an hour). Next are Washington ($79,390) and Colorado ($78,190). After state taxes, take-home at the local median is highest in Washington.
How much does a paralegal make an hour?
The median is $30.24 an hour. The middle half earn $24.20 to $38.50, and the top 10% more than $48.80.
Do paralegals get paid overtime?
Paralegals who are paid by the hour are owed overtime at 1.5 times their regular rate for hours over 40 in a workweek under federal law, and some states also require daily overtime. The new no-tax-on-overtime deduction covers the extra half of time-and-a-half pay, up to $12,500 a year for a single filer. Only overtime that the federal Fair Labor Standards Act requires counts; overtime paid only under a contract, a state law or an employer policy does not.
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