Paralegals and Legal Assistants Salary Trend (2011–2024)
Historical salary and employment data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Median Salary in 2024
$61,010
↑ 30.6% since 2011
Median Salary Over Time
Paralegals and Legal Assistants — Median Annual Salary
Employment Over Time
Paralegals and Legal Assistants — Total Employment
Key Insights
📈Salaries grew 30.6% since 2011 ($46,730 → $61,010)
🏆Peak year: 2024 at $61,010
🦠COVID impact: Salary rose 2.3% from 2019 to 2020, likely reflecting workforce composition changes.
💰After inflation (~3%/yr), real growth is approximately -11%
Year-by-Year Salary Data
| Year | Median Salary | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $61,010 | +0.1% |
| 2023 | $60,970 | +3.0% |
| 2022 | $59,200 | +5.3% |
| 2021 | $56,230 | +6.3% |
| 2020 | $52,920 | +2.3% |
| 2019 | $51,740 | +1.6% |
| 2018 | $50,940 | +1.1% |
| 2017 | $50,410 | +1.8% |
| 2016 | $49,500 | +1.4% |
| 2015 | $48,810 | +1.0% |
| 2014 | $48,350 | +1.6% |
| 2013 | $47,570 | +1.2% |
| 2012 | $46,990 | +0.6% |
| 2011 | $46,730 | — |
Data Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2011–2024. All figures are annual median wages in nominal dollars.