Highest-Paying Paralegal Jobs in 2026
Research Summary. The Zippia data team has compiled average salary estimates for paralegal positions across the United States by analyzing a blend of public government data, company statistics, and insights from thousands of job postings. This analysis identifies the highest-paid types of paralegals based on their average annual salaries.
Below is a summary of our findings regarding the highest-paying paralegal roles:
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The Real Estate Paralegal tops the list with an average salary of $68,387 and an hourly rate of $32.88.
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The second highest-paid paralegal role is the Corporate Paralegal, earning an average of $67,515.
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The overall average salary for paralegals stands at $49,943 per year, translating to an hourly wage of $24.01.
Table Of Contents: Background | Table | Methodology | FAQs
Background
Deciding on a career path can be challenging. While compensation should not be the sole consideration, it plays a crucial role in shaping your career choices. For aspiring paralegals, understanding the highest-paying specialties can aid in planning your professional journey effectively.
Here are the top salaries for various types of paralegals:
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Real Estate Paralegal
Average Salary: $68,387
A Real Estate Paralegal supports real estate attorneys with various tasks, including client consultations, research, and document preparation. They often collaborate with landlords, property managers, and other real estate professionals.
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Corporate Paralegal
Average Salary: $67,515
A Corporate Paralegal assists attorneys in gathering materials and information for cases, hearings, and meetings, typically within corporate legal departments or government agencies.
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Paralegal Specialist
Average Salary: $61,244
A Paralegal Specialist provides extensive support to lawyers, performing tasks typically associated with legal practitioners in various fields, including family, environmental, and real estate law.
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Contractor-Paralegal
Average Salary: $60,686
A Contractor-Paralegal works temporarily for law firms or corporate legal departments, often specializing in areas like entertainment or healthcare law.
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Senior Paralegal
Average Salary: $60,125
A Senior Paralegal assists attorneys in legal research, document preparation, and other delegated tasks, typically specializing in areas such as tax or corporate law.
Below is a comprehensive table detailing the average salaries for various paralegal roles, followed by an explanation of our methodology.
Highest-Paying Types Of Paralegals
| Rank | Job Title | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Real Estate Paralegal | |
| 2 | Corporate Paralegal | |
| 3 | Paralegal Specialist | |
| 4 | Contractor-Paralegal | |
| 5 | Senior Paralegal | |
| 6 | Litigation Paralegal | |
| 7 | Office Manager And Legal Assistant | |
| 8 | Law Clerk | |
| 9 | Litigation Assistant | |
| 10 | Executive Legal Assistant | |
| 11 | Paralegal Internship | |
| 12 | Litigation Legal Assistant | |
| 13 | Senior Legal Assistant | |
| 14 | Legal Administrator | |
| 15 | Legal Assistant | |
| 16 | Summer Associate | |
| 17 | Legal Secretary | |
| 18 | Law Internship | |
| 19 | Legal Clerk | |
| 20 | Legal Office Assistant |
Methodology
Zippia utilizes publicly available data from government entities, including the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Foreign Labor Certification Data Center (FLC), and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to inform its salary estimates.
Additionally, our data science team reviews job postings and company resources to obtain the latest salary information for paralegals.
After gathering the data, the team calculates a weighted average for each job title. For more details on our salary estimates, please refer to our detailed methodology.
Frequently Asked Questions About Paralegal Salaries
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What is the highest-paid paralegal job?
The highest-paid paralegal job is that of a real estate paralegal. Real Estate Paralegals earn an average salary of $68,387, which equates to $32.88 per hour.
A Real Estate Paralegal aids real estate attorneys by performing various tasks, including client consultations, research, and document preparation. They work closely with landlords, property managers, and other real estate professionals.
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What is a good salary for a paralegal?
A good salary for a paralegal is $49,943 or more. This figure represents the average paralegal salary, meaning that those earning at least this amount are above-average earners.
However, it’s important to note that paralegal salaries can vary by location due to differences in the cost of living. Researching local salary benchmarks based on your expertise and experience will provide a clearer understanding of your compensation.
For entry-level paralegals, the average starting salary is around $35,658, so it’s essential not to gauge your salary expectations solely on the average, which encompasses all levels of experience.
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Do paralegal jobs pay well?
Yes, paralegal jobs generally offer competitive salaries. While compensation varies across roles, the average paralegal salary of $49,943 is higher than the average national salary of approximately $44,225 per year.
Many paralegal roles also present significant earning potential, with the top 10% earning an average of $50,251 annually.
Paralegal salaries fluctuate based on factors such as experience, industry, and location. Conducting thorough research on salary trends in your area and field is crucial and negotiating your salary based on this information is encouraged.
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Where do paralegals earn the highest salaries?
Paralegals earn the most in the District of Columbia. In the District of Columbia, the average annual salary for paralegals is $64,103, with an hourly wage of $30.82.
Following D.C., the states with the highest paralegal salaries are Washington, California, and Illinois, which average $57,461, $61,386, and $53,862 respectively.
The cities with the highest paralegal salaries are:
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San Francisco, CA – $69,365
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Washington, DC – $64,126
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Seattle, WA – $57,832
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Author
Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.
