Research Summary. After extensive analysis by the Zippia data science team, we have compiled the latest data on legal secretary salaries by state in the United States for 2026:
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California boasts the highest legal secretary salary at $53,552
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Montana ranks lowest with a legal secretary salary of $30,632
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The national average salary for legal secretaries stands at $41,725
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The national hourly wage for legal secretaries is approximately $20.06
For more details on our approach, visit the specific methodology.
Background
In job satisfaction surveys across various demographics, salary consistently ranks as the most crucial factor for individuals considering their career options. Many potential legal secretaries often wonder about the expected pay in their locality.
While several factors influence individual earnings, robust data exists for average legal secretary salaries by state, segmented by experience levels. Although local conditions may vary, these averages provide a reliable benchmark for salary expectations.
Among the states, California continues to lead in legal secretary compensation.
Here’s a concise overview of the top ten states for legal secretary salaries:
Let’s explore the complete rankings of all states in terms of legal secretary salaries.
Highest-Paid Legal Secretaries By State
| Rank | State | Average Legal Secretary Salary | 10th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $53,552 | $34,000 | $82,000 |
| 2 | West Virginia | $53,189 | $35,000 | $79,000 |
| 3 | Colorado | $50,347 | $35,000 | $72,000 |
| 4 | Connecticut | $48,850 | $33,000 | $71,000 |
| 5 | New Jersey | $48,210 | $31,000 | $72,000 |
| 6 | Massachusetts | $47,967 | $35,000 | $64,000 |
| 7 | New York | $45,795 | $30,000 | $68,000 |
| 8 | Vermont | $45,352 | $36,000 | $56,000 |
| 9 | Delaware | $44,136 | $28,000 | $67,000 |
| 10 | Wyoming | $43,713 | $31,000 | $61,000 |
| 11 | Illinois | $43,685 | $30,000 | $62,000 |
| 12 | Utah | $43,531 | $30,000 | $62,000 |
| 13 | Mississippi | $43,422 | $28,000 | $65,000 |
| 14 | Nebraska | $43,408 | $30,000 | $61,000 |
| 15 | New Hampshire | $43,363 | $33,000 | $56,000 |
| 16 | Nevada | $43,037 | $28,000 | $64,000 |
| 17 | Minnesota | $42,925 | $31,000 | $58,000 |
| 18 | Pennsylvania | $42,759 | $28,000 | $64,000 |
| 19 | Kansas | $42,759 | $29,000 | $62,000 |
| 20 | Maryland | $42,746 | $27,000 | $65,000 |
| 21 | Alaska | $42,315 | $37,000 | $47,000 |
| 22 | Washington | $41,595 | $30,000 | $57,000 |
| 23 | Texas | $41,574 | $27,000 | $62,000 |
| 24 | New Mexico | $41,385 | $27,000 | $61,000 |
| 25 | Michigan | $41,219 | $28,000 | $59,000 |
| 26 | Oregon | $40,816 | $28,000 | $58,000 |
| 27 | Virginia | $40,508 | $26,000 | $61,000 |
| 28 | Florida | $39,662 | $26,000 | $59,000 |
| 29 | Alabama | $38,790 | $25,000 | $58,000 |
| 30 | North Dakota | $38,757 | $29,000 | $51,000 |
| 31 | Wisconsin | $38,376 | $27,000 | $54,000 |
| 32 | Arizona | $37,680 | $25,000 | $56,000 |
| 33 | Rhode Island | $37,109 | $26,000 | $52,000 |
| 34 | Missouri | $37,106 | $25,000 | $54,000 |
| 35 | North Carolina | $36,715 | $24,000 | $55,000 |
| 36 | Louisiana | $36,615 | $24,000 | $55,000 |
| 37 | Indiana | $34,784 | $23,000 | $50,000 |
| 38 | Georgia | $34,739 | $22,000 | $52,000 |
| 39 | Kentucky | $34,734 | $23,000 | $51,000 |
| 40 | Tennessee | $34,170 | $22,000 | $51,000 |
| 41 | Oklahoma | $34,166 | $23,000 | $50,000 |
| 42 | Iowa | $33,978 | $23,000 | $48,000 |
| 43 | Hawaii | $33,799 | $25,000 | $44,000 |
| 44 | Ohio | $32,857 | $22,000 | $48,000 |
| 45 | Arkansas | $31,570 | $21,000 | $47,000 |
| 46 | Maine | $31,397 | $25,000 | $38,000 |
| 47 | Idaho | $31,216 | $22,000 | $44,000 |
| 48 | South Carolina | $31,212 | $20,000 | $47,000 |
| 49 | South Dakota | $31,166 | $22,000 | $42,000 |
| 50 | Montana | $30,632 | $22,000 | $41,000 |
Methodology: Legal Secretary Salary By State
To gain insight into legal secretary compensation across states, Zippia has compiled data from various sources, including the BLS, FLC, and OPM. We complement this data with actual salary listings from job postings, resulting in a weighted average for legal secretary salaries by state.
The average annual salary data for legal secretaries is used to rank states, with the highest average salary indicating the top position.
Legal Secretary Salary By State FAQs
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What is the highest-paid state for legal secretaries?
The highest-paid state for legal secretaries is California with an average salary of $53,552 per year.
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What city pays legal secretaries the most?
Washington, DC offers the highest salaries for legal secretaries, averaging $61,547 per year.
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What is the lowest-paying state for legal secretaries?
The state with the lowest pay for legal secretaries is Montana at an average of $30,632 per year.
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.
