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The differences between associates and paralegals can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an associate has an average salary of $69,556, which is higher than the $49,943 average annual salary of a paralegal.
The top three skills for an associate include customer service, sales floor and patients. The most important skills for a paralegal are litigation, legal research, and law firm.
| Associate | Paralegal | |
| Yearly salary | $69,556 | $49,943 |
| Hourly rate | $33.44 | $24.01 |
| Growth rate | - | 14% |
| Number of jobs | 569,041 | 5,177 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 46% | Bachelor's Degree, 51% |
| Average age | 41 | 46 |
| Years of experience | - | 12 |
Associates are typically entry-level positions for employees who are taking on their first job or organizational role. They are assigned to teams or departments that are related to their skills or educational background. They usually start with smaller tasks that may not seem as impactful but are still essential to the department. Associates are trained by more tenured team members on the ins and outs of the department and the organization. As they grow with the organization, they are given more responsibilities that directly impact the results of the department's initiatives as they work towards their goals.
Paralegals are law firm or legal department employees who work on cases with lawyers. They handle different activities, usually administrative or clerical, such as organizing and maintaining files, updating records, and managing correspondences, among others. Paralegals also handle different activities directly related to active cases being worked on by lawyers in the firm or department. They assist lawyers on cases by preparing materials needed for trials, conducting legal research, verifying trial facts, helping during interviews, getting statements from those involved in the case, and creating presentation materials. Paralegals should have knowledge of laws and should be familiar with landmark cases.
Associates and paralegals have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Associate | Paralegal | |
| Average salary | $69,556 | $49,943 |
| Salary range | Between $34,000 And $140,000 | Between $35,000 And $70,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | New York | California |
| Best paying company | Simpson Thacher & Bartlett | Arnall Golden Gregory |
| Best paying industry | - | Professional |
There are a few differences between an associate and a paralegal in terms of educational background:
| Associate | Paralegal | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 46% | Bachelor's Degree, 51% |
| Most common major | Business | Legal Support Services |
| Most common college | - | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between associates' and paralegals' demographics:
| Associate | Paralegal | |
| Average age | 41 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 50.4% Female, 49.6% | Male, 22.4% Female, 77.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.5% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 18.3% Asian, 8.3% White, 57.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% | Black or African American, 9.2% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 20.2% Asian, 5.7% White, 59.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 9% |