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Job outlook for bankruptcy paralegals in the United States
Bankruptcy paralegal job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected bankruptcy paralegal job growth rate is 14% from 2018-2028.
About 49,900 new jobs for bankruptcy paralegals are projected over the next decade.
Bankruptcy paralegal salaries have increased 7% for bankruptcy paralegals in the last 5 years.
There are over 85,168 bankruptcy paralegals currently employed in the United States.
There are 7,259 active bankruptcy paralegal job openings in the US.
The average bankruptcy paralegal salary is $55,485.
Are bankruptcy paralegal jobs in demand?
Bankruptcy paralegal job and salary trends over time
Bankruptcy paralegal jobs over time
Bankruptcy paralegal job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 85,168 | 0.03% |
| 2020 | 84,274 | 0.03% |
| 2019 | 83,552 | 0.02% |
| 2018 | 78,504 | 0.02% |
| 2017 | 73,557 | 0.02% |
Average bankruptcy paralegal salary over time
Bankruptcy paralegal salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $55,485 | $26.68 | +2.3% |
| 2024 | $54,248 | $26.08 | +1.6% |
| 2023 | $53,409 | $25.68 | +1.1% |
| 2022 | $52,854 | $25.41 | +1.8% |
| 2021 | $51,900 | $24.95 | +1.4% |
Bankruptcy paralegal jobs by state
Most common states for bankruptcy paralegals
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 82 | 12% |
| 2 | California | 39,536,653 | 233 | 1% |
| 3 | New York | 19,849,399 | 121 | 1% |
| 4 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 95 | 1% |
| 5 | Georgia | 10,429,379 | 90 | 1% |
| 6 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 78 | 1% |
| 7 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 51 | 1% |
| 8 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 50 | 1% |
| 9 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 50 | 1% |
| 10 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 45 | 1% |
| 11 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 40 | 1% |
| 12 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 39 | 1% |
| 13 | Tennessee | 6,715,984 | 37 | 1% |
| 14 | Mississippi | 2,984,100 | 15 | 1% |
| 15 | West Virginia | 1,815,857 | 10 | 1% |
| 16 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 8 | 1% |
| 17 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 8 | 1% |
| 18 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 7 | 1% |
| 19 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 6 | 1% |
| 20 | Vermont | 623,657 | 5 | 1% |
Most common cities for bankruptcy paralegals
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Greenville | 1 | 1% | $37,799 |
| 2 | Hollywood | 1 | 1% | $29,048 |
| 3 | Wilmington | 1 | 1% | $60,975 |
| 4 | Phoenix | 1 | 0% | $47,820 |
Bankruptcy Paralegal job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of bankruptcy paralegal experts
Catholic University of America
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
Chad Smith
Director of Legal ProgramsCatholic University of America
Legal Research And Advanced Professional Studies
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Bankruptcy Paralegal job market given the pandemic?
Chad Smith: I would have to say the biggest trend is working from home, specifically, telecommuting. As we are all well aware, much of the country has turned to working from home, and this has led to a significant increase in the use of video conferencing platforms, such as Zoom and the greater use of Cloud Services (Google Drive, One Drive, etc.), to share documents. In turn, this is leveraging everyone's computer skills. It is more important than ever to be tech-savvy and possess the ability to troubleshoot technology issues.
The second biggest trend is an emphasis on communication. As mentioned, we are more digital than ever, so it is imperative that paralegals have good verbal and written communication skills. These skills need to be multifaceted and adaptable to the need/situation (i.e., email, legal pleading, client letter, Zoom/virtual meetings, etc.)
What skills stand out on Bankruptcy Paralegal resumes?
Chad Smith: Paralegal's skills that stand out in the current market:
-Experience with technology, online platforms, and digital/online research (Westlaw, Lexis, Bloomberg Law)
-Telework/telecommuting, e-discovery and cloud computing/services, and document creation and formatting
-Communication/writing skills, specifically, the ability to understand the law and communicate legal matters effectively for court, layman clients, and attorneys
-The ability to write effective legal documents that are clear, concise, and complete
-Organization, efficiency, time management, and case management
I definitely emphasize the requirement of computer skills, as I personally would not hire any paralegal who is not very competent and comfortable working digitally. Additionally, case management and the ability to juggle many cases at a time is extremely important. It definitely stands out when a paralegal has experience managing a large caseload and can produce quality legal pleadings in a very efficient manner.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Bankruptcy Paralegals to find work opportunities?
Chad Smith: Yes. The paralegal job market is growing. The DC/DMV area is in the top five of the country for salary and is the largest paralegal market in the U.S. This is because we have an increased demand for paralegals as we have private firms, federal, state, and local governments. Additionally, there is a major trend in the legal industry with private firms who are transitioning to having fewer attorneys and more paralegals; thus, increasing the demand for competent paralegals.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Bankruptcy Paralegals to find work opportunities?
Emily Allen-Hornblower: I would say, think broadly. Your CV gives you an edge - you chose a course of study that is somewhat atypical, original (and a great conversation starter!) that gave you widely applicable skills.
I mean, who studies Classics? Who willingly subjects themselves to the rigors of Latin or Greek - or both? Who commits to navigating the intricacies of an interdisciplinary path that combines some of the most vital areas of inquiry for our time: social and cultural history, political science, philosophy, psychology, literary studies, material culture?
A go-getter. Someone who is passionate. And is Driven.
And you know what? Employers know that. They see that on your CV, and they think, wow - here is someone interesting and hard-working and who thinks out of the box. And they are right. Xerox saw that. Macy's saw that. The Air Force Intelligence Officer who hired one of our (female!) undergraduates as an officer saw that. The software engineer who hired another one of our grads to join his team as a full-time software engineer saw that. Oxford University Press in New York City saw that - and hired another recent grad as a full-time intern in their Higher Education Editorial Development department. SO: Classics majors, think big and broad. There is no restricted path for what is next.
So - Graduating seniors in Classics (and other Liberal Arts degrees), as you prepare to go forward into the world, you have good reason to go forth with pride, and enter the world after college, with all its question marks and inevitable bumps in the road, with confidence.
A Classics major is excellent preparation for the pursuit of a wide range of careers in a large number of fields, including, but not limited to, government, law, education, business, journalism, library science, publishing, foreign service, finance, the entertainment industry, museum, and preservation work, pharmaceutical sciences, music, and the arts, foundations, technology, web design, and labor relations. So think broadly. You've got this.
What Bankruptcy Paralegal skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Emily Allen-Hornblower: No question our economy has been hit hard, and the job market will be very competitive, for students in all courses of study but those who have solid training in the Humanities, along with the strong writing and communication skills that come with it, should do well. Good writers and critical thinkers are essential across the board, and those who have studied history, philosophy, oratory, and literature at its source (that is, the Classics) are well equipped to be competitive in any market.