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The differences between clerks and paralegals can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a clerk, becoming a paralegal takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a paralegal has an average salary of $49,943, which is higher than the $31,163 average annual salary of a clerk.
The top three skills for a clerk include basic math, math and data entry. The most important skills for a paralegal are litigation, legal research, and law firm.
| Clerk | Paralegal | |
| Yearly salary | $31,163 | $49,943 |
| Hourly rate | $14.98 | $24.01 |
| Growth rate | -5% | 14% |
| Number of jobs | 80,311 | 5,177 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 33% | Bachelor's Degree, 51% |
| Average age | 47 | 46 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 12 |
Clerks are responsible for many of the general administrative tasks in the office. They are in charge of manning office telephone lines, managing incoming and outgoing mails, filing paperwork and other needed records, scheduling and documenting meetings, typing out documents when needed, disseminating memos and other official announcements, and keeping an inventory of office equipment and supplies. Clerks should have good office skills, communication skills, business writing skills, and time management skills. They should also be able to treat any document or paperwork they handle with confidentiality.
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.
Clerks and paralegals have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Clerk | Paralegal | |
| Average salary | $31,163 | $49,943 |
| Salary range | Between $24,000 And $39,000 | Between $35,000 And $70,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Hampshire | California |
| Best paying company | University of Massachusetts Boston | Arnall Golden Gregory |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Professional |
There are a few differences between a clerk and a paralegal in terms of educational background:
| Clerk | Paralegal | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 33% | Bachelor's Degree, 51% |
| Most common major | Business | Legal Support Services |
| Most common college | Western Carolina University | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between clerks' and paralegals' demographics:
| Clerk | Paralegal | |
| Average age | 47 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 34.1% Female, 65.9% | Male, 22.4% Female, 77.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.9% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 21.1% Asian, 7.7% White, 55.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% | 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 | 6% | 9% |