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The differences between legal transcriptionists and paralegal specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both a legal transcriptionist and a paralegal specialist. Additionally, a paralegal specialist has an average salary of $61,244, which is higher than the $48,622 average annual salary of a legal transcriptionist.
The top three skills for a legal transcriptionist include transcription, legal terminology and dictation. The most important skills for a paralegal specialist are legal research, litigation, and government agencies.
| Legal Transcriptionist | Paralegal Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $48,622 | $61,244 |
| Hourly rate | $23.38 | $29.44 |
| Growth rate | 14% | 14% |
| Number of jobs | 6,047 | 4,185 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 37% | Bachelor's Degree, 52% |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
A legal transcriptionist produces written transcriptions of audio recordings from various legal conversions such as consultations, interviews, and court proceedings. It is their responsibility to deliver accurate transcriptions, from dialogues to gestures and diction. To carry out their duties, they must maintain an active communication line with the employer, keep an eye out for errors and inconsistencies, and organize files accordingly. Moreover, a legal transcriptionist may directly work at government offices and legal firms. They can also work as independent contractors, typically working from home.
A Paralegal Specialist provides assistance to lawyers and does many of the same jobs that lawyers do. They work in various areas, such as family, environmental, or real estate law.
Legal transcriptionists and paralegal specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Legal Transcriptionist | Paralegal Specialist | |
| Average salary | $48,622 | $61,244 |
| Salary range | Between $35,000 And $65,000 | Between $35,000 And $106,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | - | California |
| Best paying company | - | DLA Piper |
| Best paying industry | - | Government |
There are a few differences between a legal transcriptionist and a paralegal specialist in terms of educational background:
| Legal Transcriptionist | Paralegal Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 37% | Bachelor's Degree, 52% |
| Most common major | Business | Legal Support Services |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between legal transcriptionists' and paralegal specialists' demographics:
| Legal Transcriptionist | Paralegal Specialist | |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 6.5% Female, 93.5% | Male, 37.8% Female, 62.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.9% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 16.5% Asian, 6.0% White, 62.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 9.7% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 17.1% Asian, 5.9% White, 61.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 9% |