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Contractor-paralegal salary
Average contractor-paralegal salary
$60,686
Average Contractor-Paralegal Salary
The average salary of a Contractor-Paralegal in the U.S. stands at $60,686 per year. This figure can fluctuate based on several factors, including experience, location, and the type of employer. For instance, paralegals working in larger firms or specialized areas often earn more.
Contractor-Paralegal Salaries by Experience Level
Entry-level positions typically start around $40,000, while experienced paralegals can earn upwards of $80,000 annually. Understanding these levels can help you identify potential career trajectories.
Where to Find Higher Salaries
Geographically, states like California and New York offer some of the highest salaries for contractor-paralegals due to their robust legal markets. Additionally, metropolitan areas often provide more opportunities. Explore specific cities to compare your potential earnings based on your location.
Maximizing Your Salary Potential
Consider further education or certifications to enhance your qualifications and salary prospects. Stay informed about industry trends and job opportunities through platforms like Zippia, which can provide valuable insights into the evolving job market.
Let Zippia find your next contractor-paralegal job
Let Zippia find your next contractor-paralegal job
Where can a Contractor-Paralegal earn more?
Contractor-paralegal salaries by experience level
| Experience level | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level contractor-paralegal | $43,300 | $20.83 |
| Mid-level contractor-paralegal | $58,000 | $27.89 |
| Senior-level contractor-paralegal | $61,100 | $29.36 |
Average contractor-paralegal salary by state
The average contractor-paralegal salary in California, Oregon, and Colorado are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average contractor-paralegal salary states are Louisiana, North Carolina, and Arkansas.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for contractor-paralegals
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $74,124 | $35.64 |
| 2 | District of Columbia | $78,424 | $37.70 |
| 3 | Colorado | $74,895 | $36.01 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $74,721 | $35.92 |
| 5 | Oregon | $75,230 | $36.17 |
| 6 | New Jersey | $72,281 | $34.75 |
| 7 | California | $79,281 | $38.12 |
| 8 | New Hampshire | $69,551 | $33.44 |
| 9 | New York | $69,801 | $33.56 |
| 10 | Nevada | $69,466 | $33.40 |
| 11 | Pennsylvania | $66,126 | $31.79 |
| 12 | West Virginia | $59,555 | $28.63 |
| 13 | Illinois | $68,078 | $32.73 |
| 14 | Virginia | $63,595 | $30.57 |
| 15 | Alaska | $62,620 | $30.11 |
| 16 | Texas | $61,123 | $29.39 |
| 17 | Connecticut | $65,131 | $31.31 |
| 18 | Michigan | $58,890 | $28.31 |
| 19 | Utah | $65,104 | $31.30 |
| 20 | Idaho | $62,767 | $30.18 |
| 21 | North Dakota | $52,838 | $25.40 |
| 22 | Delaware | $62,960 | $30.27 |
| 23 | Rhode Island | $61,844 | $29.73 |
| 24 | Minnesota | $60,011 | $28.85 |
| 25 | South Dakota | $55,958 | $26.90 |
| 26 | Vermont | $54,963 | $26.42 |
| 27 | Maine | $51,890 | $24.95 |
| 28 | Montana | $52,527 | $25.25 |
| 29 | Wyoming | $49,067 | $23.59 |
| 30 | Nebraska | $55,823 | $26.84 |
| 31 | Kentucky | $53,305 | $25.63 |
| 32 | Mississippi | $51,292 | $24.66 |
| 33 | Maryland | $57,106 | $27.45 |
| 34 | Hawaii | $60,922 | $29.29 |
| 35 | Georgia | $48,492 | $23.31 |
| 36 | Iowa | $52,316 | $25.15 |
| 37 | Alabama | $47,674 | $22.92 |
| 38 | Arizona | $51,422 | $24.72 |
| 39 | Tennessee | $48,694 | $23.41 |
| 40 | Wisconsin | $51,393 | $24.71 |
| 41 | New Mexico | $52,399 | $25.19 |
| 42 | Ohio | $48,949 | $23.53 |
| 43 | Louisiana | $45,279 | $21.77 |
| 44 | Florida | $40,776 | $19.60 |
| 45 | Kansas | $49,316 | $23.71 |
| 46 | Arkansas | $44,291 | $21.29 |
| 47 | North Carolina | $45,036 | $21.65 |
| 48 | Missouri | $45,587 | $21.92 |
| 49 | South Carolina | $43,210 | $20.77 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $46,773 | $22.49 |
| 51 | Indiana | $43,792 | $21.05 |
Highest paying cities for contractor-paralegals
The highest-paying cities for contractor-paralegals are Camarillo, CA, Denver, CO, and Seattle, WA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Camarillo, CA | $76,355 | $36.71 |
| 2 | Denver, CO | $74,951 | $36.03 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $74,735 | $35.93 |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $74,611 | $35.87 |
| 5 | Edison, NJ | $72,265 | $34.74 |
| 6 | New York, NY | $69,848 | $33.58 |
| 7 | Chicago, IL | $68,458 | $32.91 |
| 8 | Danbury, CT | $65,165 | $31.33 |
| 9 | Georgetown, TX | $61,185 | $29.42 |
| 10 | Bloomington, MN | $59,941 | $28.82 |
| 11 | Southfield, MI | $59,061 | $28.39 |
| 12 | Gaithersburg, MD | $56,958 | $27.38 |
| 13 | Scottsdale, AZ | $51,631 | $24.82 |
| 14 | Atlanta, GA | $48,727 | $23.43 |
| 15 | Memphis, TN | $47,806 | $22.98 |
| 16 | Kettering, OH | $47,541 | $22.86 |
| 17 | Greensboro, NC | $45,619 | $21.93 |
| 18 | Jacksonville, FL | $42,545 | $20.45 |
Contractor-paralegal salary details
A contractor-paralegal's salary ranges from $37,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $99,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a contractor-paralegal's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $99,000 | $8,250 | $48 |
| 75th Percentile | $78,000 | $6,500 | $38 |
| Average | $60,686 | $5,057 | $29 |
| 25th Percentile | $46,000 | $3,833 | $22 |
| 10th Percentile | $37,000 | $3,083 | $18 |
Highest paying contractor-paralegal jobs
The highest paying types of contractor-paralegals are real estate paralegal, corporate paralegal, and paralegal specialist.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Law Internship | $39,394 | $3,283 | $18.94 | 51,663 |
| Legal Administrator | $47,198 | $3,933 | $22.69 | 56,419 |
| Law Clerk | $55,916 | $4,660 | $26.88 | 75,014 |
| Legal Clerk | $35,152 | $2,929 | $16.90 | 74,069 |
| Paralegal Internship | $52,476 | $4,373 | $25.23 | 54,408 |
| Litigation Paralegal | $58,484 | $4,874 | $28.12 | 5,132 |
Top companies hiring contractor-paralegals now:
Which companies pay contractor-paralegals the most?
Contractor-paralegal salaries at SeaSpine and U.S. Pharmacopeia are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average contractor-paralegal salary at companies like Ngam Advisors, L.P. and Seagate Technology are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | SeaSpine | $88,162 | $42.39 |
| 2 | U.S. Pharmacopeia | $85,259 | $40.99 |
| 3 | Ngam Advisors, L.P. | $83,982 | $40.38 |
| 4 | Seagate Technology | $82,016 | $39.43 |
| 5 | Lone Star Circle of Care | $78,114 | $37.55 |
| 6 | Meritage Homes | $75,113 | $36.11 |
| 7 | UPS | $71,879 | $34.56 |
| 8 | Natixis North America LLC | $71,092 | $34.18 |
| 9 | Fenwick & West | $67,939 | $32.66 |
| 10 | Novavax | $65,394 | $31.44 |
| 11 | DRW | $64,510 | $31.01 |
| 12 | WideOrbit | $64,321 | $30.92 |
| 13 | Neurocrine Biosciences | $64,294 | $30.91 |
| 14 | International Paper | $62,868 | $30.23 |
| 15 | Kettering Health Network | $61,450 | $29.54 |
| 16 | Collectivehealth, Inc. | $61,334 | $29.49 |
| 17 | Hackensack Meridian Health | $59,153 | $28.44 |
| 18 | Hired | $58,172 | $27.97 |
| 19 | Maven | $57,894 | $27.83 |
| 20 | Odyssey Logistics | $57,782 | $27.78 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Contractor-Paralegal salary by industry
The average contractor-paralegal salary varies across industries:
- The average contractor-paralegal salary in the finance industry is $79,049, the highest of any industry.
- The average contractor-paralegal salary in the finance industry is $71,159.
- Contractor-paralegals in the government industry earn an average salary of $54,738, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for contractor-paralegals
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Finance | $79,049 | $38.00 |
| 2 | Health Care | $71,159 | $34.21 |
| 3 | Professional | $68,062 | $32.72 |
| 4 | Government | $54,738 | $26.32 |
High paying contractor-paralegal jobs
Contractor-paralegal salary trends
The average contractor-paralegal salary has risen by $7,098 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average contractor-paralegal earned $53,588 annually, but today, they earn $60,686 a year. That works out to a 7% change in pay for contractor-paralegals over the last decade.
Compare contractor-paralegal salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average contractor-paralegal salary over time
Compare contractor-paralegal salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Contractor-paralegal salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $60,700 | $29.18 | +2.2% |
| 2025 | $59,300 | $28.53 | +1.5% |
| 2024 | $58,400 | $28.08 | +1.0% |
| 2023 | $57,800 | $27.79 | +1.8% |
| 2022 | $56,800 | $27.29 | +1.4% |
Recently added contractor-paralegal salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pebble Labs | Legal Contractor | Fremont, CA | 06/29/2025 | $62,610 |
| The Freelance Firm | Remote, Contract-Based Tennessee Personal Injury Paralegal Opportunity- | Nashville, TN | 06/27/2025 | $62,610 |
| Flint Materials Corp | Seeking Contract Paralegal | Empire, GA | 06/10/2025 | $52,175 |
| Lawyers On Demand | Contract | Paralegal | Armonk, NY | 05/28/2025 | $62,610 |
| Cleveland Clinic | Paralegal I-IT Contracting | Cleveland, OH | 05/22/2025 | $43,347 |
| LHH | Contract Trial Paralegal | Los Angeles, CA | 05/21/2025 | $62,610 |
| Cantor Fitzgerald | IT Contracts Paralegal | New York, NY | 05/03/2025 | $80,000 |
| Enova | Paralegal-Contracts (Hybrid) | Chicago, IL | 04/28/2025 | $72,000 |
| Velo3D | Paralegal-Contracts | Fremont, CA | 04/28/2025 | $90,000 |
| Gardaworld | Contracts Paralegal | Saint Louis, MO | 04/20/2025 | $60,000 |
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