Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Legal research assistant salary
Average legal research assistant salary
$52,497
Understanding the Legal Research Assistant Salary
The average salary for a Legal Research Assistant in the United States stands at $52,497 annually. This figure can vary based on several factors, including location, years of experience, and the specific legal field. For instance, those with more experience typically earn higher salaries, with entry-level positions starting lower than $40,000 per year.
Salary by State
Legal Research Assistants in certain states can expect better compensation. States such as California and New York often offer salaries above the national average, reflecting the higher cost of living and demand for legal services in urban areas. Additionally, cities like San Francisco and New York City are known for their competitive salaries, with some positions exceeding $70,000 annually.
Job Outlook
The job outlook for Legal Research Assistants remains promising. As law firms continue to expand and evolve, the need for proficient researchers who can support complex legal cases increases. This role not only offers a solid salary but also the potential for career advancement into specialized legal fields or supervisory positions.
Let Zippia find your next legal research assistant job
Let Zippia find your next legal research assistant job
Where can a Legal Research Assistant earn more?
Legal research assistant salaries by experience level
| Experience level | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level legal research assistant | $37,500 | $18.02 |
| Mid-level legal research assistant | $50,200 | $24.13 |
| Senior-level legal research assistant | $52,800 | $25.39 |
Average legal research assistant salary by state
The highest-paying states for legal research assistants are New York, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. The lowest average legal research assistant salary states are North Carolina, Florida, and Arkansas.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for legal research assistants
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pennsylvania | $63,463 | $30.51 |
| 2 | New Jersey | $61,143 | $29.40 |
| 3 | District of Columbia | $63,598 | $30.58 |
| 4 | New Hampshire | $55,905 | $26.88 |
| 5 | Colorado | $55,943 | $26.90 |
| 6 | Connecticut | $60,585 | $29.13 |
| 7 | Oregon | $53,692 | $25.81 |
| 8 | California | $56,909 | $27.36 |
| 9 | Illinois | $54,132 | $26.02 |
| 10 | Virginia | $55,959 | $26.90 |
| 11 | New York | $63,874 | $30.71 |
| 12 | West Virginia | $51,290 | $24.66 |
| 13 | Rhode Island | $50,193 | $24.13 |
| 14 | Utah | $51,618 | $24.82 |
| 15 | Delaware | $54,114 | $26.02 |
| 16 | Nevada | $55,526 | $26.70 |
| 17 | Alaska | $59,083 | $28.41 |
| 18 | Washington | $59,426 | $28.57 |
| 19 | Michigan | $48,161 | $23.15 |
| 20 | Minnesota | $50,239 | $24.15 |
| 21 | South Dakota | $48,000 | $23.08 |
| 22 | Georgia | $50,331 | $24.20 |
| 23 | Idaho | $49,775 | $23.93 |
| 24 | Nebraska | $47,863 | $23.01 |
| 25 | Vermont | $45,105 | $21.69 |
| 26 | Ohio | $45,788 | $22.01 |
| 27 | Hawaii | $53,183 | $25.57 |
| 28 | Massachusetts | $49,343 | $23.72 |
| 29 | Tennessee | $43,774 | $21.05 |
| 30 | New Mexico | $45,453 | $21.85 |
| 31 | North Dakota | $45,427 | $21.84 |
| 32 | Mississippi | $46,985 | $22.59 |
| 33 | Arizona | $44,331 | $21.31 |
| 34 | Kentucky | $46,176 | $22.20 |
| 35 | Montana | $44,225 | $21.26 |
| 36 | Wyoming | $41,301 | $19.86 |
| 37 | Maryland | $49,194 | $23.65 |
| 38 | Iowa | $44,197 | $21.25 |
| 39 | Texas | $42,730 | $20.54 |
| 40 | Maine | $42,361 | $20.37 |
| 41 | Kansas | $43,471 | $20.90 |
| 42 | Wisconsin | $42,478 | $20.42 |
| 43 | Alabama | $43,534 | $20.93 |
| 44 | Florida | $40,163 | $19.31 |
| 45 | Oklahoma | $42,145 | $20.26 |
| 46 | Missouri | $39,936 | $19.20 |
| 47 | North Carolina | $40,337 | $19.39 |
| 48 | Louisiana | $41,177 | $19.80 |
| 49 | Arkansas | $40,060 | $19.26 |
| 50 | Indiana | $36,905 | $17.74 |
| 51 | South Carolina | $39,161 | $18.83 |
Highest paying cities for legal research assistants
The highest-paying cities for legal research assistants are New York, NY, East Greenbush, NY, and Hampton Manor, NY.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $64,102 | $30.82 |
| 2 | East Greenbush, NY | $61,714 | $29.67 |
| 3 | Hampton Manor, NY | $61,708 | $29.67 |
| 4 | Rensselaer, NY | $61,671 | $29.65 |
| 5 | Albany, NY | $61,657 | $29.64 |
| 6 | Menands, NY | $61,570 | $29.60 |
| 7 | San Francisco, CA | $60,327 | $29.00 |
| 8 | Denver, CO | $55,852 | $26.85 |
| 9 | Los Angeles, CA | $55,822 | $26.84 |
| 10 | Atlanta, GA | $50,551 | $24.30 |
| 11 | Fayetteville, NC | $40,099 | $19.28 |
Legal research assistant salary details
A legal research assistant's salary ranges from $36,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $74,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a legal research assistant's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $74,000 | $6,167 | $36 |
| 75th Percentile | $63,000 | $5,250 | $30 |
| Average | $52,497 | $4,375 | $25 |
| 25th Percentile | $43,000 | $3,583 | $21 |
| 10th Percentile | $36,000 | $3,000 | $17 |
Highest paying legal research assistant jobs
The highest paying types of legal research assistants are real estate paralegal, corporate paralegal, and paralegal specialist.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Real Estate Paralegal | $68,387 | $5,699 | $32.88 | 24,369 |
| Contractor-Paralegal | $60,686 | $5,057 | $29.18 | 15,609 |
| Bankruptcy Paralegal | $55,485 | $4,624 | $26.68 | 7,259 |
| Corporate Paralegal | $67,515 | $5,626 | $32.46 | 13,482 |
| Litigation Paralegal | $58,484 | $4,874 | $28.12 | 5,132 |
| Paralegal | $49,943 | $4,162 | $24.01 | 5,177 |
Top companies hiring legal research assistants now:
Which companies pay legal research assistants the most?
Legal research assistant salaries at New York State Bar Association and Butzel Long are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average legal research assistant salary at companies like Human Rights Foundation and State of Nevada Employees' Association Inc are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York State Bar Association | $64,590 | $31.05 |
| 2 | Butzel Long | $61,312 | $29.48 |
| 3 | Human Rights Foundation | $52,261 | $25.13 |
| 4 | State of Nevada Employees' Association Inc | $41,688 | $20.04 |
| 5 | University of Arkansas | $28,983 | $13.93 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Legal Research Assistant salary by industry
The average legal research assistant salary varies across industries:
- The average legal research assistant salary in the real estate industry is $52,051, the highest of any industry.
- The average legal research assistant salary in the finance industry is $52,045.
- Legal research assistants in the government industry earn an average salary of $43,843, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for legal research assistants
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Real Estate | $52,051 | $25.02 |
| 2 | Professional | $52,045 | $25.02 |
| 3 | Pharmaceutical | $51,912 | $24.96 |
| 4 | Education | $47,990 | $23.07 |
| 5 | Government | $43,843 | $21.08 |
High paying legal research assistant jobs
Legal research assistant salary trends
The average legal research assistant salary has risen by $6,141 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average legal research assistant earned $46,356 annually, but today, they earn $52,497 a year. That works out to a 7% change in pay for legal research assistants over the last decade.
Compare legal research assistant salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average legal research assistant salary over time
Compare legal research assistant salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Legal research assistant salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $52,500 | $25.24 | +2.2% |
| 2024 | $51,300 | $24.68 | +1.5% |
| 2023 | $50,500 | $24.29 | +1.0% |
| 2022 | $50,000 | $24.04 | +1.8% |
| 2021 | $49,100 | $23.61 | +1.4% |
Recently added legal research assistant salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inteletech Global | Legal Data Collection Staff | Indianapolis, IN | 02/14/2025 | $48,356 |
| Kossoris Search Inc. | Legal Data Research Assistant | Los Angeles, CA | 01/13/2025 | $41,740 |
| Ndow | Legal Research Assistant 1 | Carson City, NV | 09/14/2024 | $59,257 |
| Kossoris Search Inc. | Legal Data Research Assistant | Los Angeles, CA | 07/17/2024 | $41,740 |
| Kossoris Search Inc. | Legal Data Research Assistant | Los Angeles, CA | 07/17/2024 | $41,740 |
| Kossoris Search Inc. | Legal Data Research Assistant | Los Angeles, CA | 05/18/2024 | $41,740 |
| Kossoris Search Inc. | Legal Data Research Assistant | Los Angeles, CA | 03/19/2024 | $41,740 |
| Kossoris Search Inc. | Legal Data Research Assistant | Los Angeles, CA | 01/19/2024 | $41,740 |
| Kossoris Search Inc. | Legal Data Research Assistant | Los Angeles, CA | 09/21/2023 | $41,740 |
| Kossoris Search Inc. | Legal Data Research Assistant | Los Angeles, CA | 08/22/2023 | $41,740 |
Search for legal research assistant jobs