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Job outlook for senior legal secretaries in the United States
Senior legal secretary job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected senior legal secretary job growth rate is -8% from 2018-2028.
About -286,900 new jobs for senior legal secretaries are projected over the next decade.
Senior legal secretary salaries have increased 11% for senior legal secretaries in the last 5 years.
There are over 148,548 senior legal secretaries currently employed in the United States.
There are 11,223 active senior legal secretary job openings in the US.
The average senior legal secretary salary is $60,027.
Are senior legal secretary jobs in demand?
Senior legal secretary job and salary trends over time
Senior legal secretary jobs over time
Senior legal secretary job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 148,548 | 0.04% |
| 2020 | 153,683 | 0.05% |
| 2019 | 160,192 | 0.05% |
| 2018 | 167,774 | 0.05% |
| 2017 | 175,592 | 0.05% |
Average senior legal secretary salary over time
Senior legal secretary salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $60,027 | $28.86 | +3.6% |
| 2024 | $57,968 | $27.87 | +2.0% |
| 2023 | $56,816 | $27.32 | +3.6% |
| 2022 | $54,818 | $26.36 | +1.2% |
| 2021 | $54,144 | $26.03 | +2.3% |
Senior legal secretary jobs by state
Most common states for senior legal secretaries
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 73 | 11% |
| 2 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 96 | 7% |
| 3 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 377 | 4% |
| 4 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 217 | 3% |
| 5 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 185 | 3% |
| 6 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 45 | 3% |
| 7 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 34 | 3% |
| 8 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 27 | 3% |
| 9 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 26 | 3% |
| 10 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 21 | 3% |
| 11 | New York | 19,849,399 | 445 | 2% |
| 12 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 260 | 2% |
| 13 | Michigan | 9,962,311 | 198 | 2% |
| 14 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 173 | 2% |
| 15 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 82 | 2% |
| 16 | West Virginia | 1,815,857 | 43 | 2% |
| 17 | New Mexico | 2,088,070 | 39 | 2% |
| 18 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 32 | 2% |
| 19 | Delaware | 961,939 | 23 | 2% |
| 20 | Vermont | 623,657 | 15 | 2% |
Most common cities for senior legal secretaries
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Los Angeles | 1 | 0% | $66,437 |
| 2 | San Diego | 1 | 0% | $63,423 |
Senior Legal Secretary job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of senior legal secretary experts
Ohio University
What skills will help Senior Legal Secretaries earn the most?
Allison White: I'll put professionalism at the top of the list, and then specialized skills come second regarding salary. The medical secretary used to be the one to earn top dollar. Now that there are Medical Assisting programs and licenses, the student must seek the special skills in terminology and clinical service from that degree to earn top dollar in the medical field. Employers want office skills (filing, customer service, scheduling, etc.) and clinical skills (vitals, patient intake, registration, etc.). Still, I recommend that those who are inexperienced seek skills and licenses in the area of their personal interest (law office, government office, medical office, education, and more). I took courses in legal terminology and legal office procedures while completing my associate's degree. I also pursued a business analyst certification and the MOS certifications early on. Later, I continued my education by earning a bachelor's degree in a dual major (business administration and marketing).
What skills stand out on Senior Legal Secretary resumes?
Allison White: Knowledge of spreadsheets software such as MS Excel is a commonly sought-after skill. Employers want word processing and spreadsheet skills but often say they want high school graduates and pay accordingly. These skills aren't always taught in high school. Those in the field should seek these skills. Additionally, medical and legal assistants have highly sought after. Terminology courses for these specialized areas are sometimes offered at the vocational schools but are usually offered at the post-secondary level.