Paralegals and Legal Assistants: Salary, Job Outlook & How to Become One (2026 Parent Guide)
Legal · SOC 23-2011 · O*NET 23-2011.00
Assist lawyers by investigating facts, preparing legal documents, or researching legal precedent. Conduct research to support a legal proceeding, to formulate a defense, or to initiate legal action.
Paralegals and Legal Assistants fall under the Legal category in the U.S. occupational classification. Paralegals and Legal Assistants earn a median salary of $61,010 per year, ranking in the top 46% of all U.S. occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects +0.2% job growth through 2034, projected to grow slower than the US average. Entry into this field typically requires a bachelor's degree, with specific licensing or certification depending on the state and employer. For parents whose teenager is exploring this path, the most actionable step is mapping the education requirements to specific colleges and majors before junior year — not waiting until application season.
What do paralegals and legal assistants earn?
The median annual wage for paralegals and legal assistants is $61,010. That puts paralegals and legal assistants at #375 on the BLS ranked list of all U.S. occupations by median pay. This salary is above the U.S. median for individual workers and reflects a stable, credentialed occupation. Actual pay varies meaningfully by state, employer type, and years of experience — entry-level salaries are typically 30–40% below the median, while top-decile earners often exceed it by 50% or more.
| 10th percentile (entry-level) | $39,710 |
| 25th percentile | $48,190 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $61,010 |
| 75th percentile | $78,280 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $98,990 |
| Median hourly wage | $29.33/hr |
Is paralegals and legal assistants a growing career?
The 10-year outlook for paralegals and legal assistants is +0.2%, projected to grow slower than the US average. Employment is projected to move from approximately 376K positions in 2024 to 376K in 2034, a net change of 0K. Flat growth typically reflects a mature, stable field. Most openings will come from retirements rather than new positions, which can favor candidates with strong networks and willingness to relocate.
What do paralegals and legal assistants do every day?
According to O*NET task surveys of working paralegals and legal assistants, these are the core responsibilities most professionals perform. This is what your teen would actually be doing in this role.
- 1.Prepare affidavits or other documents, such as legal correspondence, and organize and maintain documents in paper or electronic filing system.
- 2.Prepare, edit, or review legal documents, including legislation, briefs, pleadings, appeals, wills, contracts, and real estate closing statements.
- 3.Investigate facts and law of cases and search pertinent sources, such as public records and internet sources, to determine causes of action and to prepare cases.
- 4.Prepare for trial by performing tasks such as organizing exhibits.
- 5.Meet with clients and other professionals to discuss details of cases.
- 6.Gather and analyze research data, such as statutes, decisions, and legal articles, codes, and documents.
Top skills for paralegals and legal assistants
O*NET ranks these as the most important skills for this occupation, on a 1–5 importance scale derived from worker surveys.
What education does my child need to become paralegals and legal assistant?
The standard path into paralegals and legal assistants begins with a bachelor's degree in a related field, followed by entry-level experience or internships during college. For parents helping a teen prepare, the highest-leverage step before junior year is identifying colleges and programs that feed reliably into this occupation — Solyo's college search lets parents filter by major and admissions data side by side.
Based on O*NET surveys of incumbents — what people in this job actually have, not what employers list as required.
Related careers your child might also consider
How parents help teens explore careers like this
Solyo helps parents map a teen's interests to specific careers, then back to the colleges and majors that lead there. Salary, outlook, and education data come from BLS and O*NET — the same sources high school counselors use — but presented for the parent's planning lens, not the student's exploration view.
Common questions parents ask about paralegals and legal assistants
What is the median salary for paralegals and legal assistants?
The median annual salary for paralegals and legal assistants is $61,010 according to the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Is paralegals and legal assistants a growing career?
BLS projects +0.2% growth for paralegals and legal assistants from 2024 through 2034, which is flat growth projected to grow slower than the US average.
What education does my child need to become paralegals and legal assistant?
The typical entry path requires a bachelor's degree, plus any state licensure or certification specific to the role. Programs that align well with this career can be filtered inside Solyo's college search.
What careers are similar to paralegals and legal assistants?
Related occupations within the Legal category share education paths and skill profiles, so they're a useful starting set when a teen is uncertain. The "Related careers" section below lists nearby options.
Salary data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics program. Skills, tasks, and education distribution from the O*NET database. Job outlook from the BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 release.