Industry Trends

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Outlook, "Paralegals and legal assistants are projected to grow faster than the average for all occupations through 2010. Employment growth stems from law firms and other employers with legal staffs increasingly hiring paralegals to lower the cost and increase the availability and efficiency of legal services that were historically performed by attorneys.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics most paralegals earn somewhere in the $25-72,000 range.

In a June 2000 survey by the National Association of Legal Assistants, the average national salary for legal assistants and paralegals was between $35,226 and $37,266.

• In 2004, the nationwide the average salary for paralegals was $44,373. Wages vary by education. In general the more education, the higher the wages. Type and size of the employer also affects wages.
• Many paralegals also receive bonuses and benefits, including sick leave, paid vacation, health insurance, and retirement plan.

Sources: Iseek.com Career: Paralegal, NALA 2004 National Utilization and Compensation Survey Report, Greater Lexington Paralegal Association, http://www.abanet.org/legalservices/paralegals/home.html.

According to a salary survey of Legal Assistant Today, paralegals nationally earned an average salary of $51,000 in 2005. Other reports show experienced paralegals earning average salaries of about $67,000 with some earning up to $77,000. * salaries fluctuate greatly based on years of experience and region of employment.