Paralegals and Legal Assistants Salary in Buffalo, NY

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY

Median annual salary $58,550 -4% vs national
Median hourly $28.15
10th percentile $39,770
90th percentile $79,960
Employed locally 1,810
National median $61,010

Compare Paralegals and Legal Assistants salary & buying power

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Paralegals and Legal Assistants
in
Buffalo, NY
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $39,770
    25th
    $47,390
    50th (median)
    $58,550
    75th
    $64,450
    90th
    $79,960

    Buffalo economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.90% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $70,572 2023 • Census ACS
    Paralegals and Legal Assistants salary vs area income 83% Median Paralegals and Legal Assistants salary is 17% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Paralegals and Legal Assistants

    Metro areaMedian salary
    District of Columbia $99,300
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $97,740
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $85,230
    Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $84,950
    Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $80,550
    Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO $79,240

    Nearby metros — Paralegals and Legal Assistants salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $97,740
    New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $73,470
    Syracuse, NY $61,820
    Kingston, NY $60,220
    Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY $60,220
    Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY $59,660

    Related occupations in Buffalo, NY

    OccupationMedian salary
    Lawyers$111,570
    Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates$169,710
    Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers$48,470
    Legal Support Workers, All Other$59,540
    Arbitrators, Mediators, and Conciliators$75,200
    Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers$114,430

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Paralegals and Legal Assistants make per hour in Buffalo?

    The median hourly wage for Paralegals and Legal Assistants in Buffalo, NY is $28.15, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $38.97 or more per hour.

    Is Buffalo above or below average for Paralegals and Legal Assistants salaries?

    The median Paralegals and Legal Assistants salary in Buffalo, NY is 4% below the national median of $61,010. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Paralegals and Legal Assistants in Buffalo?

    Entry-level Paralegals and Legal Assistants (10th percentile) earn around $39,770 per year in Buffalo, NY. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $47,390.