Paralegals and Legal Assistants Salary in Charleston, SC

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Charleston-North Charleston, SC

Median annual salary $50,830 -16.7% vs national
Median hourly $24.44
10th percentile $35,180
90th percentile $71,950
Employed locally 1,860
National median $61,010

Compare Paralegals and Legal Assistants salary & buying power

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Paralegals and Legal Assistants
in
Charleston, SC
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $35,180
    25th
    $39,280
    50th (median)
    $50,830
    75th
    $56,450
    90th
    $71,950

    Charleston economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.50% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $82,272 2023 • Census ACS
    Paralegals and Legal Assistants salary vs area income 62% Median Paralegals and Legal Assistants salary is 38% 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 Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $85,230
    Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY $59,660
    Wisconsin $56,520
    Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ $55,240
    Western Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area $53,660
    Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC $53,550

    Related occupations in Charleston, SC

    OccupationMedian salary
    Lawyers$105,640
    Legal Support Workers, All Other$49,870
    Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers$49,870
    Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates$93,220

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Paralegals and Legal Assistants in Charleston, SC is $24.44, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $38.43 or more per hour.

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

    The median Paralegals and Legal Assistants salary in Charleston, SC is 16.7% 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 Charleston?

    Entry-level Paralegals and Legal Assistants (10th percentile) earn around $35,180 per year in Charleston, SC. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $39,280.