Paralegals and Legal Assistants Salary in Cleveland, OH

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Cleveland, OH

Median annual salary $59,370 -2.7% vs national
Median hourly $28.54
10th percentile $37,930
90th percentile $90,810
Employed locally 2,740
National median $61,010

Compare Paralegals and Legal Assistants salary & buying power

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Paralegals and Legal Assistants
in
Cleveland, OH
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $37,930
    25th
    $47,650
    50th (median)
    $59,370
    75th
    $76,790
    90th
    $90,810

    Cleveland economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.80% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $68,507 2023 • Census ACS
    Paralegals and Legal Assistants salary vs area income 87% Median Paralegals and Legal Assistants salary is 13% 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
    Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN $61,200
    Columbus, OH $59,990
    Ohio $58,870
    Akron, OH $57,420
    Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH $56,330
    Springfield, OH $55,300

    Related occupations in Cleveland, OH

    OccupationMedian salary
    Lawyers$128,460
    Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates$89,630
    Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers$59,090
    Legal Support Workers, All Other$64,250
    Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers$125,990
    Judicial Law Clerks$43,330

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Paralegals and Legal Assistants in Cleveland, OH is $28.54, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $45.45 or more per hour.

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

    The median Paralegals and Legal Assistants salary in Cleveland, OH is 2.7% 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 Cleveland?

    Entry-level Paralegals and Legal Assistants (10th percentile) earn around $37,930 per year in Cleveland, OH. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $47,650.