Paralegals and Legal Assistants Salary in Columbia, SC

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Columbia, SC

Median annual salary $49,730 -18.5% vs national
Median hourly $23.91
10th percentile $38,080
90th percentile $74,960
Employed locally 1,580
National median $61,010

Compare Paralegals and Legal Assistants salary & buying power

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Paralegals and Legal Assistants
in
Columbia, SC
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $38,080
    25th
    $46,190
    50th (median)
    $49,730
    75th
    $61,990
    90th
    $74,960

    Columbia economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.00% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $66,146 2023 • Census ACS
    Paralegals and Legal Assistants salary vs area income 75% Median Paralegals and Legal Assistants salary is 25% 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 Columbia, SC

    OccupationMedian salary
    Lawyers$103,000
    Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers$48,100
    Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates$99,240
    Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers$74,690
    Legal Support Workers, All Other$54,290
    Judicial Law Clerks$73,490

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Paralegals and Legal Assistants in Columbia, SC is $23.91, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $36.49 or more per hour.

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

    The median Paralegals and Legal Assistants salary in Columbia, SC is 18.5% 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 Columbia?

    Entry-level Paralegals and Legal Assistants (10th percentile) earn around $38,080 per year in Columbia, SC. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $46,190.