Paralegals and Legal Assistants Salary in Columbus, OH

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

Median annual salary $59,990 -1.7% vs national
Median hourly $28.84
10th percentile $39,930
90th percentile $83,100
Employed locally 1,850
National median $61,010

Compare Paralegals and Legal Assistants salary & buying power

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Paralegals and Legal Assistants
in
Columbus, OH
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $39,930
    25th
    $49,310
    50th (median)
    $59,990
    75th
    $76,150
    90th
    $83,100

    Columbus economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.00% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $79,847 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
    Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN $61,200
    Cleveland, OH $59,370
    Ohio $58,870
    Akron, OH $57,420
    Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH $56,330
    Springfield, OH $55,300

    Related occupations in Columbus, OH

    OccupationMedian salary
    Lawyers $132,810
    Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers $61,660
    Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers $72,340
    Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates $99,110
    Legal Support Workers, All Other $62,480

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Paralegals and Legal Assistants in Columbus, OH is $28.84, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $47.13 or more per hour.

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

    The median Paralegals and Legal Assistants salary in Columbus, OH is 1.7% 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 Columbus?

    Entry-level Paralegals and Legal Assistants (10th percentile) earn around $39,930 per year in Columbus, OH. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $49,310.