Paralegals and Legal Assistants Salary in Durham, NC

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Durham-Chapel Hill, NC

Median annual salary $49,330 -19.1% vs national
Median hourly $23.72
10th percentile $38,130
90th percentile $90,950
Employed locally 770
National median $61,010

Compare Paralegals and Legal Assistants salary & buying power

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Paralegals and Legal Assistants
in
Durham, NC
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $38,130
    25th
    $47,270
    50th (median)
    $49,330
    75th
    $63,520
    90th
    $90,950

    Durham economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.20% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $81,017 2023 • Census ACS
    Paralegals and Legal Assistants salary vs area income 61% Median Paralegals and Legal Assistants salary is 39% 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
    Trenton-Princeton, NJ $75,380
    Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $74,470
    Lincoln, NE $61,410
    Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN $61,200
    Anchorage, AK $61,010

    Related occupations in Durham, NC

    OccupationMedian salary
    Lawyers$123,230
    Legal Support Workers, All Other$91,290
    Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers$50,720

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Paralegals and Legal Assistants in Durham, NC is $23.72, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $43.14 or more per hour.

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

    The median Paralegals and Legal Assistants salary in Durham, NC is 19.1% 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 Durham?

    Entry-level Paralegals and Legal Assistants (10th percentile) earn around $38,130 per year in Durham, NC. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $47,270.