Paralegals and Legal Assistants Salary in Fort Smith, AR-OK

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Fort Smith, AR-OK

Median annual salary $49,000 -19.7% vs national
Median hourly $23.56
10th percentile $37,080
90th percentile $64,990
Employed locally 120
National median $61,010

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Paralegals and Legal Assistants
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $37,080
    25th
    $39,940
    50th (median)
    $49,000
    75th
    $54,930
    90th
    $64,990

    Fort Smith economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.50% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $56,717 2023 • Census ACS
    Paralegals and Legal Assistants salary vs area income 86% Median Paralegals and Legal Assistants salary is 14% 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 Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $97,740
    Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $80,550
    Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA $77,990
    San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA $77,550
    Parkersburg-Vienna, WV $74,960
    New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $73,470

    Related occupations in Fort Smith, AR-OK

    OccupationMedian salary
    Lawyers$102,280
    Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers$41,580

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Paralegals and Legal Assistants in Fort Smith, AR-OK is $23.56, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $36.05 or more per hour.

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

    The median Paralegals and Legal Assistants salary in Fort Smith, AR-OK is 19.7% 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 Fort Smith?

    Entry-level Paralegals and Legal Assistants (10th percentile) earn around $37,080 per year in Fort Smith, AR-OK. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $39,940.