Paralegals and Legal Assistants Salary in Hickory, NC

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC

Median annual salary $47,600 -22% vs national
Median hourly $22.88
10th percentile $37,620
90th percentile $59,080
Employed locally 150
National median $61,010

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Paralegals and Legal Assistants
in
Hickory, NC
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $37,620
    25th
    $39,380
    50th (median)
    $47,600
    75th
    $56,390
    90th
    $59,080

    Hickory economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.60% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $60,255 2023 • Census ACS
    Paralegals and Legal Assistants salary vs area income 79% Median Paralegals and Legal Assistants salary is 21% 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 Hickory, NC

    OccupationMedian salary
    Lawyers $96,750

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Paralegals and Legal Assistants in Hickory, NC is $22.88, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $35.33 or more per hour.

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

    The median Paralegals and Legal Assistants salary in Hickory, NC is 22% 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 Hickory?

    Entry-level Paralegals and Legal Assistants (10th percentile) earn around $37,620 per year in Hickory, NC. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $39,380.