Paralegals and Legal Assistants Salary in Madison, WI

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Madison, WI

Median annual salary $59,680 -2.2% vs national
Median hourly $28.69
10th percentile $46,170
90th percentile $83,020
Employed locally 810
National median $61,010

Compare Paralegals and Legal Assistants salary & buying power

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Paralegals and Legal Assistants
in
Madison, WI
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $46,170
    25th
    $49,360
    50th (median)
    $59,680
    75th
    $76,030
    90th
    $83,020

    Madison economic context

    Unemployment rate 2.40% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $86,827 2023 • Census ACS
    Paralegals and Legal Assistants salary vs area income 69% Median Paralegals and Legal Assistants salary is 31% 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
    Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $74,750
    Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $63,010
    Kennewick-Richland, WA $61,230
    Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT $60,980
    Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI $60,010
    Duluth, MN-WI $58,670

    Related occupations in Madison, WI

    OccupationMedian salary
    Lawyers$114,420
    Legal Support Workers, All Other$62,400
    Arbitrators, Mediators, and Conciliators$61,240
    Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers$55,560

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Paralegals and Legal Assistants in Madison, WI is $28.69, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $39.79 or more per hour.

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

    The median Paralegals and Legal Assistants salary in Madison, WI is 2.2% 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 Madison?

    Entry-level Paralegals and Legal Assistants (10th percentile) earn around $46,170 per year in Madison, WI. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $49,360.