Paralegals and Legal Assistants Salary in New Orleans, LA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • New Orleans-Metairie, LA

Median annual salary $46,680 -23.5% vs national
Median hourly $22.44
10th percentile $31,460
90th percentile $79,790
Employed locally 2,590
National median $61,010

Compare Paralegals and Legal Assistants salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how New Orleans, LA stacks up on salary and cost of living.

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Paralegals and Legal Assistants
in
New Orleans, LA
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $31,460
    25th
    $41,550
    50th (median)
    $46,680
    75th
    $65,210
    90th
    $79,790

    New Orleans economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.40% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $62,271 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
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $97,740
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $85,230
    Midland, MI $78,120
    San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA $77,550
    Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $74,470
    Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA $69,060

    Related occupations in New Orleans, LA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Lawyers$131,220
    Legal Support Workers, All Other$51,690
    Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers$49,650
    Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers$124,090
    Judicial Law Clerks$71,760
    Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates$109,450

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Paralegals and Legal Assistants in New Orleans, LA is $22.44, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $38.41 or more per hour.

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

    The median Paralegals and Legal Assistants salary in New Orleans, LA is 23.5% 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 New Orleans?

    Entry-level Paralegals and Legal Assistants (10th percentile) earn around $31,460 per year in New Orleans, LA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $41,550.