Paralegals and Legal Assistants Salary in Raleigh, NC

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Raleigh-Cary, NC

Median annual salary $57,620 -5.6% vs national
Median hourly $27.70
10th percentile $37,150
90th percentile $86,150
Employed locally 2,130
National median $61,010

Compare Paralegals and Legal Assistants salary & buying power

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Paralegals and Legal Assistants
in
Raleigh, NC
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $37,150
    25th
    $47,510
    50th (median)
    $57,620
    75th
    $65,720
    90th
    $86,150

    Raleigh economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.10% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $96,066 2023 • Census ACS
    Paralegals and Legal Assistants salary vs area income 60% Median Paralegals and Legal Assistants salary is 40% 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 Raleigh, NC

    OccupationMedian salary
    Lawyers$128,130
    Legal Support Workers, All Other$100,420
    Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers$131,660

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Paralegals and Legal Assistants in Raleigh, NC is $27.70, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $41.14 or more per hour.

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

    The median Paralegals and Legal Assistants salary in Raleigh, NC is 5.6% 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 Raleigh?

    Entry-level Paralegals and Legal Assistants (10th percentile) earn around $37,150 per year in Raleigh, NC. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $47,510.