Paralegals and Legal Assistants Salary in Seattle, WA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA

Median annual salary $84,950 +39.2% vs national
Median hourly $40.84
10th percentile $57,920
90th percentile $125,660
Employed locally 6,420
National median $61,010

Compare Paralegals and Legal Assistants salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how Seattle, WA stacks up on salary and cost of living.

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Paralegals and Legal Assistants
in
Seattle, WA
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $57,920
    25th
    $74,560
    50th (median)
    $84,950
    75th
    $110,930
    90th
    $125,660

    Seattle economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.30% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $112,594 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
    Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $80,550
    Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO $79,240
    Midland, MI $78,120

    Nearby metros — Paralegals and Legal Assistants salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $80,550
    Washington $78,010
    Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $74,470
    New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $73,470
    Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA $72,460
    Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA $69,060

    Related occupations in Seattle, WA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Lawyers $162,680
    Legal Support Workers, All Other $82,050
    Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates $132,960
    Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers $69,600
    Judicial Law Clerks $80,260
    Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers $128,850

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Paralegals and Legal Assistants in Seattle, WA is $40.84, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $57.61 or more per hour.

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

    The median Paralegals and Legal Assistants salary in Seattle, WA is 39.2% above 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 Seattle?

    Entry-level Paralegals and Legal Assistants (10th percentile) earn around $57,920 per year in Seattle, WA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $74,560.