Paralegals and Legal Assistants Salary in South Illinois

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • South Illinois nonmetropolitan area

Median annual salary $46,760 -23.4% vs national
Median hourly $22.48
10th percentile $35,450
90th percentile $61,840
Employed locally 50
National median $61,010

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Paralegals and Legal Assistants
in
South Illinois
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $35,450
    25th
    $35,450
    50th (median)
    $46,760
    75th
    $49,000
    90th
    $61,840

    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

    Related occupations in South Illinois

    OccupationMedian salary
    Lawyers$97,540
    Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers$40,630
    Legal Support Workers, All Other$29,120

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Paralegals and Legal Assistants in South Illinois is $22.48, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $37.23 or more per hour.

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

    The median Paralegals and Legal Assistants salary in South Illinois is 23.4% 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 South Illinois?

    Entry-level Paralegals and Legal Assistants (10th percentile) earn around $35,450 per year in South Illinois. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $35,450.