Paralegals and Legal Assistants Salary in Washington, DC-VA-MD-WV

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV

Median annual salary $80,550 +32% vs national
Median hourly $38.72
10th percentile $50,590
90th percentile $124,800
Employed locally 11,080
National median $61,010

Compare Paralegals and Legal Assistants salary & buying power

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Paralegals and Legal Assistants
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Washington, DC-VA-MD-WV
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $50,590
    25th
    $61,530
    50th (median)
    $80,550
    75th
    $105,110
    90th
    $124,800

    Washington economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.00% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $123,896 2023 • Census ACS
    Paralegals and Legal Assistants salary vs area income 65% Median Paralegals and Legal Assistants salary is 35% 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
    Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO $79,240
    Midland, MI $78,120

    Related occupations in Washington, DC-VA-MD-WV

    OccupationMedian salary
    Lawyers$191,880
    Legal Support Workers, All Other$161,780
    Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers$57,500
    Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers$153,320
    Judicial Law Clerks$65,950
    Arbitrators, Mediators, and Conciliators$97,420

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Paralegals and Legal Assistants in Washington, DC-VA-MD-WV is $38.72, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $60.59 or more per hour.

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

    The median Paralegals and Legal Assistants salary in Washington, DC-VA-MD-WV is 32% 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 Washington?

    Entry-level Paralegals and Legal Assistants (10th percentile) earn around $50,590 per year in Washington, DC-VA-MD-WV. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $61,530.