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Paralegal

$62,890
median pay per year
full range coming in the next data update

What the job actually is

Support lawyers by researching cases, drafting documents, and organizing evidence and files.

Where you work

Law offices or remote; at a desk, detailed research and writing.

The hours

Full-time; overtime around trials and deadlines.

By the numbers

May 2024–25 BLS wage data · 2024–34 BLS employment projections.

Median pay
$62,890
per year
What most earn
range coming soon
Openings a year
~39,300
projected, 2024–34
Outlook to 2034
0%
Little change
Working in the U.S.
coming soon

Openings a year counts new jobs plus the ones that open when people retire or move on — a truer picture of your odds than growth alone.

“Median” means half earn more and half earn less. Your city, employer, and years on the job move it a lot — that is what the 10th-to-90th range shows.

How you get in

Typical starting education

Associate degree

Training path: Associate degree or certificate.

License or certification

No license required; a certificate or degree is the usual path.

What it takes

Research skillsAttention to detailOrganizationWriting

The honest take

Law-firm work without law school — and a proving ground before committing to a JD.

Standard Occupational Classification 23-2011. Pay, employment, and outlook from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS wage survey and 2024–34 employment projections). See something off? Tell us.