Average Legal Support Worker Salary

How Much Does a Legal Support Worker Make?

On average, a Legal Support Worker make $82,960 a year. The lowest-paid 10 percent made $39,890, while the top-paid 10 percent made $155,270.

Annually National Average Salary: $82,960

$39K

$49K

$82K

$106K

$155K

10%

25%

50%

75%

90%

* Based on information from the May 2023 salary report from the BLS.

Salary by State

Annually

Monthly

Hourly

Annual Salary by State

State	10% Annual	25% Annual	Avg. Annual	75% Annual	90% Annual
Alabama	$33,340	$43,680	$59,380	$62,050	$88,280
Alaska	$51,110	$57,100	$78,850	$95,060	$108,040
Arizona	$35,760	$49,720	$76,330	$88,700	$126,540
Arkansas	- NA -	- NA -	- NA -	- NA -	- NA -
California	$43,250	$52,030	$83,990	$101,820	$142,340
Colorado	$45,260	$50,730	$76,150	$85,920	$133,050
Connecticut	$52,460	$63,110	$82,770	$86,560	$140,440
Delaware	$48,900	$59,420	$74,740	$79,100	$117,550
District of Columbia	$53,100	$63,560	$95,890	$124,520	$159,430
Florida	$29,080	$35,210	$64,580	$71,640	$150,590
Georgia	$38,590	$44,560	$62,320	$72,030	$92,290
Hawaii	$48,070	$57,370	$69,720	$66,940	$92,630
Idaho	$35,770	$46,700	$61,040	$59,200	$90,690
Illinois	$36,230	$45,250	$66,870	$79,640	$105,590
Indiana	$22,130	$39,000	$60,950	$78,370	$122,970
Iowa	$36,440	$37,170	$49,870	$58,590	$64,250
Kansas	$55,410	$60,690	$79,850	$97,590	$113,240
Kentucky	$23,880	$38,910	$55,420	$65,100	$81,760
Louisiana	$31,460	$41,600	$60,220	$70,150	$101,170
Maine	$47,070	$50,400	$72,450	$78,770	$138,670
Maryland	$46,840	$65,930	$105,660	$155,000	$172,720
Massachusetts	$47,130	$52,000	$90,170	$119,460	$150,590
Michigan	$38,070	$46,830	$74,250	$88,280	$146,160
Minnesota	$52,540	$61,440	$79,100	$87,690	$137,300
Mississippi	$44,900	$52,920	$66,540	$65,500	$93,040
Missouri	$40,350	$48,940	$67,560	$73,940	$105,040
Montana	$35,950	$40,160	$52,390	$54,610	$66,350
Nebraska	$42,370	$49,440	$62,930	$70,960	$85,100
Nevada	$43,600	$47,260	$63,200	$75,270	$84,770
New Hampshire	$48,440	$54,710	$81,810	$88,230	$150,590
New Mexico	$44,390	$49,910	$65,950	$62,650	$141,730
New York	$41,920	$56,630	$86,870	$108,820	$149,640
North Carolina	$40,350	$47,780	$85,110	$118,530	$159,430
North Dakota	$31,200	$31,200	$48,640	$56,560	$81,120
Ohio	$39,830	$54,650	$75,970	$89,820	$150,590
Oklahoma	$37,690	$42,010	$54,080	$59,050	$70,680
Oregon	$44,630	$50,070	$69,960	$76,040	$112,440
Pennsylvania	$44,910	$56,350	$83,190	$102,730	$155,000
Rhode Island	$57,760	$64,770	$78,520	$82,760	$108,570
Tennessee	$35,290	$47,600	$70,450	$74,770	$130,690
Texas	$42,560	$53,760	$78,500	$102,580	$138,670
Utah	$41,410	$48,530	$64,340	$61,640	$97,700
Vermont	$51,850	$54,870	$75,820	$80,330	$112,440
Virginia	$65,220	$100,860	$134,490	$168,290	$183,500
Washington	$48,240	$62,550	$85,510	$98,210	$140,580
West Virginia	$33,090	$33,530	$58,440	$62,050	$123,680
Wisconsin	$42,560	$46,030	$64,490	$69,910	$106,740
Puerto Rico	$37,970	$45,400	$64,910	$76,960	$93,420

Annual Average Salary: Top 5 States

The top earning state in the field is Virginia, where the average salary is $134,490.

These are the top 5 earning states in the field:

Virginia - $134,490

Maryland - $105,660

District of Columbia - $95,890

Massachusetts - $90,170

New York - $86,870

Monthly Salary by State

State	10% Monthly	25% Monthly	Avg. Monthly	75% Monthly	90% Monthly
Alabama	$2,750	$3,583	$4,917	$5,167	$7,333
Alaska	$4,250	$4,750	$6,500	$7,917	$9,000
Arizona	$2,917	$4,083	$6,333	$7,333	$10,500
Arkansas	- NA -	- NA -	- NA -	- NA -	- NA -
California	$3,583	$4,333	$6,917	$8,417	$11,833
Colorado	$3,750	$4,167	$6,333	$7,083	$11,083
Connecticut	$4,333	$5,250	$6,833	$7,167	$11,667
Delaware	$4,000	$4,917	$6,167	$6,583	$9,750
District of Columbia	$4,417	$5,250	$7,917	$10,333	$13,250
Florida	$2,417	$2,917	$5,333	$5,917	$12,500
Georgia	$3,167	$3,667	$5,167	$6,000	$7,667
Hawaii	$4,000	$4,750	$5,750	$5,500	$7,667
Idaho	$2,917	$3,833	$5,083	$4,917	$7,500
Illinois	$3,000	$3,750	$5,500	$6,583	$8,750
Indiana	$1,833	$3,250	$5,000	$6,500	$10,167
Iowa	$3,000	$3,083	$4,083	$4,833	$5,333
Kansas	$4,583	$5,000	$6,583	$8,083	$9,417
Kentucky	$1,917	$3,167	$4,583	$5,417	$6,750
Louisiana	$2,583	$3,417	$5,000	$5,833	$8,417
Maine	$3,917	$4,167	$6,000	$6,500	$11,500
Maryland	$3,833	$5,417	$8,750	$12,917	$14,333
Massachusetts	$3,917	$4,333	$7,500	$9,917	$12,500
Michigan	$3,167	$3,833	$6,167	$7,333	$12,167
Minnesota	$4,333	$5,083	$6,583	$7,250	$11,417
Mississippi	$3,667	$4,333	$5,500	$5,417	$7,750
Missouri	$3,333	$4,000	$5,583	$6,083	$8,750
Montana	$2,917	$3,333	$4,333	$4,500	$5,500
Nebraska	$3,500	$4,083	$5,167	$5,833	$7,083
Nevada	$3,583	$3,917	$5,250	$6,250	$7,000
New Hampshire	$4,000	$4,500	$6,750	$7,333	$12,500
New Mexico	$3,667	$4,083	$5,417	$5,167	$11,750
New York	$3,417	$4,667	$7,167	$9,000	$12,417
North Carolina	$3,333	$3,917	$7,083	$9,833	$13,250
North Dakota	$2,583	$2,583	$4,000	$4,667	$6,750
Ohio	$3,250	$4,500	$6,250	$7,417	$12,500
Oklahoma	$3,083	$3,500	$4,500	$4,917	$5,833
Oregon	$3,667	$4,167	$5,750	$6,333	$9,333
Pennsylvania	$3,667	$4,667	$6,917	$8,500	$12,917
Rhode Island	$4,750	$5,333	$6,500	$6,833	$9,000
Tennessee	$2,917	$3,917	$5,833	$6,167	$10,833
Texas	$3,500	$4,417	$6,500	$8,500	$11,500
Utah	$3,417	$4,000	$5,333	$5,083	$8,083
Vermont	$4,250	$4,500	$6,250	$6,667	$9,333
Virginia	$5,417	$8,333	$11,167	$14,000	$15,250
Washington	$4,000	$5,167	$7,083	$8,167	$11,667
West Virginia	$2,750	$2,750	$4,833	$5,167	$10,250
Wisconsin	$3,500	$3,833	$5,333	$5,750	$8,833
Puerto Rico	$3,083	$3,750	$5,333	$6,333	$7,750

Monthly Average Salary: Top 5 States

The top earning state in the field is Virginia, where the average salary is $11,167.

These are the top 5 earning states in the field:

Virginia - $11,167

Maryland - $8,750

District of Columbia - $7,917

Massachusetts - $7,500

New York - $7,167

Hourly Salary by State

State	10% Hourly	25% Hourly	Avg. Hourly	75% Hourly	90% Hourly
Alabama	$16.03	$21.00	$28.55	$29.83	$42.44
Alaska	$24.57	$27.45	$37.91	$45.70	$51.94
Arizona	$17.19	$23.91	$36.70	$42.65	$60.84
Arkansas	- NA -	- NA -	- NA -	- NA -	- NA -
California	$20.79	$25.01	$40.38	$48.95	$68.43
Colorado	$21.76	$24.39	$36.61	$41.31	$63.97
Connecticut	$25.22	$30.34	$39.80	$41.61	$67.52
Delaware	$23.51	$28.57	$35.94	$38.03	$56.52
District of Columbia	$25.53	$30.56	$46.10	$59.86	$76.65
Florida	$13.98	$16.93	$31.05	$34.44	$72.40
Georgia	$18.55	$21.42	$29.96	$34.63	$44.37
Hawaii	$23.11	$27.58	$33.52	$32.18	$44.54
Idaho	$17.20	$22.45	$29.34	$28.46	$43.60
Illinois	$17.42	$21.76	$32.15	$38.29	$50.77
Indiana	$10.64	$18.75	$29.31	$37.68	$59.12
Iowa	$17.52	$17.87	$23.98	$28.17	$30.89
Kansas	$26.64	$29.18	$38.39	$46.92	$54.44
Kentucky	$11.48	$18.71	$26.64	$31.30	$39.31
Louisiana	$15.13	$20.00	$28.95	$33.73	$48.64
Maine	$22.63	$24.23	$34.83	$37.87	$66.67
Maryland	$22.52	$31.70	$50.80	$74.52	$83.04
Massachusetts	$22.66	$25.00	$43.35	$57.43	$72.40
Michigan	$18.30	$22.51	$35.70	$42.44	$70.27
Minnesota	$25.26	$29.54	$38.03	$42.16	$66.01
Mississippi	$21.59	$25.44	$31.99	$31.49	$44.73
Missouri	$19.40	$23.53	$32.48	$35.55	$50.50
Montana	$17.28	$19.31	$25.19	$26.25	$31.90
Nebraska	$20.37	$23.77	$30.26	$34.12	$40.91
Nevada	$20.96	$22.72	$30.38	$36.19	$40.75
New Hampshire	$23.29	$26.30	$39.33	$42.42	$72.40
New Mexico	$21.34	$24.00	$31.71	$30.12	$68.14
New York	$20.15	$27.23	$41.76	$52.32	$71.94
North Carolina	$19.40	$22.97	$40.92	$56.98	$76.65
North Dakota	$15.00	$15.00	$23.39	$27.19	$39.00
Ohio	$19.15	$26.27	$36.52	$43.19	$72.40
Oklahoma	$18.12	$20.20	$26.00	$28.39	$33.98
Oregon	$21.46	$24.07	$33.64	$36.56	$54.06
Pennsylvania	$21.59	$27.09	$39.99	$49.39	$74.52
Rhode Island	$27.77	$31.14	$37.75	$39.79	$52.20
Tennessee	$16.97	$22.89	$33.87	$35.95	$62.83
Texas	$20.46	$25.85	$37.74	$49.32	$66.67
Utah	$19.91	$23.33	$30.94	$29.64	$46.97
Vermont	$24.93	$26.38	$36.45	$38.62	$54.06
Virginia	$31.36	$48.49	$64.66	$80.91	$88.22
Washington	$23.19	$30.07	$41.11	$47.22	$67.59
West Virginia	$15.91	$16.12	$28.09	$29.83	$59.46
Wisconsin	$20.46	$22.13	$31.01	$33.61	$51.32
Puerto Rico	$18.26	$21.83	$31.21	$37.00	$44.91

Hourly Average Salary: Top 5 States

The top earning state in the field is Virginia, where the average salary is $64.66.

These are the top 5 earning states in the field:

Virginia - $64.66

Maryland - $50.80

District of Columbia - $46.10

Massachusetts - $43.35

New York - $41.76

Legal Support Workers: Salary Overview

The term “legal support worker” may refer to paralegals, legal assistants, and other workers who assist lawyers.

A legal support worker’s job description includes investigating and gathering facts that are relevant to a case, researching laws, regulations, and legal articles, organizing documents, drafting legal documents, helping lawyers during trials, calling clients and witnesses, and many other tasks- depending on their place of employment.

For example, a legal support worker who specializes in corporate law will have different job responsibilities than a legal support worker who specializes in litigation.

They may use computer software and technology to organize and catalog documents.

Salaries also vary depending on their area of expertise and role within the legal practice.

Legal Support Worker Salary by Industry

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, paralegals and legal assistants held around 337,800 jobs in the United States in 2019, most of them working in the field of legal services.

The biggest employer for other legal support workers was the federal executive branch.

In the field of legal services, the average annual wage reported by paralegals and legal assistants was $52,910 as of May 2019.

Other legal support workers who worked in this field reportedly earned $57,570 per year on average.

Paralegals and legal assistants who worked for the federal executive branch reportedly earned $70,040 per year on average while other legal support workers who were employed in this field reportedly earned around $92,940 annually.

Paralegals and legal assistants who worked for local governments reportedly earned $55,210 per year on average while other legal support workers who were employed in this field took home $55,600 per year on average.

Legal support workers also held jobs in state governments.

According to BLS, paralegals and legal assistants who worked for state governments reportedly earned $48,970 per year while other legal support workers who were employed in this field were remunerated, on average, with $48,970 per year as of May 2019.

The highest paying field for paralegals and legal assistants was the grantmaking and giving services sector.

In this industry, these workers were remunerated, on average, with $91,110 per year.

The industry with the highest average salary reported by other legal support workers were manufacturers of semiconductor and other electronic components.

In this sector the average annual wage reported by legal support workers was $108,400- almost double the median for this profession across all industries.

Your salary as a legal support worker will also be influenced by your level of experience and education.

Although an associate’s degree in paralegal studies or a related field is sometimes enough for entry-level employment, holding a bachelor’s degree in the legal field can improve your earning prospects and may give you an advantage over your competitors on the job market.

* Based on information from the May 2023 salary report from the BLS. The figures represent accumulated data for all states of employment for Legal Support Workers. BLS data represents averages and medians for workers at all levels of education and experience. This data doesn't represent starting salaries.

* Employment conditions in your area may vary.