Paralegal salary
From 432 certified H-1B filings (FY2025–FY2026). Base salary only.
- Occupation code 23-2011: Paralegals and Legal Assistants
- Also filed as: Legal Assistant, Legal Analyst
At a glance
- Mostly Level II (mid-level). 32% of Paralegal filings are Level II, compared with 42% across all H-1B filings.
- Top filer: Reid & Wise. 15 filings (3% of the total), median $65,000.
- Median up 25% since FY2020. From $60,000 in FY2020 to $75,000 in FY2026 (Q1–Q3). Nominal, not adjusted for inflation.
Paralegal H-1B salary overview
Employers filed 432 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications for Paralegal jobs in FY2025–FY2026 (occupation code 23-2011, Paralegals and Legal Assistants). The median base salary is $70,000, 43% below the median for all H-1B filings ($122,699), and half of the filings fall between $60,000 and $83,221. The most common wage level is Level II (mid-level), at 32% of filings. New York, NY has the most filings (166), and Reid & Wise is the employer that files the most (15).
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Enter the base salary in your offer. We compare it with certified H-1B filings for Paralegal jobs, nationally or in one metro area.
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Percentiles from certified H-1B filings, base salary only. Metro areas with at least 10 filings.
Top employers for Paralegal
Employers with the most Paralegal filings. Bar: share of all Paralegal filings. Figure: median base salary.
Pay by level
Entry-level · 24% of filings
Mid-level · 32% of filings
Senior · 18% of filings
Expert · 26% of filings
Show the table
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Level I · Entry | $54,080 | 100 |
| Level II · Qualified | $65,374 | 136 |
| Level III · Experienced | $77,000 | 78 |
| Level IV · Fully competent | $90,000 | 108 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.
Paralegal pay by city
Median base salary in each metro area. Rent: HUD Fair Market Rent, FY2027.
Show all 7 metro areas
| Metro area | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| New York, NY | $76,939 | 166 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $75,000 | 57 |
| Chicago, IL | $70,350 | 23 |
| Washington, DC | $70,928 | 19 |
| Boston, MA | $65,791 | 18 |
| San Francisco, CA | $77,376 | 17 |
| San Jose, CA | $71,000 | 14 |
Metro areas with at least 10 filings for this occupation.
What a Paralegal does
Assist lawyers by investigating facts, preparing legal documents, or researching legal precedent. Conduct research to support a legal proceeding, to formulate a defense, or to initiate legal action.
Typical tasks
- Prepare affidavits or other documents, such as legal correspondence, and organize and maintain documents in paper or electronic filing system.
- Prepare, edit, or review legal documents, including legislation, briefs, pleadings, appeals, wills, contracts, and real estate closing statements.
- Investigate facts and law of cases and search pertinent sources, such as public records and internet sources, to determine causes of action and to prepare cases.
- Prepare for trial by performing tasks such as organizing exhibits.
- Meet with clients and other professionals to discuss details of cases.
- Gather and analyze research data, such as statutes, decisions, and legal articles, codes, and documents.
Preparation
Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed. Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
O*NET occupation: Paralegals and Legal Assistants (23-2011.00). This section includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
H-1B pay vs. all U.S. workers
Across all U.S. workers in this occupation (Paralegals and Legal Assistants), the median annual wage was $62,890 in May 2025, with 392,880 people employed. The median H-1B base salary in FY2025–FY2026 is $70,000, 11% higher.
| H-1B filings | All U.S. workers (BLS, May 2025) | |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $52,541 | $44,740 |
| 25th percentile | $60,000 | $50,340 |
| Median | $70,000 | $62,890 |
| 75th percentile | $83,221 | $80,080 |
| 90th percentile | $105,000 | $101,500 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). BLS wages cover all wage and salary workers and include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are the base salary offered on certified LCAs. The two sources cover different periods. BLS reports wages of $239,200 or more as a single top value.
Salary details
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $52,541 |
| 25th | $60,000 |
| 50th (median) | $70,000 |
| 75th | $83,221 |
| 90th | $105,000 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $60,000 | $50,045 | $81,800 | 139 |
| FY2021 | $57,054 | $45,680 | $84,900 | 111 |
| FY2022 | $64,854 | $53,040 | $94,274 | 103 |
| FY2023 | $64,272 | $55,000 | $80,000 | 137 |
| FY2024 | $62,400 | $52,437 | $72,738 | 187 |
| FY2025 | $66,331 | $55,786 | $80,000 | 205 |
| FY2026 | $75,000 | $64,813 | $89,045 | 227 |
Questions
How much does an H-1B Paralegal make?
The median base salary in certified H-1B filings for Paralegal jobs is $70,000 (432 filings, FY2025–FY2026). Half of the filings are between $60,000 and $83,221.
What does an entry-level Paralegal earn on an H-1B?
Level I (entry-level) filings have a median of $54,080. Level I accounts for 24% of Paralegal filings.
Which employers file the most H-1B applications for Paralegals?
Reid & Wise (15), Weil, Gotshal & Manges (14) and Gendelberg Law, PLLC (12) filed the most Paralegal LCAs in FY2025–FY2026.
Do H-1B Paralegals earn more than other U.S. workers in the same job?
The H-1B median base salary ($70,000) is 11% higher than the median wage of all U.S. workers in this occupation ($62,890, BLS May 2025). The sources measure pay differently, so treat this as a rough comparison.