Expert Paralegal salary in New York, NY
Based on 54 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level IV in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Brooklyn, Flushing, Little Falls Township, Newark, Bronx.
Also listed as: Legal Assistant, Legal Analyst
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $84,968 |
| 25th | $89,045 |
| 50th (median) | $93,000 |
| 75th | $217,000 |
| 90th | $225,000 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $135,000 | $85,000 | $190,000 | 21 |
| FY2021 | $190,000 | $100,000 | $190,000 | 17 |
| FY2022 | $200,000 | $135,000 | $215,000 | 15 |
| FY2023 | $160,000 | $111,750 | $173,750 | 16 |
| FY2024 | $153,730 | $84,427 | $160,000 | 11 |
| FY2025 | $160,000 | $105,500 | $212,500 | 10 |
| FY2026 | $89,073 | $89,045 | $211,000 | 44 |
Cost of living
New York's median expert Paralegal salary of $93,000 is worth about $82,600 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; New York = 112.6).
Compared with all workers here
All Paralegals and Legal Assistants in the New York, NY area earned a median of $75,330 in May 2025 (33,850 employed). The H-1B median here is $93,000, 23% higher.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.
Employers filing at this level
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Gendelberg Law, PLLC | $86,133 | 12 |
| Weil, Gotshal & Manges | $225,000 | 12 |
| Clifford Chance | too few | 4 |
| Grape Law Firm Pllc | too few | 4 |
| Zhong Lun Law Firm | too few | 3 |
| Reid & Wise | too few | 2 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $52,958 | 34 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $65,374 | 48 |
| Senior · Level III | $80,101 | 28 |
| Expert · Level IV | $93,000 | 54 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.
Minimum H-1B salary by level
| Wage level | Prevailing wage (most common) | Median offered salary | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $52,541 | $52,958 | 34 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $64,813 | $65,374 | 48 |
| Senior · Level III | $76,939 | $80,101 | 28 |
| Expert · Level IV | $89,045 | $93,000 | 54 |
The prevailing wage is the minimum an employer must pay for this job and area. Amounts vary by county within a metro and by wage source.
