Paralegals and Legal Assistants Pay Range in New York
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$48,330
- 25th Percentile — Junior$57,430
- 50th Percentile — Median$68,410
- 75th Percentile — Senior$94,200
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$115,720
Half of Paralegals and Legal Assistants in New York earn more than $68,410. The top 10% make $115,720 or more, while entry-level workers start around $48,330.
Paralegals and Legal Assistants in New York: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- New York ranks 6th of 51 states for Paralegals and Legal Assistants pay, at $76,890 per year (10.3% above the U.S. average of $69,700).
- 34,220 people work as Paralegals and Legal Assistants in New York — 8.7% of all U.S. Paralegals and Legal Assistants jobs.
- Location quotient 1.40: Paralegals and Legal Assistants jobs are more concentrated in New York than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $48,330; the top 10% earn over $115,720.
- Hourly equivalent: $36.97 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is District of Columbia at $95,400.
- Among legal jobs in New York, Lawyers pays the most ($220,180).
Paralegals and Legal Assistants Job Market in New York
Key factors affecting compensation
New York's key industries are Finance, Technology, Media, and its job market is rated very strong. Paralegals and Legal Assistants here earn $76,890 on average, placing the state 6th nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 1.38 (U.S. = 1.00), a New York salary of $76,890 is roughly equivalent to $55,717 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Washington ($83,740), California ($81,320), Massachusetts ($81,160) are the closest alternatives for Paralegals and Legal Assistants weighing a move.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
Other Legal Jobs in New York
Related career salary benchmarks
- Lawyers $220,180/yr New York +186.4% vs this role
- Judicial Law Clerks $126,340/yr New York +64.3% vs this role
- Administrative Law Judges $123,150/yr New York +60.2% vs this role
- Court Reporters and Simultaneous Captioners $101,280/yr New York +31.7% vs this role
- Title Examiners Abstractors and Searchers $70,040/yr New York 8.9% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Paralegals and Legal Assistants salary in New York?
The average Paralegals and Legal Assistants salary in New York is $76,890 per year (median $68,410), which is 10.3% above the national average of $69,700.
How does New York rank for Paralegals and Legal Assistants pay?
New York ranks 6th out of 51 states. The highest-paying state is District of Columbia ($95,400/yr).
How much do entry-level Paralegals and Legal Assistants make in New York?
The lowest-paid 10% of Paralegals and Legal Assistants in New York earn about $48,330 per year and the 25th percentile is $57,430.
How much do Paralegals and Legal Assistants make per hour in New York?
About $36.97 per hour, based on the $76,890 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Paralegals and Legal Assistants work in New York?
BLS counts 34,220 Paralegals and Legal Assistants jobs in New York (OEWS May 2025).
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