Paralegals and Legal Assistants Pay Range in North Carolina
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$38,570
- 25th Percentile — Junior$47,640
- 50th Percentile — Median$57,500
- 75th Percentile — Senior$71,930
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$84,410
Half of Paralegals and Legal Assistants in North Carolina earn more than $57,500. The top 10% make $84,410 or more, while entry-level workers start around $38,570.
Paralegals and Legal Assistants in North Carolina: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- North Carolina ranks 37th of 51 states for Paralegals and Legal Assistants pay, at $60,770 per year (12.8% below the U.S. average of $69,700).
- 13,650 people work as Paralegals and Legal Assistants in North Carolina — 3.5% of all U.S. Paralegals and Legal Assistants jobs.
- Location quotient 1.09: Paralegals and Legal Assistants jobs are more concentrated in North Carolina than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $38,570; the top 10% earn over $84,410.
- Hourly equivalent: $29.22 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is District of Columbia at $95,400.
- Among legal jobs in North Carolina, Lawyers pays the most ($160,340).
Paralegals and Legal Assistants Job Market in North Carolina
Key factors affecting compensation
North Carolina's key industries are Technology, Finance, Agriculture, and its job market is rated strong. Paralegals and Legal Assistants here earn $60,770 on average, placing the state 37th nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 0.91 (U.S. = 1.00), a North Carolina salary of $60,770 is roughly equivalent to $66,780 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Indiana ($61,830), New Mexico ($61,530), Wisconsin ($61,270) 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 North Carolina
Related career salary benchmarks
- Lawyers $160,340/yr North Carolina +163.8% vs this role
- Administrative Law Judges $120,970/yr North Carolina +99.1% vs this role
- Court Reporters and Simultaneous Captioners $76,250/yr North Carolina +25.5% vs this role
- Title Examiners Abstractors and Searchers $52,980/yr North Carolina 12.8% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Paralegals and Legal Assistants salary in North Carolina?
The average Paralegals and Legal Assistants salary in North Carolina is $60,770 per year (median $57,500), which is 12.8% below the national average of $69,700.
How does North Carolina rank for Paralegals and Legal Assistants pay?
North Carolina ranks 37th 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 North Carolina?
The lowest-paid 10% of Paralegals and Legal Assistants in North Carolina earn about $38,570 per year and the 25th percentile is $47,640.
How much do Paralegals and Legal Assistants make per hour in North Carolina?
About $29.22 per hour, based on the $60,770 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Paralegals and Legal Assistants work in North Carolina?
BLS counts 13,650 Paralegals and Legal Assistants jobs in North Carolina (OEWS May 2025).
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