Paralegals and Legal Assistants Pay Range in South Carolina
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$38,020
- 25th Percentile — Junior$46,630
- 50th Percentile — Median$53,880
- 75th Percentile — Senior$61,620
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$75,640
Half of Paralegals and Legal Assistants in South Carolina earn more than $53,880. The top 10% make $75,640 or more, while entry-level workers start around $38,020.
Paralegals and Legal Assistants in South Carolina: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- South Carolina ranks 46th of 51 states for Paralegals and Legal Assistants pay, at $55,790 per year (20.0% below the U.S. average of $69,700).
- 7,420 people work as Paralegals and Legal Assistants in South Carolina — 1.9% of all U.S. Paralegals and Legal Assistants jobs.
- Location quotient 1.27: Paralegals and Legal Assistants jobs are more concentrated in South Carolina than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $38,020; the top 10% earn over $75,640.
- Hourly equivalent: $26.82 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is District of Columbia at $95,400.
- Among legal jobs in South Carolina, Lawyers pays the most ($144,700).
Paralegals and Legal Assistants Job Market in South Carolina
Key factors affecting compensation
South Carolina's key industries are Automotive, Tourism, Manufacturing, and its job market is rated strong. Paralegals and Legal Assistants here earn $55,790 on average, placing the state 46th nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 0.88 (U.S. = 1.00), a South Carolina salary of $55,790 is roughly equivalent to $63,398 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, North Dakota ($58,880), Iowa ($58,780), Rhode Island ($58,630) 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 South Carolina
Related career salary benchmarks
- Lawyers $144,700/yr South Carolina +159.4% vs this role
- Administrative Law Judges $108,940/yr South Carolina +95.3% vs this role
- Court Reporters and Simultaneous Captioners $61,460/yr South Carolina +10.2% vs this role
- Judicial Law Clerks $59,310/yr South Carolina +6.3% vs this role
- Title Examiners Abstractors and Searchers $50,050/yr South Carolina 10.3% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Paralegals and Legal Assistants salary in South Carolina?
The average Paralegals and Legal Assistants salary in South Carolina is $55,790 per year (median $53,880), which is 20.0% below the national average of $69,700.
How does South Carolina rank for Paralegals and Legal Assistants pay?
South Carolina ranks 46th 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 South Carolina?
The lowest-paid 10% of Paralegals and Legal Assistants in South Carolina earn about $38,020 per year and the 25th percentile is $46,630.
How much do Paralegals and Legal Assistants make per hour in South Carolina?
About $26.82 per hour, based on the $55,790 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Paralegals and Legal Assistants work in South Carolina?
BLS counts 7,420 Paralegals and Legal Assistants jobs in South Carolina (OEWS May 2025).
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