Paralegals and Legal Assistants Pay Range in Washington
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$50,470
- 25th Percentile — Junior$62,670
- 50th Percentile — Median$79,400
- 75th Percentile — Senior$100,960
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$116,750
Half of Paralegals and Legal Assistants in Washington earn more than $79,400. The top 10% make $116,750 or more, while entry-level workers start around $50,470.
Paralegals and Legal Assistants in Washington: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- Washington ranks 2nd of 51 states for Paralegals and Legal Assistants pay, at $83,740 per year (20.1% above the U.S. average of $69,700).
- 9,460 people work as Paralegals and Legal Assistants in Washington — 2.4% of all U.S. Paralegals and Legal Assistants jobs.
- Location quotient 1.05: Paralegals and Legal Assistants jobs are more concentrated in Washington than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $50,470; the top 10% earn over $116,750.
- Hourly equivalent: $40.26 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is District of Columbia at $95,400.
- Among legal jobs in Washington, Lawyers pays the most ($169,940).
Paralegals and Legal Assistants Job Market in Washington
Key factors affecting compensation
Washington's key industries are Technology, Aerospace, Agriculture, and its job market is rated very strong. Paralegals and Legal Assistants here earn $83,740 on average, placing the state 2nd nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 1.25 (U.S. = 1.00), a Washington salary of $83,740 is roughly equivalent to $66,992 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, District of Columbia ($95,400), 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 Washington
Related career salary benchmarks
- Lawyers $169,940/yr Washington +102.9% vs this role
- Administrative Law Judges $130,140/yr Washington +55.4% vs this role
- Court Reporters and Simultaneous Captioners $101,110/yr Washington +20.7% vs this role
- Judicial Law Clerks $85,030/yr Washington +1.5% vs this role
- Title Examiners Abstractors and Searchers $71,270/yr Washington 14.9% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Paralegals and Legal Assistants salary in Washington?
The average Paralegals and Legal Assistants salary in Washington is $83,740 per year (median $79,400), which is 20.1% above the national average of $69,700.
How does Washington rank for Paralegals and Legal Assistants pay?
Washington ranks 2nd 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 Washington?
The lowest-paid 10% of Paralegals and Legal Assistants in Washington earn about $50,470 per year and the 25th percentile is $62,670.
How much do Paralegals and Legal Assistants make per hour in Washington?
About $40.26 per hour, based on the $83,740 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Paralegals and Legal Assistants work in Washington?
BLS counts 9,460 Paralegals and Legal Assistants jobs in Washington (OEWS May 2025).
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