Paralegals and Legal Assistants Salary in Massachusetts
Paralegals and Legal Assistants in Massachusetts earn a median annual wage of $77,640 —23.5% above the national median of $62,890. That ranks MA #4 of 51 covered states and territories for this occupation.
Wage distribution
How earnings are spread across workers in this occupation, from the 10th to the 90th percentile.
Employment is only 0.85× as concentrated as the national average — this occupation is relatively scarce in Massachusetts.
Highest-paying states for paralegals and legal assistants
All 51 states ranked by median annual wage. Massachusetts is highlighted.
| # | State | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $89,750 | $43.15 | 6,400 | 3.61 |
| 2 | Washington | $79,400 | $38.17 | 9,460 | 1.05 |
| 3 | Colorado | $78,190 | $37.59 | 5,620 | 0.77 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $77,640 | $37.33 | 7,800 | 0.85 |
| 5 | California | $77,390 | $37.21 | 47,130 | 1.02 |
| 6 | Minnesota | $75,570 | $36.33 | 7,400 | 0.99 |
| 7 | New Jersey | $71,500 | $34.38 | 12,010 | 1.11 |
| 8 | Alaska | $68,700 | $33.03 | 570 | 0.69 |
| 9 | New York | $68,410 | $32.89 | 34,220 | 1.40 |
| 10 | Vermont | $67,160 | $32.29 | 660 | 0.86 |
Related occupations in Massachusetts
Occupations in the same job family, compared within Massachusetts.
| Occupation | Massachusetts median | U.S. median |
|---|---|---|
| Lawyers | $176,680 | $159,670 |
| Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers | $69,100 | $58,650 |
| Legal Support Workers, All Other | $77,830 | $72,110 |
| Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates | $221,710 | $153,990 |
| Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers | $113,750 | $117,860 |
| Judicial Law Clerks | $143,350 | $64,920 |
Frequently asked questions
How much do paralegals and legal assistants make in Massachusetts?
The median annual wage for paralegals and legal assistants in Massachusetts is $77,640, or $37.33 per hour. That is 23.5% above the national median of $62,890.
What is the entry-level paralegals and legal assistants salary in Massachusetts?
Workers at the 10th percentile earn $49,770 per year ($23.93/hour). The 25th percentile is $62,580.
How many people work as paralegals and legal assistants in Massachusetts?
About 7,800 people work in this occupation in Massachusetts, or 2.1 per 1,000 jobs statewide.
Is Massachusetts a good state for paralegals and legal assistants?
Massachusetts ranks #4 of 51 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment is only 0.85x as concentrated as the national average, so this occupation is relatively scarce in Massachusetts.
Which state pays paralegals and legal assistants the most?
District of Columbia has the highest median wage at $89,750 per year, followed by Washington ($79,400) and Colorado ($78,190).