Paralegals and Legal Assistants Salary in Tennessee
Paralegals and Legal Assistants in Tennessee earn a median annual wage of $58,820 —6.5% below the national median of $62,890. That ranks TN #36 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 0.73× as concentrated as the national average — this occupation is relatively scarce in Tennessee.
Highest-paying states for paralegals and legal assistants
All 51 states ranked by median annual wage. Tennessee 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 Tennessee
Occupations in the same job family, compared within Tennessee.
| Occupation | Tennessee median | U.S. median |
|---|---|---|
| Lawyers | $136,180 | $159,670 |
| Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers | $50,240 | $58,650 |
| Legal Support Workers, All Other | $58,610 | $72,110 |
| Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates | $208,350 | $153,990 |
| Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers | $107,740 | $117,860 |
| Judicial Law Clerks | $75,190 | $64,920 |
Frequently asked questions
How much do paralegals and legal assistants make in Tennessee?
The median annual wage for paralegals and legal assistants in Tennessee is $58,820, or $28.28 per hour. That is 6.5% below the national median of $62,890.
What is the entry-level paralegals and legal assistants salary in Tennessee?
Workers at the 10th percentile earn $43,570 per year ($20.95/hour). The 25th percentile is $47,270.
How many people work as paralegals and legal assistants in Tennessee?
About 6,080 people work in this occupation in Tennessee, or 1.9 per 1,000 jobs statewide.
Is Tennessee a good state for paralegals and legal assistants?
Tennessee ranks #36 of 51 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment is only 0.73x as concentrated as the national average, so this occupation is relatively scarce in Tennessee.
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).