Paralegals and Legal Assistants Salary in Washington
Paralegals and Legal Assistants in Washington earn a median annual wage of $79,400 —26.3% above the national median of $62,890. That ranks WA #2 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 concentration (1.05×) is close to the national average.
Highest-paying states for paralegals and legal assistants
All 51 states ranked by median annual wage. Washington 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 Washington
Occupations in the same job family, compared within Washington.
| Occupation | Washington median | U.S. median |
|---|---|---|
| Lawyers | $154,130 | $159,670 |
| Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers | $66,440 | $58,650 |
| Legal Support Workers, All Other | $85,630 | $72,110 |
| Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates | $134,270 | $153,990 |
| Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers | $122,390 | $117,860 |
| Judicial Law Clerks | $80,240 | $64,920 |
Frequently asked questions
How much do paralegals and legal assistants make in Washington?
The median annual wage for paralegals and legal assistants in Washington is $79,400, or $38.17 per hour. That is 26.3% above the national median of $62,890.
What is the entry-level paralegals and legal assistants salary in Washington?
Workers at the 10th percentile earn $50,470 per year ($24.27/hour). The 25th percentile is $62,670.
How many people work as paralegals and legal assistants in Washington?
About 9,460 people work in this occupation in Washington, or 2.7 per 1,000 jobs statewide.
Is Washington a good state for paralegals and legal assistants?
Washington ranks #2 of 51 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment concentration (1.05x) is close to the national average.
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).