* Only the paralegal programs at Herzing University in New Orleans and Atlanta are approved by the American Bar Association (ABA). The Herzing Legal Studies program, offered online, is not approved by the ABA. Many people considering a career change look to the paralegal profession as the best career option. Paralegals can train in just one year and earn a respectable salary, whether they work in Texas, Illinois or New York. In May 2020, paralegals working in law firms earned an average salary of $54,200. With approximately 15,000 paralegals, the federal government remains one of the largest employers of paralegals in the United States. These jobs also come with high salaries. In May 2020, paralegals working in federal agencies earned an average salary of $72,930, nearly $20,000 more on average than those working in law firms. To attract top talent, lawyers are offering paralegals a higher level of flexibility, including remote work options, as well as more career opportunities and more impressive benefits than ever before. So it`s always worth coming to the table with a resume that includes a solid post-secondary education, professional certification, and a wide range of office skills and legal knowledge. Benefits: Benefits are often part of the total compensation package for paralegals. According to the NALA survey, some of the top benefits paralegals enjoyed in 2016 include: The BLS predicts that demand for paralegals and paralegals will increase by 12% between 2020 and 2030, meaning now is the time to get a foot in the door.
What is the average starting salary for a paralegal? In 2021, the average starting salary for a paralegal is $41,500 to $67,500. Not surprisingly, junior paralegals in Robert Half`s compensation survey experienced the lowest salary increases during this period, as paralegals with more experience are always in demand. Paralegals working in state government agencies earned an average salary of $51,390 in 2020, while paralegals working in local governments earned an average of $57,130 over this period. But that`s not to say junior paralegals didn`t see an increase between 2016 and 2017: government projections of job growth for paralegals and paralegals come from the U.S. Department of Labor-sponsored O*Net database (2018-2028). May 2020 Bureau of Labor Statistics Wage and labor market trends for paralegals and paralegals and paralegals represent national data, not school-specific information. Impressive opportunities in the paralegal profession abound and are expected to continue in the future. In fact, the number of paralegal jobs is expected to increase by 11% between 2019 and 2029, almost three times the national average employment growth rate of 4% over this period. According to the U.S.
Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of May 2020, the average paralegal salary was $52,920 per year, or $25.44 per hour, with the bottom 10% earning an average of $32,900 and the richest 10% earning more than $85,160. The average salary for paralegals in Washington DC rose well above what has been seen in the rest of the country, and was nearly $30,000 more than the national average for this occupation. It`s probably no surprise that there`s a lot of legal work to be done in a place that houses the federal government and the center of U.S. legislation. As expected, in May 2020, the country`s largest states (by population) also welcomed the largest number of paralegal jobs: in the current ten-year period to 2029, approximately 37,600 annual paralegal job postings are expected nationally, driven by growth in new jobs and normal turnover due to retirement and career development. According to Robert Half`s 2021 Salary Guide, while paralegal salaries are not changing significantly, in-demand positions may increase slightly over the next year. Since 2014, NALA has reported that about 80 percent of all paralegals said their employer provides and contributes to a pension or retirement plan, while 35 percent said their employer offers profit-sharing plans. 25-30% of paralegal employers offered health, dental and vision insurance. While the profession has no specific requirements for practice, today`s highly skilled paralegals have an associate`s or bachelor`s degree or post-baccalaureate certificate and often take these paralegal diploma and certificate programs online.
Institutional Standards accreditation offers peace of mind that you`re looking for a quality program that meets U.S. Department of Education standards, and some schools go even further by becoming institutional members of the American Association for Paralegal Education or going through the American Bar Association (ABA) approval process. As mentioned earlier, the winners of the largest increase between 2016 and 2017 were medium-sized paralegals in small and medium-sized law firms. These lawyers earned between $54,500 and $65,000 in 2016. By 2017, his salary range had increased from $55,750 to $70,000, an increase of 5.2 per cent. The states with the highest average salaries for paralegals in May 2020 had some of the highest cost of living and were home to some of the largest metropolitan areas where business and industry naturally thrive: Where does your state rank in terms of paralegal compensation? The table below shows paralegal salaries and hourly rates at each level and in each state: With the increase in caseload, changing client dynamics, and pressure to provide low-cost legal services, law firms rely more than ever on their legal support staff to make everything work. Whether it`s freeing up a lawyer`s time, reducing legal fees, speeding up processes, and ensuring accuracy, paralegals aren`t a luxury for law firms and the businesses that rely on them, they`re a necessity. According to 2020 statistics from the U.S.
Department of Labor, the national median salary for paralegals was $52,920, with the richest 10% earning more than $85,160. However, there is a long-standing precedent that paralegals working for corporations are the highest paid in the profession, and this has not been disputed. In 2017, in-house paralegals outperformed other types of paralegals in all categories: businesses involved in managing businesses and businesses are the largest employer of corporate paralegals. With approximately 7,000 paralegals as of May 2020, this sector also reported a high average salary of $74,390, which accurately reflects what those working for federal agencies earn. According to the Robert Half 2021 Salary Guide, the average salary for paralegals ranges from $62,000 to $105,000. However, previous salary guides point out that salary varies depending on the size of the law firm: But in terms of compensation, wholesalers distributing non-durable goods (they range from food to clothing to paper products) are unbeatable. Paralegals earn an average salary of $134,210 here, making them the highest-paying industry for these professionals. Other highest-paying industries for paralegals working in the private sector include: Not surprisingly, the lion`s share of paralegals (nearly 257,000 as of May 2020) in the country are employed in law firms. However, some of the highest salaries have been found in other sectors.
The role of paralegals also continues to grow in areas such as real estate and litigation, where experienced paralegals who provide legal services at a lower price than a lawyer`s cost are a valuable asset. Many companies are looking for paralegals with expertise in areas such as product development, mergers and acquisitions, and joint ventures. Between 2018 and 2028, states are expected to see the largest increase in paralegal employment: It`s no surprise that senior paralegals and supervisors at large law firms with 75 or more lawyers earn the highest salaries of any paralegal group. The highest paid paralegals were in Washington, D.C. These lawyers earned an average annual salary of $83,330. In California, the demand for legal aid is reaching new highs every year, which is reflected in the fact that paralegals here are the second highest in the country, earning an average annual salary of $66,250. Find below the average salary of your state: Note: Paralegals are not allowed to provide legal services directly to the public unless permitted by law. In law firms, financial institutions, healthcare companies, real estate companies and any other type of organization where legal services are part of day-to-day operations, paralegals have stepped out of the back offices to take their place among the most valuable professionals on the team. At the top of the salary scale (75th to 90th percentile), paralegals earned between $67,080 and $85,160 and likely represent individuals with extensive experience, one or more industry certifications, and knowledge in specialties such as compliance, contract and lease administration, labour and employment disputes, and executive compensation.
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