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Occupation · SOC 23-2011

Paralegals and Legal Assistants

There are 392,880 jobs in the U.S. Median pay is $62,890 a year. The most jobs are in New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJ.

LegalTypical education: Associate's degree
392,880
Jobs in the U.S.
People employed, May 2025
$62,890
Median pay a year
Middle half: $50,340–$80,080
40,800
Annual openings
10-year change: −0.3%
234
LCA filings, last 4 quarters
+36.8% from the prior 4 quarters

Metro areas with the highest employment

10 of 378 metro areas with BLS data for this occupation. LCA filings: Apr 2025–Mar 2026.

Metro areaEmploymentMedian payLCA filings
New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJMedian pay $75,330 · LCA filings 7833,850$75,33078
Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim, CAMedian pay $77,520 · LCA filings 3322,240$77,52033
Miami–Fort Lauderdale–West Palm Beach, FLMedian pay $62,090 · LCA filings 617,820$62,0906
Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, DC–VA–MD–WVMedian pay $81,590 · LCA filings 1312,990$81,59013
Chicago–Naperville–Elgin, IL–INMedian pay $70,550 · LCA filings 1111,590$70,55011
Philadelphia–Camden–Wilmington, PA–NJ–DE–MDMedian pay $70,430 · LCA filings 611,150$70,4306
Atlanta–Sandy Springs–Roswell, GAMedian pay $64,080 · LCA filings 510,290$64,0805
Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington, TXMedian pay $63,220 · LCA filings 48,320$63,2204
San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CAMedian pay $84,030 · LCA filings 107,630$84,03010
Houston–Pasadena–The Woodlands, TXMedian pay $62,730 · LCA filings 27,320$62,7302

Metro areas with the highest median pay

Median pay for this occupation in each metro area, May 2025.

Metro areaMedian payEmploymentLCA filings
San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara, CAEmployment 2,030 · LCA filings 10$99,2502,03010
Seattle–Tacoma–Bellevue, WAEmployment 6,310 · LCA filings 6$92,9006,3106
San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CAEmployment 7,630 · LCA filings 10$84,0307,63010
Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, DC–VA–MD–WVEmployment 12,990 · LCA filings 13$81,59012,99013
Santa Maria–Santa Barbara, CAEmployment 360 · LCA filings 0$80,9303600

Metro areas with the most LCA filings

Labor Condition Applications filed by employers with the U.S. Department of Labor, Apr 2025–Mar 2026. They’re used in the H-1B process and show filing history, not hires or current job openings.

Metro areaLCA filingsEmployers with LCA filingsEmployment
New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJEmployers with LCA filings 46 · Employment 33,850784633,850
Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim, CAEmployers with LCA filings 23 · Employment 22,240332322,240
Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, DC–VA–MD–WVEmployers with LCA filings 8 · Employment 12,99013812,990
Chicago–Naperville–Elgin, IL–INEmployers with LCA filings 10 · Employment 11,590111011,590
San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CAEmployers with LCA filings 8 · Employment 7,6301087,630

Prevailing wage levels (H-1B and PERM)

The minimum yearly wage by level. Level I is entry level and Level IV is fully competent; an H-1B employer must pay at least the level that fits the job.

Metro areaLevel ILevel IILevel IIILevel IV
New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJLevel II $67,309 · Level III $80,122 · Level IV $92,955$54,475$67,309$80,122$92,955
Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim, CALevel II $66,560 · Level III $79,435 · Level IV $92,310$53,685$66,560$79,435$92,310
Miami–Fort Lauderdale–West Palm Beach, FLLevel II $55,786 · Level III $66,019 · Level IV $76,253$45,552$55,786$66,019$76,253
Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, DC–VA–MD–WVLevel II $73,653 · Level III $87,755 · Level IV $101,858$59,550$73,653$87,755$101,858
Chicago–Naperville–Elgin, IL–INLevel II $63,690 · Level III $74,818 · Level IV $85,925$52,582$63,690$74,818$85,925
Philadelphia–Camden–Wilmington, PA–NJ–DE–MDLevel II $62,150 · Level III $72,301 · Level IV $82,451$52,000$62,150$72,301$82,451
Atlanta–Sandy Springs–Roswell, GALevel II $61,464 · Level III $76,419 · Level IV $91,354$46,530$61,464$76,419$91,354
Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington, TXLevel II $56,139 · Level III $68,390 · Level IV $80,642$43,888$56,139$68,390$80,642
San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CALevel II $78,333 · Level III $92,685 · Level IV $107,037$63,981$78,333$92,685$107,037
Houston–Pasadena–The Woodlands, TXLevel II $57,242 · Level III $69,139 · Level IV $81,016$45,365$57,242$69,139$81,016

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, OFLC Online Wage Library, July 2026–June 2027.

Related majors

Majors most closely related to this occupation. International graduates: 2024–25 academic year.

MajorInternational graduatesSTEM OPT
Legal Support ServicesCIP 22.03OPT · up to 12 months104OPT · up to 12 months
Non-Professional Legal StudiesCIP 22.00OPT · up to 12 months106OPT · up to 12 months
Political Science and GovernmentCIP 45.10OPT · up to 12 months1,637OPT · up to 12 months

See Paralegals and Legal Assistants in every metro area

All 378 metro areas, pay in each, related majors, schools in each job market, and employers with LCA filing history.

Employers with LCA filings for this occupation

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Related occupations · Legal

LawyersTitle Examiners, Abstractors, and SearchersLegal Support Workers, All OtherJudicial Law ClerksJudges, Magistrate Judges, and MagistratesAdministrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing OfficersArbitrators, Mediators, and Conciliators

Sources: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 · BLS Employment Projections 2025-35 · U.S. Department of Labor LCA disclosure data, Apr 2025–Mar 2026 · IPEDS 2024–25. Prevailing wages: U.S. Department of Labor, OFLC Online Wage Library, July 2026–June 2027. Methodology