Paralegal Salary in Chicago, IL
Updated
The median paralegal in the Chicago area earns $70,550 a year ($33.92 an hour), 12% above the U.S. median ($62,890) and 11% above the Illinois median ($63,670). Half of the 11,590 paralegals there earn between $58,740 and $85,040.
Median $70,550
10th: $50,16090th: $106,040
| Annual pay | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $50,160 | $46,860 | $44,740 |
| 25th percentile | $58,740 | $56,160 | $50,340 |
| Median | $70,550 | $63,670 | $62,890 |
| 75th percentile | $85,040 | $81,970 | $80,080 |
| 90th percentile | $106,040 | $104,580 | $101,500 |
| Average | $74,920 | $72,310 | $69,700 |
| Jobs | 11,590 | 14,130 | 392,880 |
Chicago, IL ranks 13th of the 50 largest U.S. metro areas for paralegal pay. Highest: San Jose, CA ($99,250).
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Check my payParalegal pay in other cities
- San Jose, CA: $99,250
- Seattle, WA: $92,900
- San Francisco, CA: $84,030
- Washington, DC: $81,590
- Denver, CO: $80,500
- Boston, MA: $79,850
- Sacramento, CA: $78,550
- Los Angeles, CA: $77,520
- All cities
Similar jobs in Chicago, IL
- Lawyer: $165,660
- All jobs in Chicago, IL
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, published May 15, 2026
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, www.bls.gov/oes. BLS.gov cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from BLS.gov.