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Paralegal Salary in Washington, DC

Updated

The median paralegal in the Washington area earns $81,590 a year ($39.23 an hour), 30% above the U.S. median ($62,890). Half of the 12,990 paralegals there earn between $64,180 and $106,990.

Percentiles. Dark: the middle half of earners. Red line: median. Dashed: U.S. median.
Paralegals and Legal Assistants, May 2025 (latest official data). Metro area: Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV.
Annual payWashington areaU.S.
10th percentile$57,160$44,740
25th percentile$64,180$50,340
Median$81,590$62,890
75th percentile$106,990$80,080
90th percentile$126,020$101,500
Average$87,900$69,700
Jobs12,990392,880

Washington, DC ranks 4th of the 50 largest U.S. metro areas for paralegal pay. Highest: San Jose, CA ($99,250).

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Sources

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.