upper level job

Hourly Wage for Paralegal I Salary in the United States

How much does a Paralegal I make hourly?

As of September 01, 2026, the average hourly rate for a Paralegal I in the United States is $33, which translates to an annual salary of about $68,925.

However, the hourly wage can vary significantly based on several factors. Here’s a detailed look at the typical pay range per hour:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $40 per hour
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $30 to $37 per hour
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $27 per hour

Key Factors That Influence Paralegal I Salaries

A Paralegal I's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Paralegal I Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Paralegal I's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Paralegal I (0-2 years): $68,925
  • Paralegal II (2-4 years): $80,928
  • Paralegal III (4-7 years): $93,360
  • Paralegal IV (7+ years): $116,801
  • Paralegal V (7-10 years): $149,732
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Paralegal I0-2 years$68,925
Paralegal II2-4 years$80,928
Paralegal III4-7 years$93,360
Paralegal IV7+ years$116,801
Paralegal V7-10 years$149,732

Top Paying Cities for Paralegal Is

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $86,935
  • San Francisco: $85,983
  • Oakland: $84,171

What Skills Can Increase a Paralegal I's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Scheduling (Mentioned in 3.97% Job Postings): Scheduling is the process of arranging, controlling and optimizing work and workloads in a production process or manufacturing process.
  • Microsoft Word (Mentioned in 2.28% Job Postings): Microsoft Word or MS Word is a popular word-processing program used mainly for creating documents, such as brochures, letters, learning activities, quizzes, tests, and students' homework assignments
  • Adobe (Mentioned in 1.13% Job Postings): A mixture of wet earth and grass made into bricks and dried in the sun, used to build houses. It originated from the oral form of Arabic al-tob, meaning "brick," It is the first materials used to create buildings in the 8th century B.C
Skills Demand Percentage
Scheduling 3.97%
Microsoft Word 2.28%
Adobe 1.13%

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Paralegal I's salary.

  • Corporate Governance: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
  • Intellectual Property: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
  • Leadership: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Corporate Governance $75,128
9%
Intellectual Property $74,439
8%
Leadership $73,750
7%

Paralegal I Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Paralegal I salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $77,027. While startup companies pay approximate $65,157.

Paralegal I Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $65,157
Growth Stage 51~500 $68,910
Established 501~5000 $74,379
Enterprise 5000+ $77,027

Paralegal I Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Paralegal I roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 45% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Pharmaceuticals and Aerospace & Defense sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 25% above the average. In contrast, Paralegal positions in Hospitality & Leisure or MFG Nondurable typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Paralegal I as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Paralegal I

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Pharmaceuticals$86,156$41.025%
Aerospace & Defense$82,710$40.020%
Energy & Utilities$79,264$38.015%
Chemicals$75,818$36.010%
Internet$75,818$36.010%

How Education impacts a Paralegal I's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Paralegal I enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Paralegal I with a Bachelor's Degree is between $65,825 and $70,207.

Paralegal I Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Paralegal I
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.5%
High School 17.1%
Associates 28.5%
Bachelors 46.3%
Masters 4.4%
Doctorate 3.1%

Paralegal I Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Paralegal I's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on September 01, 2026
$62,012
Average $68,925/year
$75,923
$5,168
Average $5,744/month
$6,327
$1,193
Average $1,325/week
$1,460
$30
Average $33/hour
$37
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $75,923 $6,327 $1,460 $37
Average $68,925 $5,744 $1,325 $33
25th Percentile $62,012 $5,168 $1,193 $30

Most common benefits for Paralegal I

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Paralegal I

Here are companies hiring for Paralegal I and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Paralegal I

1. What are the responsibilities of Paralegal I?

Assists and supports attorneys with research and document preparation for court proceedings and legal transactions. Utilizes a variety of sources such as statutes, recorded judicial decisions, legal articles, and legal codes to research and analyze legal topics. Drafts and edits legal documents such as briefs, pleadings, motions, and contracts. Conducts fact-finding, data collection, and analysis used to prepare statements and arguments. Assists attorneys with depositions, interviews, discovery, and investigations. Manages, organizes, and archives documents with software tools and technology. Applies specialized legal terminology appropriately in documents. Typically requires a bachelor's degree. Typically requires Paralegal Certification. Typically reports to an attorney. Work is closely managed. Works on projects/matters of limited complexity in a support role. Typically requires 0-2 years of related experience.

2. What are the skills of Paralegal I

Specify the abilities and skills that a person needs in order to carry out the specified job duties. Each competency has five to ten behavioral assertions that can be observed, each with a corresponding performance level (from one to five) that is required for a particular job.

1.)

Scheduling: Scheduling is the process of arranging, controlling and optimizing work and workloads in a production process or manufacturing process.

2.)

Microsoft Word: Microsoft Word or MS Word is a popular word-processing program used mainly for creating documents, such as brochures, letters, learning activities, quizzes, tests, and students' homework assignments

3.)

Adobe: A mixture of wet earth and grass made into bricks and dried in the sun, used to build houses. It originated from the oral form of Arabic al-tob, meaning "brick," It is the first materials used to create buildings in the 8th century B.C

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third-party data sources. We also provide multiple percentiles of salary information for your reference, click here to know Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial to Getting Pay Equity Right. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.

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