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Paralegal I Salary in Java, SD

How much does a Paralegal I make in Java, SD?

As of February 01, 2026, the average salary for a Paralegal I in Java, SD is $57,010 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $27.

However, a Paralegal I's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $68,052
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $51,286 to $62,790
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $46,075
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View as table View as graph 25% $51,286 10% $46,075 90% $68,052 75% $62,790 $57,010 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Paralegal I Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $62,790 $5,232 $1,207 $30
Average $57,010 $4,751 $1,096 $27
25th Percentile $51,286 $4,274 $986 $25
Check out Paralegal I Job Openings in Java, SD
Paralegal

Cutler Law Firm - Mitchell, SD

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Cutler Law Firm - Madison, SD

Paralegal

Dakota Plains Legal Services - Sioux Falls, SD

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Dakota Plains Legal Services - Pine Ridge, SD

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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, skills and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Paralegal 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): $57,010
  • Paralegal II (2-4 years): $66,919
  • Paralegal III (4-7 years): $77,202
  • Paralegal IV (7+ years): $96,611
  • Paralegal V (7-10 years): $123,855
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Paralegal I0-2 years$57,010
Paralegal II2-4 years$66,919
Paralegal III4-7 years$77,202
Paralegal IV7+ years$96,611
Paralegal V7-10 years$123,855
$57,010 Paralegal...
$66,919 Paralegal...
$77,202 Paralegal...
$96,611 Paralegal...
$123,855 Paralegal...
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What Am I Worth?

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: $86,896
  • San Francisco: $86,042
  • Oakland: $84,133

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
See More Skills
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
$62,141
9%
Intellectual Property
$61,571
8%
Leadership
$61,000
7%
Contract Management
$61,000
7%
Presentation
$59,860
5%
Due Diligence
$59,860
5%
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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 February 01, 2026

Paralegal I Salary Growth & Career Path

For a Paralegal I, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Paralegal II role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $66,919 - a projected growth of 17% over your current level.

Find Your Next Paralegal I Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Paralegal I job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

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Cost of Living In Java, SD

Cost of Living in Java, SD is
-6.1% Lower
than the National Average

Use Salary.com's Cost of Living Calculator to find out what income you need to maintain your standard of living in a different city and how much more or less money you need to budget for basic expenses.

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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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