SOC 23-2011 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Paralegals and Legal Assistants — Bay City
Bay City, MI · 10 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Bay City, MI is $54,170 a year, trailing the national median of $62,890 by 13.9%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Bay City, MI is $54,170 a year, trailing the national median of $62,890 by 13.9%. Half of workers earn between $45,550 and $64,770. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $36,520 and the ninetieth at $91,350.
The area has 40 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.48 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Detroit leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $63,400. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 91st of 176 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $36,520 | −41.9% |
| 25th | $45,550 | −27.6% |
| Median (50th) | $54,170 | −13.9% |
| 75th | $64,770 | +3.0% |
| 90th | $91,350 | +45.3% |
| Mean | $59,060 | −6.1% |
Other metro areas in Michigan
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Detroit | $63,400 | 4,550 | |
| 2 | Grand Rapids | $62,370 | 870 | |
| 3 | Ann Arbor | $61,480 | 380 | |
| 4 | Lansing | $60,220 | 400 | |
| 5 | Jackson | $59,030 | 70 | |
| 6 | Traverse City | $56,270 | 120 | |
| 7 | Flint | $55,370 | 240 | |
| 8 | Kalamazoo | $53,090 | 170 | |
| 9 | Niles | $51,820 | 60 | |
| 10 | Saginaw | $48,740 | 110 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Bay City run 3.8% below the national average, so the median of $54,170 goes as far as $56,310 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 10.5% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$54,170as reported by BLSLocal price level
96.2US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$56,310US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $54,170 a year, 13.9% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $36,520 to $91,350 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 40 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Detroit, at $63,400.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Paralegals and Legal Assistants in Bay City, MI?
The median annual wage is $54,170, or $26.04 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $62,890, so pay in Bay City, MI is 13.9% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Bay City, MI earns more than $91,350 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $36,520 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Detroit, at $63,400 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 40 jobs in this occupation in Bay City, MI. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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