SOC 23-2011 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Paralegals and Legal Assistants — Capital/Northern New York
Capital/Northern New York nonmetropolitan area · 10 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Capital/Northern New York, NY is $47,850 a year, trailing the national median of $62,890 by 23.9%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Capital/Northern New York, NY is $47,850 a year, trailing the national median of $62,890 by 23.9%. Half of workers earn between $46,520 and $61,720. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $46,020 and the ninetieth at $73,730.
The area has 160 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 1.2 of every thousand jobs. New York leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $75,330. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 263rd of 371 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $46,020 | −26.8% |
| 25th | $46,520 | −26.0% |
| Median (50th) | $47,850 | −23.9% |
| 75th | $61,720 | −1.9% |
| 90th | $73,730 | +17.2% |
| Mean | $55,300 | −12.1% |
Other metro areas in New York
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $75,330 | 33,850 | |
| 2 | Kingston | $62,210 | 140 | |
| 3 | Kiryas Joel | $61,350 | 600 | |
| 4 | Syracuse | $61,150 | 970 | |
| 5 | Albany | $60,680 | 1,340 | |
| 6 | Ithaca | $60,550 | 80 | |
| 7 | Binghamton | $60,420 | 240 | |
| 8 | Glens Falls | $59,170 | 100 | |
| 9 | Buffalo | $58,270 | 2,060 | |
| 10 | Rochester | $57,250 | 1,300 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Capital/Northern New York run 7.9% above the national average, so the median of $47,850 buys what $44,347 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 29.5% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$47,850as reported by BLSLocal price level
107.9US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$44,347US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $47,850 a year, 23.9% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $46,020 to $73,730 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 160 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is New York, at $75,330.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Paralegals and Legal Assistants in Capital/Northern New York, NY?
The median annual wage is $47,850, or $23.01 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 Capital/Northern New York, NY is 23.9% 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 Capital/Northern New York, NY earns more than $73,730 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $46,020 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 New York, at $75,330 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 160 jobs in this occupation in Capital/Northern New York, NY. 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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