SalaryExplorer

SOC 23-2011 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS

Paralegals and Legal AssistantsCentral East New York

Central East New York nonmetropolitan area · 10 metro areas compared

$53,030 /year
$25.50per hour
220jobs in area
15.7%vs US median

Median pay for this occupation in Central East New York, NY is $53,030 a year, trailing the national median of $62,890 by 15.7%.

Wage distribution · annual

Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners

US MEDIAN $62,89010TH$47,110MEDIAN$53,03075TH$63,86090TH$78,760

Salary overview

Median pay for this occupation in Central East New York, NY is $53,030 a year, trailing the national median of $62,890 by 15.7%. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $48,250 and $63,860. The lowest tenth earn under $47,110, while the highest tenth earn more than $78,760.

The area has 220 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.55 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Within the state, New York records the highest median at $75,330. Of the 405 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 239th.

Percentile breakdown

Annual wages by percentile · Central East New York nonmetropolitan area · May 2025
PercentileAnnualvs US median
10th$47,110−25.1%
25th$48,250−23.3%
Median (50th)$53,030−15.7%
75th$63,860+1.5%
90th$78,760+25.2%
Mean$59,220−5.8%

Other metro areas in New York

Median annual wage for Paralegals and Legal Assistants, by metro area
#Metro areaMedianJobsRelative
1New York$75,33033,850
2Kingston$62,210140
3Kiryas Joel$61,350600
4Syracuse$61,150970
5Albany$60,6801,340
6Ithaca$60,55080
7Binghamton$60,420240
8Glens Falls$59,170100
9Buffalo$58,2702,060
10Rochester$57,2501,300

What the pay is worth locally

Prices in Central East New York run 7.9% above the national average, so the median of $53,030 buys what $49,147 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 21.9% below the national median in real terms.

Published median

$53,030as reported by BLS

Local price level

107.9US average = 100 · BEA 2024

Adjusted for local prices

$49,147US average = 100 · BEA 2024

Key takeaways

  • Median pay is $53,030 a year, 15.7% below the national median.
  • Published pay spans $47,110 to $78,760 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
  • The area has 220 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 Central East New York, NY?

The median annual wage is $53,030, or $25.50 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 Central East New York, NY is 15.7% 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 Central East New York, NY earns more than $78,760 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.

What is the starting range?

The tenth percentile wage is $47,110 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 220 jobs in this occupation in Central East 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.

Paralegals and Legal Assistants Salary in Central East New York, NY (2025): $53,030 Median | Salary Explorer