SOC 23-2011 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Paralegals and Legal Assistants — Charleston
Charleston, WV · 5 metro areas compared
In Charleston, WV the median wage is $54,780.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In Charleston, WV the median wage is $54,780. That is 12.9% lower than the national median of $62,890. Pay ranges from under $34,590 at the tenth percentile to more than $107,870 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $44,490 to $75,360.
Employment stands at 480, or 4.7 jobs per thousand held locally. Within the state, Parkersburg records the highest median at $76,400. Of the 341 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 156th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $34,590 | −45.0% |
| 25th | $44,490 | −29.3% |
| Median (50th) | $54,780 | −12.9% |
| 75th | $75,360 | +19.8% |
| 90th | $107,870 | +71.5% |
| Mean | $61,220 | −2.7% |
Other metro areas in West Virginia
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Parkersburg | $76,400 | 200 | |
| 2 | Morgantown | $61,840 | 100 | |
| 3 | Huntington | $51,880 | 240 | |
| 4 | Wheeling | $51,150 | 110 | |
| 5 | Beckley | $35,900 | 40 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Charleston run 10.5% below the national average, so the median of $54,780 goes as far as $61,207 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 2.7% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$54,780as reported by BLSLocal price level
89.5US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$61,207US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $54,780 a year, 12.9% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $34,590 to $107,870 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 480 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Parkersburg, at $76,400.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Paralegals and Legal Assistants in Charleston, WV?
The median annual wage is $54,780, or $26.34 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 Charleston, WV is 12.9% 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 Charleston, WV earns more than $107,870 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $34,590 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 Parkersburg, at $76,400 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 480 jobs in this occupation in Charleston, WV. 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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