SOC 23-2011 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Paralegals and Legal Assistants — Wilmington
Wilmington, NC · 10 metro areas compared
The median wage for Paralegals and Legal Assistants in Wilmington, NC is $56,060 per year, 10.9% below the national median of $62,890.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Paralegals and Legal Assistants in Wilmington, NC is $56,060 per year, 10.9% below the national median of $62,890. Half of workers earn between $46,750 and $64,570. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $40,090 and the ninetieth at $75,600.
Employment stands at 580, or 3.0 jobs per thousand held locally. Within the state, Raleigh records the highest median at $61,880. Of the 413 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 202nd.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $40,090 | −36.3% |
| 25th | $46,750 | −25.7% |
| Median (50th) | $56,060 | −10.9% |
| 75th | $64,570 | +2.7% |
| 90th | $75,600 | +20.2% |
| Mean | $56,840 | −9.6% |
Other metro areas in North Carolina
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Raleigh | $61,880 | 2,540 | |
| 2 | Fayetteville | $60,370 | 420 | |
| 3 | Charlotte | $59,870 | 4,140 | |
| 4 | Greensboro | $58,650 | 860 | |
| 5 | Asheville | $57,500 | 590 | |
| 6 | Durham | $52,500 | 890 | |
| 7 | Jacksonville | $51,630 | 210 | |
| 8 | Burlington | $51,620 | 110 | |
| 9 | Winston-Salem | $50,680 | 830 | |
| 10 | Goldsboro | $49,890 | 80 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Wilmington run 5.7% below the national average, so the median of $56,060 goes as far as $59,449 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 5.5% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$56,060as reported by BLSLocal price level
94.3US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$59,449US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $56,060 a year, 10.9% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $40,090 to $75,600 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 580 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Raleigh, at $61,880.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Paralegals and Legal Assistants in Wilmington, NC?
The median annual wage is $56,060, or $26.95 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 Wilmington, NC is 10.9% 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 Wilmington, NC earns more than $75,600 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $40,090 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 Raleigh, at $61,880 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 580 jobs in this occupation in Wilmington, NC. 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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