So you want to know how much money you can expect to earn as a paralegal? Good question. Like almost every other aspect of this field, a paralegal’s salary can vary quite a bit depending upon education, experience, geographic location of the employer, and type and size of the employer.

Paralegals that work in big cities and big firms can expect to make more money than do those who work in rural areas and small firms.

Experience Counts

As in most other career fields, the more experience that a paralegal has in this field the more salary he or she will earn. By 2010 the top 10 percent of paralegals were earning an average of $74,870. Generally, as a paralegal gains experience, he or she gains work responsibility and a higher income.

Median Annual Salaries of Paralegals

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2010 the median annual income of paralegals was $49,640. But the total salaries varied greatly. For instance, the middle 50 percent of paralegals earned between $36,230 and $46,680 in 2010. But the bottom 10 percent earned less than $30,000.

A major factor in the size of a paralegal’s salary is the industry in which he or she works.

Median Annual Salaries of Paralegals by Industry

Among the industries that employed the largest numbers of paralegals, a paralegal’s median annual salary was:

Figures courtesy of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Employment & Wages database.

Maximizing your Paralegal Earning Potential

Education

Besides gaining experience, one of best ways to maximize your paralegal earning potential is through education. The more quality education that you have, the more money you can expect to make in this field.

In general, an associate’s degree is better than a certificate and a bachelor’s degree is better than an associate’s. Your choice of degree all depends, of course, on your ultimate career goals. You can also start your paralegal career with an associate’s degree and then add a bachelor’s degree to it later.

Certification

Although becoming certified is not a requirement to work as a paralegal, it will increase your earning potential. A certification is an official acknowledgment from an official organization that you are well qualified to work as a paralegal.

There are two organizations that certify paralegals:

• The National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA) offers a 2-day certification exam to paralegals that have met certain educational and experiential requirements. Upon passing this exam, the paralegal can use either the Certified Legal Assistant (CLA) or the Certified Paralegal (CP) credential.
• The American Alliance of Paralegals, Inc offers the American Alliance Certified Paralegal (AAC)) credential to paralegals who have at least 5-years of paralegal experience and who have fulfilled certain educational requirements. In order to keep their certification, they must renew it every two years and complete a minimum of 18 hours of continuing education.