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 According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the average annual paralegal salary was $45,460 as of May 2006. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $27,450 annually, while the highest 10 percent earned more than $67,540. Paralegal salaries were highest in the motion picture, telecommunications, publishing, internet service provider and automotive industries. The largest employer of paralegals is the legal services industry, which accounts for more than 70 percent of paralegal jobs. Paralegal salaries in legal services averaged $43,950 annually.  Paralegal Salaries November 2007 data from Salary.com paints a rosy picture for annual paralegal salary growth, as a paralegal gains work experience: | Experience | Lowest 10% | Average Salary | Highest 10% | | 0 - 2 yrs | $31,194 | $42,798 | $56,307 | | 2 - 5 yrs | $39,287 | $52,133 | $65,030 | | 5 - 8 yrs | $43,388 | $56,016 | $70,224 | | 8+ yrs | $50,596 | $66,576 | $86,868 | | Paralegal Manager | $56,709 | $82,409 | $116,795 | Paralegal Career Path Paralegals are usually given more responsibility and authority as they gain work experience. Experienced paralegals may also have a high degree of autonomy, particularly in the areas of real estate and estate planning, where a great deal of client work can be done with only minimal supervision of an attorney. Experienced paralegals working in large law firms, corporate legal departments or government agencies may supervise and delegate assignments to other paralegals and clerical staff. Some law firms and legal departments employ one or more paralegal managers, typically very experienced paralegals, to oversee the assignments, workflow and personnel issues for all of the organization's paralegals. Advancement opportunities also include promotion to other law-related managerial positions. However, due to the competitive legal market and the high demand for skilled paralegals, some paralegals find it easier to move to another law firm when seeking increased responsibility, advancement and higher salaries. Where Paralegals Work According to the BLS, more than 70 percent of all paralegals work for private law firms. Paralegals are also employed by corporate legal departments and various government offices. Law offices are typically well appointed, and most paralegals enjoy private offices and above average perks and benefits, including performance bonuses. In corporate or government jobs, it is more common for paralegals to work in cubicles or to share common office areas. There are many different types of paralegal specialties. These include litigation, personal injury, corporate law, criminal law, employee benefits, intellectual property, employment law, bankruptcy, immigration, family law, estate planning and real estate. As the law has become more complex, paralegals have become more specialized. Within specialties, functions often are broken down further so that paralegals may only deal with one specific area. For example, paralegals specializing in corporate law may concentrate exclusively on tax matters. Criminal Justice Home
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