What is the highest paid type of paralegal?

1. Paralegal Manager. $104,775. ...
2. Legal Project Manager. $87,375. ...
3. Intellectual Property Paralegal. $86,800. ...
4. Nurse Paralegal. $82,687. ...
5. Employment and Labor Law Paralegal. $80,685. ...
6. Government Paralegal. $78,478. ...
7. Senior Paralegal. $69,995. ...
8. Corporate Paralegal. $66,134.

• Contract law.
• Corporate law.
• Healthcare law.
• Intellectual Property (IP) law.
• Real estate law.

What paralegal jobs pay the most?

How much does a certified paralegal make in California?

As of Jan 21, 2025, the average hourly pay for a Certified Paralegal in California is $23.32 an hour. While ZipRecruiter is seeing salaries as high as $24.20 and as low as $20.40, the majority of Certified Paralegal salaries currently range between $22.79 (25th percentile) to $23.94 (75th percentile) in California.

How old is the average paralegal?

Paralegals are everywhere. More than 345,000 paralegals and legal assistants are employed in the United States, with a workforce that is 83% female and median age of 43.9 years.

What is the most recognized paralegal certification?

More than 47 paralegal organizations acknowledge the CP^® as the definitive paralegal certification.

What is higher than a paralegal?

Lawyers are licensed to practice law and represent clients, whereas paralegals are not. This means that lawyers are typically more highly trained and better compensated than paralegals.

What is the highest degree for a paralegal?

The degree conferred may be a Master of Science (MS) or a Master of Arts (MA) in Paralegal Studies. Master's-level programs are often designed for people who already have experience in the paralegal field and are looking to advance their career or focus their studies on one area of law.

How can paralegals make extra money?

Supplementary income

On top of your regular work week, you can take on a few hours of freelance paralegal services to supplement your income. Working an hour per evening (or a couple of hours each day on the weekend) is enough to generate a tidy sum of additional earnings.

Do most paralegals go to law school?

Paralegals typically earn some level of formal education after high school. The minimum education requirement is an associate's degree or a paralegal certification. It is possible for law firms to hire you as a paralegal while you finish your bachelor's degree, as long as you pursue the paralegal certification.

Do hospitals hire paralegals?

Paralegals Working for Hospitals, Insurers and the Law Firms That Represent Them. Health care law paralegals typically find themselves working for hospitals, insurers, or at law firms specializing in medical malpractice lawsuits or defense.

What is the next career step for a paralegal?

Becoming a lawyer can be a natural next step for a paralegal, especially if you already have a law degree. Think about whether you want to be an in-house attorney or work in a law firm. Typically, attorneys work in-firm first before moving to in-house, so that may add to the time it takes to get to your ideal role.

What are the best degrees to become a paralegal?

Other majors, such as history, English, political science, psychology, accounting or business administration may benefit paralegal students as well. Regardless of your major, it's important to have a strong foundation in the law and the inner workings of the legal system.

What states require paralegals to be certified?

The only state that currently regulates paralegals directly is California, which adopted regulation in 2000 that requires persons using the titles "paralegal," "legal assistant," and the like to meet certain educational/experiential qualifications and to meet continuing education requirements.

Can you make a good living as a paralegal?

Overall, the best-paying states are D.C., California, Washington, Massachusetts, and New York, though of course paralegals are also in high demand in cities with lower costs of living.

Are most paralegals hourly or salary?

A Salary. Many paralegals are also salaried professionals and are paid a set amount regardless of how much time they spend working on cases over the course of a week. This is more common for seasoned paralegals who are full-time members at the law firms where they work.

Is paralegal school worth it?

In conclusion, becoming a paralegal in 2024 is a worthwhile endeavor for those seeking a rewarding career in the legal field. The demand for paralegals is on the rise, and the profession offers competitive salaries, growth opportunities, and job satisfaction.

How long is paralegal school in California?

On average, it can take four to six years to become a California paralegal with a bachelor's or master's degree. A master's in legal studies may be an option for those interested in this career but is not required according to state law.

Are paralegal salaries increasing?

Corporate paralegals gained an impressive 9.2% increase over last year's reported amount earning an average $71,255 compared to the . 06% increase from the 2013, which was reported at an aver- age of $63,664.

How much more do lawyers make than paralegals?

The national average salary for a paralegal is $55,060 per year . This position is often an entry-level role for those who aspire to become lawyers. The national average salary for a lawyer is $99,022 per year . For both paralegals and lawyers, their salaries can differ based on their location, employer and experience.