Paralegal salary in Ann Arbor, MI
Hiring a paralegal costs less in Ann Arbor than in Michigan or the country as a whole. The median is $61,480 a year1: 1.1% below the Michigan statewide median of $62,170 and 2.2% below the US median of $62,890. That is in the top quarter of US areas (#108 of 506). About 380 paralegals work here, 5% of the Michigan total.
BLS occupation 23-2011, area Ann Arbor, MI. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Ann Arbor against Michigan and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ann Arbor, MI | $46,850 | $61,480 | $97,400 | |
| Michigan | $46,590 | $62,170 | $96,610 | |
| United States | $44,740 | $62,890 | $101,500 |
The middle half of paralegals in Ann Arbor earns $49,540–$75,770. The top tenth earns $97,400 or more, 2.1 times the bottom tenth, close to the US pattern of 2.3 times. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is $26,230 wide, between the figure for Michigan ($25,540) and the US figure ($29,740).
What to budget for a paralegal here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $46,850 | $3,904 | $22.52 | $60,452 |
| 25th percentile | $49,540 | $4,128 | $23.82 | $63,923 |
| Median | $61,480 | $5,123 | $29.56 | $79,329 |
| 75th percentile | $75,770 | $6,314 | $36.43 | $97,768 |
| 90th percentile | $97,400 | $8,117 | $46.83 | $125,677 |
An offer at the 75th percentile instead of the median adds $14,290 a year in pay and about $18,439 in employer cost. Going down to the 25th percentile saves $11,940 in pay. These percentiles describe what people in the job earn locally, not experience levels, so place your offer by the tasks and seniority you need.
For scale, the US median of $62,890 falls between the median and the 75th percentile in Ann Arbor, and the Michigan statewide median of $62,170 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in Ann Arbor
At the $61,480 median, a local hire costs about $79,329 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $17,849 here. Recruiting, equipment and office space come on top. Benefit levels vary by employer, so treat this as an estimate.
We place executive assistants, customer support and e-commerce staff today; for paralegals we answer within one business day whether we can help. Enter the monthly pay you have in mind to compare it with a local hire. The fee field shows our standard fee3; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool4.
Other roles in Ann Arbor
Of the 17 roles we track in Ann Arbor, this one ranks #8 by median pay, between office managers ($64,880) and payroll specialists ($59,770). Project Coordinator is the highest at $103,690.
| Role | Median | vs paralegal | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marketing Specialist | +7.7% | 1,160 | |
| Office Manager | +5.5% | 1,330 | |
| Paralegal | this role | 380 | |
| Payroll Specialist | -2.8% | 140 | |
| HR Assistant | -16.7% | 130 |
Measured against the US median, paralegals rank #12 of the 17 roles we track in Ann Arbor (-2.2%), between data entry specialists (-1.4%) and executive assistants (-2.5%). The typical role here is at +1.2%, so, measured against the US, paralegals cost less in Ann Arbor than the area's general pay level would suggest. Paralegals hold 1.9% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Ann Arbor, 1.9% across Michigan and 2.5% nationally. The job is a smaller part of the local workforce in these roles than it is nationally.
Other areas in Michigan
Across the 16 areas of Michigan with data for this job, the median runs from $47,940 in Muskegon-Norton Shores to $63,400 in Detroit-Warren, a gap of $15,460 a year. Of the 3 areas in Michigan with more paralegals than Ann Arbor, 1 pays less: Lansing-East Lansing, MI ($60,220).
| Area | Median | vs Ann Arbor | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit-Warren, MI | +3.1% | 4,550 | |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI | +1.4% | 870 | |
| Ann Arbor, MI | this area | 380 | |
| Lansing-East Lansing, MI | -2.0% | 400 | |
| Jackson, MI | -4.0% | 70 | |
| Traverse City, MI | -8.5% | 120 | |
| Flint, MI | -9.9% | 240 |
Ann Arbor against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Ann Arbor is #132 of 503 US areas for this job. It is a mid-sized market, and its pay is in the top quarter of US areas. Outside Michigan, Lancaster and Morgantown pay just above Ann Arbor and Riverside-San Bernardino and Mount Vernon-Anacortes just below. All four are within $360 a year of the median in Ann Arbor. Of the three markets with about as many paralegals, one pays more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Ann Arbor | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anchorage, AK | +7.7% | 390 | jobs | |
| Morgantown, WV | +0.6% | 100 | pay | |
| Lancaster, PA | +0.5% | 330 | pay | |
| Ann Arbor, MI | this area | 380 | ||
| Riverside-San Bernardino, CA | -0.0% | 2,460 | pay | |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | -0.0% | 80 | pay | |
| Ogden, UT | -12.1% | 380 | jobs | |
| Fayetteville-Springdale, AR | -19.8% | 380 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a paralegal in Ann Arbor, MI?
About $79,329 a year at the median, or $6,611 a month: $61,480 in pay plus about $17,849 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for paralegals in Ann Arbor?
Pay here is higher than in three quarters of US areas. The median was $61,480 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $46,850, the 90th $97,400, and the middle half earned $49,540 to $75,770.
Is Ann Arbor cheaper than the rest of Michigan for paralegals?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $61,480 against $62,170 statewide. The next area up in Michigan is Grand Rapids-Wyoming at $62,370, the next down Lansing-East Lansing at $60,220.
How many paralegals work in Ann Arbor?
BLS counts about 380 in the May 2025 survey. That is 5% of the Michigan total of 7,730. 3 areas in Michigan have more; the closest in size is Lansing-East Lansing, with about 400.
Does a paralegal cost more than a payroll specialist in Ann Arbor?
Yes: $1,710 a year more at the median. The medians are $61,480 and $59,770.
Sources
4 sources, with links
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 23-2011: bls.gov
- BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, private industry, June 2026: bls.gov
- Stafka pricing: stafka.com
- Deel pricing, contractor management: deel.com
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.