Paralegal salary in Boise City, ID
Paralegals earn more in Boise City than anywhere else in Idaho. Expect a median of $53,470 a year1, 7.6% above the Idaho statewide median of $49,690 and 15.0% below the US median of $62,890. Nationally it ranks #288 of 506 areas. It is the largest market for the job in Idaho: about 1,140 people, 56% of the Idaho total.
BLS occupation 23-2011, area Boise City, ID. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Boise City against Idaho and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boise City, ID | $36,930 | $53,470 | $75,910 | |
| Idaho | $36,930 | $49,690 | $75,420 | |
| United States | $44,740 | $62,890 | $101,500 |
Paralegals at the 90th percentile earn $75,910, 2.1 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 2.3. The middle half of paralegals in Boise City earns $37,710–$70,090. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is $32,380 wide, wider than in Idaho as a whole ($18,550) and the US ($29,740), so what a paralegal earns in Boise City depends more on the employer.
What to budget for a paralegal here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $36,930 | $3,078 | $17.75 | $47,652 |
| 25th percentile | $37,710 | $3,142 | $18.13 | $48,658 |
| Median | $53,470 | $4,456 | $25.71 | $68,994 |
| 75th percentile | $70,090 | $5,841 | $33.70 | $90,439 |
| 90th percentile | $75,910 | $6,326 | $36.50 | $97,948 |
An offer at the 75th percentile instead of the median adds $16,620 a year in pay and about $21,445 in employer cost. Going down to the 25th percentile saves $15,760 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 Boise City, and the Idaho statewide median of $49,690 falls between the 25th percentile and the median.
What a hire really costs in Boise City
At the $53,470 median, a local hire costs about $68,994 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $15,524 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 Boise City
Of the 17 roles we track in Boise City, this one ranks #8 by median pay, between executive assistants ($60,200) and payroll specialists ($53,420). Project Coordinator is the highest at $98,580.
| Role | Median | vs paralegal | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sales Development Representative | +15.6% | 2,970 | |
| Executive Assistant | +12.6% | 640 | |
| Paralegal | this role | 1,140 | |
| Payroll Specialist | -0.1% | 390 | |
| HR Assistant | -3.2% | 150 |
Measured against the US median, paralegals rank #15 of the 17 roles we track in Boise City (-15.0%), between recruiters (-13.0%) and marketing specialists (-20.8%). The typical role here is at -6.7%, so, measured against the US, paralegals cost less in Boise City than the area's general pay level would suggest. Paralegals hold 2.7% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Boise City, 2.4% across Idaho and 2.5% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
Other areas in Idaho
Across the 8 areas of Idaho with data for this job, the median runs from $46,640 in Idaho Falls to $53,470 in Boise City, a gap of $6,830 a year. No other area in Idaho has as many paralegals, and all 7 others pay less.
| Area | Median | vs Boise City | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boise City, ID | this area | 1,140 | |
| Southeast-Central Idaho (Nonmetro) | -5.7% | 160 | |
| Coeur d'Alene, ID | -6.2% | 230 | |
| Lewiston, ID-WA | -6.4% | 60 | |
| Northwestern Idaho (Nonmetro) | -10.7% | 110 | |
| Twin Falls, ID | -12.3% | 70 | |
| Pocatello, ID | -12.7% | 70 |
Boise City against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Boise City is #57 of 503 US areas for this job. It is one of the larger markets for this job, with pay near the middle of the US range. Outside Idaho, Hilton Head Island-Bluffton and Ogden pay just above Boise City and Owensboro and San Antonio-New Braunfels just below. All four are within $550 a year of the median in Boise City. Of the three markets with about as many paralegals, all three pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Boise City | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | +12.4% | 1,190 | jobs | |
| Albuquerque, NM | +11.0% | 1,070 | jobs | |
| Memphis, TN-MS | +6.3% | 1,120 | jobs | |
| Ogden, UT | +1.0% | 380 | pay | |
| Hilton Head Island-Bluffton, SC | +0.9% | 300 | pay | |
| Boise City, ID | this area | 1,140 | ||
| Owensboro, KY | -0.3% | 60 | pay | |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | -0.3% | 2,900 | pay |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a paralegal in Boise City, ID?
About $68,994 a year at the median, or $5,749 a month: $53,470 in pay plus about $15,524 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for paralegals in Boise City?
The median was $53,470 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $36,930, the 90th $75,910, and the middle half earned $37,710 to $70,090.
Is Boise City the most expensive area in Idaho for paralegals?
Yes. Its median of $53,470 is the highest of 8 areas in Idaho. The Southeast-Central Idaho nonmetro area comes next at $50,420.
How many paralegals work in Boise City?
BLS counts about 1,140 in the May 2025 survey. That is 56% of the Idaho total of 2,030. No other area in Idaho has as many.
Does a paralegal cost more than a payroll specialist in Boise City?
Yes: $50 a year more at the median. The medians are $53,470 and $53,420.
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.