Paralegal salary and cost of hiring in Colorado
The median paralegal in Colorado earned $78,190 a year in May 2025[1], 24.3% above the US median of $62,890. That puts Colorado at #3 of 51 states for this job.
BLS occupation 23-2011. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Salary range
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado | $56,930 | $78,190 | $106,160 | |
| United States | $44,740 | $62,890 | $101,500 |
The middle half of paralegals in Colorado earns $62,560–$95,070; the top tenth earns $106,160 or more, 1.9 times the bottom tenth.
What a hire really costs
Benefits and payroll taxes are 30.0% of total compensation in US private industry[2]. At the Colorado median that makes about $111,700 a year before recruiting, equipment and office space. 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 fee[3]; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool[4].
Pay by metro area in Colorado
| Area | Median | 75th percentile | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $97,800 | 3,740 | |
| Northwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $93,020 | 100 | |
| Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | $69,440 | 350 | |
| Eastern and Southern Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $69,110 | 70 | |
| Southwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $77,670 | n/a | |
| Boulder, CO | $80,000 | 400 | |
| Colorado Springs, CO | $82,300 | 560 | |
| Greeley, CO | $79,300 | 90 | |
| Grand Junction, CO | $76,250 | 100 | |
| Pueblo, CO | $63,540 | 70 |
Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO pays the most ($80,500) and Pueblo, CO the least ($59,880): $20,620 a year apart for the same job.
What a paralegal does
A paralegal supports lawyers with research, document drafting, filing and case management, under the supervision of a licensed attorney.
Neighbours in the ranking
| State | Median | vs Colorado |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | +14.8% | |
| Washington | +1.5% | |
| Colorado | +0.0% | |
| Massachusetts | -0.7% | |
| California | -1.0% |
Questions
How much does a paralegal earn in Colorado?
The median was $78,190 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey; the middle half earned $62,560 to $95,070.
What does it cost to employ a paralegal in Colorado?
About $111,700 a year at the median wage once benefits are added, using the 30% benefits share of US private industry (June 2026).
Where in Colorado do paralegals earn the most?
Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO, with a median of $80,500 a year.
Sources
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 23-2011: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes232011.htm
- BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, private industry, June 2026: https://www.bls.gov/news.release/ecec.nr0.htm
- Silkstaff pricing: https://silkstaff.com/#pricing
- Deel pricing, contractor management: https://www.deel.com/pricing/
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-05.