Paralegal salary and cost of hiring in District of Columbia
The median paralegal in District of Columbia earned $89,750 a year in May 2025[1], 42.7% above the US median of $62,890. That puts District of Columbia at #1 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $59,770 | $89,750 | $131,650 | |
| United States | $44,740 | $62,890 | $101,500 |
The middle half of paralegals in District of Columbia earns $72,240–$114,920; the top tenth earns $131,650 or more, 2.2 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 District of Columbia median that makes about $128,214 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 District of Columbia
| Area | Median | 75th percentile | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $106,990 | 12,990 |
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 District of Columbia |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | +0.0% | |
| Washington | -11.5% | |
| Colorado | -12.9% |
Questions
How much does a paralegal earn in District of Columbia?
The median was $89,750 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey; the middle half earned $72,240 to $114,920.
What does it cost to employ a paralegal in District of Columbia?
About $128,214 a year at the median wage once benefits are added, using the 30% benefits share of US private industry (June 2026).
Where in District of Columbia do paralegals earn the most?
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV, with a median of $81,590 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.