Cost of hiring a paralegal in Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL
For this job Miami-Fort Lauderdale sits between the state and national figures, with a median of $62,090 a year[1]. That is 1.8% above the Florida statewide median of $61,000, and 1.3% below the US median of $62,890. That is in the top quarter of US areas (#99 of 506). With about 17,820 paralegals, 44% of the Florida total, no area in Florida employs more.
BLS occupation 23-2011, area Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Miami-Fort Lauderdale against Florida and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL | $38,500 | $62,090 | $91,990 | |
| Florida | $38,830 | $61,000 | $83,410 | |
| United States | $44,740 | $62,890 | $101,500 |
Paralegals at the 90th percentile earn $91,990, 2.4 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 2.3. The middle half of paralegals in Miami-Fort Lauderdale earns $50,330–$77,730.
What to budget for a paralegal here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $38,500 | $3,208 | $18.51 | $55,000 |
| 25th percentile | $50,330 | $4,194 | $24.20 | $71,900 |
| Median | $62,090 | $5,174 | $29.85 | $88,700 |
| 75th percentile | $77,730 | $6,478 | $37.37 | $111,043 |
| 90th percentile | $91,990 | $7,666 | $44.23 | $131,414 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $11,760 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $15,640, or about $22,343 once benefits are added. These percentiles describe what people in the job earn locally, not experience levels, so place your offer by the tasks and seniority you need.
What a hire really costs in Miami-Fort Lauderdale
At the $62,090 median, a local hire costs about $88,700 a year: benefits and payroll taxes are 30.0% of total compensation in US private industry[2], about $26,610 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 fee[3]; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool[4].
Other roles in Miami-Fort Lauderdale
Of the 17 roles we track in Miami-Fort Lauderdale, this one ranks #7 by median pay. Project Coordinator is the highest at $98,720 and Virtual Receptionist the lowest at $37,570.
| Role | Median | vs paralegal | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | +59.0% | 19,340 | |
| Accountant | +30.3% | 30,950 | |
| Marketing Specialist | +27.2% | n/a | |
| Executive Assistant | +17.9% | 5,090 | |
| Recruiter | +8.8% | 18,080 | |
| Office Manager | +8.8% | 26,510 | |
| Paralegal | this role | 17,820 | |
| Sales Development Representative | +0.0% | 30,300 | |
| Payroll Specialist | -7.5% | 2,750 | |
| Bookkeeper | -19.0% | 25,910 | |
| HR Assistant | -21.2% | 830 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -23.6% | 33,380 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -27.4% | 27,020 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | -31.8% | 1,040 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | -35.3% | 2,290 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -36.3% | 63,440 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -39.5% | 19,850 |
Other areas in Florida
Across the 24 areas of Florida with data for this job, the median runs from $47,840 in Gainesville to $64,660 in Naples-Marco Island, a gap of $16,820 a year.
| Area | Median | vs Miami-Fort Lauderdale | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Naples-Marco Island, FL | +4.1% | 520 | |
| Jacksonville, FL | +0.6% | 2,170 | |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL | this area | 17,820 | |
| Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | -2.2% | 910 | |
| Port St. Lucie, FL | -2.8% | 490 | |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg, FL | -3.1% | 6,630 | |
| North Port-Bradenton, FL | -3.3% | 990 |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a paralegal in Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL?
About $88,700 a year at the median, or $7,392 a month: $62,090 in pay plus benefits and payroll taxes at the 30% share of total compensation in US private industry (June 2026). Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do paralegals earn in Miami-Fort Lauderdale?
The median was $62,090 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $38,500, the 90th $91,990, and the middle half earned $50,330 to $77,730.
Is Miami-Fort Lauderdale cheaper than the rest of Florida for paralegals?
No, it costs more: a median of $62,090 against $61,000 statewide. Naples-Marco Island pays the most ($64,660) and Gainesville the least ($47,840).
How many paralegals work in Miami-Fort Lauderdale?
BLS counts about 17,820 in the May 2025 survey. That is 44% of the Florida total of 40,950.
Does a paralegal cost more than a sales development representative in Miami-Fort Lauderdale?
They are level. The medians are $62,090 and $62,090.
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 2026-11-06.