Paralegal salary and cost of hiring in Michigan
The median paralegal in Michigan earned $62,170 a year in May 2025[1], 1.1% below the US median of $62,890. That puts Michigan at #24 of 51 states for this job.
BLS occupation 23-2011. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-16.
Salary range
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan | $46,590 | $62,170 | $96,610 | |
| United States | $44,740 | $62,890 | $101,500 |
The middle half of paralegals in Michigan earns $51,280–$76,820; the top tenth earns $96,610 or more, 2.1 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 Michigan median that makes about $88,814 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 Michigan
| Area | Median | 75th percentile | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $78,620 | 4,550 | |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | $78,900 | 870 | |
| Ann Arbor, MI | $75,770 | 380 | |
| Lansing-East Lansing, MI | $74,780 | 400 | |
| Jackson, MI | $78,870 | 70 | |
| Traverse City, MI | $61,460 | 120 | |
| Flint, MI | $60,480 | 240 | |
| Bay City, MI | $64,770 | 40 | |
| Mid Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $67,200 | 110 | |
| Kalamazoo-Portage, MI | $61,450 | 170 | |
| Northern Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $60,980 | 80 | |
| Niles, MI | $59,230 | 60 | |
| Southern Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $60,310 | 60 | |
| Saginaw, MI | $61,110 | 110 | |
| Upper Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $61,550 | 80 | |
| Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI | $57,310 | 60 |
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI pays the most ($63,400) and Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI the least ($47,940): $15,460 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 Michigan |
|---|---|---|
| Georgia (US state) | +0.4% | |
| Texas | +0.2% | |
| Michigan | +0.0% | |
| New Hampshire | -0.2% | |
| Arizona | -0.9% |
Questions
How much does a paralegal earn in Michigan?
The median was $62,170 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey; the middle half earned $51,280 to $76,820.
What does it cost to employ a paralegal in Michigan?
About $88,814 a year at the median wage once benefits are added, using the 30% benefits share of US private industry (June 2026).
Where in Michigan do paralegals earn the most?
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI, with a median of $63,400 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. Data checked 2026-10-16.