Paralegal salary in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI
For this job Milwaukee-Waukesha sits between the state and national figures, with a median of $60,340 a year1. That is 3.1% above the Wisconsin statewide median of $58,500, and 4.1% below the US median of $62,890. Among US areas it comes in at #144 of 506. With about 1,880 paralegals, 39% of the Wisconsin total, no area in Wisconsin employs more.
BLS occupation 23-2011, area Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Milwaukee-Waukesha against Wisconsin and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $47,130 | $60,340 | $87,290 | |
| Wisconsin | $45,220 | $58,500 | $86,210 | |
| United States | $44,740 | $62,890 | $101,500 |
The middle half of paralegals in Milwaukee-Waukesha earns $48,550–$76,650. Pay is tightly grouped: the top tenth starts at $87,290, only 1.9 times the bottom tenth, against 2.3 times across the US, so the going rate is easier to read. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is $28,100 wide, between the figure for Wisconsin ($23,440) and the US figure ($29,740).
What to budget for a paralegal here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $47,130 | $3,928 | $22.66 | $60,813 |
| 25th percentile | $48,550 | $4,046 | $23.34 | $62,645 |
| Median | $60,340 | $5,028 | $29.01 | $77,858 |
| 75th percentile | $76,650 | $6,388 | $36.85 | $98,903 |
| 90th percentile | $87,290 | $7,274 | $41.97 | $112,632 |
An offer at the 75th percentile instead of the median adds $16,310 a year in pay and about $21,045 in employer cost. Going down to the 25th percentile saves $11,790 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 Milwaukee-Waukesha, and the Wisconsin statewide median of $58,500 falls between the 25th percentile and the median.
What a hire really costs in Milwaukee-Waukesha
Pay is only part of it. Benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, which adds about $17,518 to the $60,340 median and brings it to $77,858 a year. 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 Milwaukee-Waukesha
Of the 17 roles we track in Milwaukee-Waukesha, this one ranks #9 by median pay, between payroll specialists ($60,510) and bookkeepers ($50,920). Project Coordinator is the highest at $100,350.
| Role | Median | vs paralegal | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sales Development Representative | +7.5% | 6,830 | |
| Payroll Specialist | +0.3% | 690 | |
| Paralegal | this role | 1,880 | |
| Bookkeeper | -15.6% | 6,750 | |
| HR Assistant | -19.4% | 610 |
Measured against the US median, paralegals rank #14 of the 17 roles we track in Milwaukee-Waukesha (-4.1%), between accountants (-4.1%) and data entry specialists (-4.1%). The typical role here is at -1.3%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Paralegals hold 2.3% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Milwaukee-Waukesha, 1.7% across Wisconsin and 2.5% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
Other areas in Wisconsin
Across the 17 areas of Wisconsin with data for this job, the median runs from $45,590 in Wausau to $60,800 in Madison, a gap of $15,210 a year. No other area in Wisconsin has as many paralegals, and 15 of the other 16 pay less.
| Area | Median | vs Milwaukee-Waukesha | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Madison, WI | +0.8% | 850 | |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | this area | 1,880 | |
| Appleton, WI | -4.8% | 180 | |
| Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | -5.9% | 120 | |
| Kenosha, WI | -8.9% | 110 | |
| Western Wisconsin (Nonmetro) | -11.4% | 90 | |
| Northeastern Wisconsin (Nonmetro) | -11.6% | 150 |
Milwaukee-Waukesha against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Milwaukee-Waukesha is #45 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 Wisconsin, Bend and Harrisburg-Carlisle pay just above Milwaukee-Waukesha and Santa Fe and Akron just below. All four are within $50 a year of the median in Milwaukee-Waukesha. Of the three markets with about as many paralegals, two pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Milwaukee-Waukesha | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hartford-West Hartford, CT | +11.9% | 1,930 | jobs | |
| Richmond, VA | +4.3% | 1,930 | jobs | |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | +0.0% | 1,000 | pay | |
| Bend, OR | +0.0% | 230 | pay | |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | this area | 1,880 | ||
| Santa Fe, NM | -0.0% | 280 | pay | |
| Akron, OH | -0.1% | 410 | pay | |
| Columbia, SC | -5.2% | 1,790 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a paralegal in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI?
About $77,858 a year at the median, or $6,488 a month: $60,340 in pay plus about $17,518 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do paralegals earn in Milwaukee-Waukesha?
The median was $60,340 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $47,130, the 90th $87,290, and the middle half earned $48,550 to $76,650.
Is Milwaukee-Waukesha cheaper than the rest of Wisconsin for paralegals?
No, it costs more: a median of $60,340 against $58,500 statewide. The next area up in Wisconsin is Madison at $60,800, the next down Appleton at $57,450.
How many paralegals work in Milwaukee-Waukesha?
BLS counts about 1,880 in the May 2025 survey. That is 39% of the Wisconsin total of 4,780. No other area in Wisconsin has as many.
Does a paralegal cost more than a bookkeeper in Milwaukee-Waukesha?
Yes: $9,420 a year more at the median. The medians are $60,340 and $50,920.
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.