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Paralegal salary and cost of hiring in Missouri

The median paralegal in Missouri earned $61,410 a year in May 2025[1], 2.4% below the US median of $62,890. That puts Missouri at #28 of 51 states for this job.

$5,118median pay per month in Missouri
$7,311employer cost per month with benefits
$29.52median pay per hour
7,130people in this job in Missouri

BLS occupation 23-2011. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.

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Salary range

Range10thMedian90th
Missouri$42,150$61,410$96,820
United States$44,740$62,890$101,500
10th to 90th percentilemiddle half (25th to 75th)median

The middle half of paralegals in Missouri earns $47,520–$75,980; the top tenth earns $96,820 or more, 2.3 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 Missouri median that makes about $87,729 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].

$87,729local hire, first year incl. benefits
-remote hire, first year incl. fee
-difference in year one
-of the local cost saved

Pay by metro area in Missouri

AreaMedian75th percentileJobs
Kansas City, MO-KS
$63,880
$78,3602,900
St. Louis, MO-IL
$61,970
$76,5804,030
St. Joseph, MO-KS
$49,760
$62,09050
Columbia, MO
$49,390
$67,510230
Springfield, MO
$49,210
$63,650530
Jefferson City, MO
$47,840
$59,220170
Central Missouri nonmetropolitan area
$47,090
$63,130120
Southeast Missouri nonmetropolitan area
$46,710
$50,300110
Joplin, MO-KS
$46,620
$60,670100
Cape Girardeau, MO-IL
$46,160
$58,62060
North Missouri nonmetropolitan area
$43,780
$61,11090
Southwest Missouri nonmetropolitan area
$41,600
$61,20070

Kansas City, MO-KS pays the most ($63,880) and Southwest Missouri nonmetropolitan area the least ($41,600): $22,280 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

StateMedianvs Missouri
Arizona
$61,630
+0.4%
Oregon
$61,490
+0.1%
Missouri
$61,410
+0.0%
Florida
$61,000
-0.7%
Ohio
$60,420
-1.6%

Questions

How much does a paralegal earn in Missouri?

The median was $61,410 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey; the middle half earned $47,520 to $75,980.

What does it cost to employ a paralegal in Missouri?

About $87,729 a year at the median wage once benefits are added, using the 30% benefits share of US private industry (June 2026).

Where in Missouri do paralegals earn the most?

Kansas City, MO-KS, with a median of $63,880 a year.

Other roles in Missouri

Hire paralegals remotely

Sources

  1. BLS OEWS May 2025, 23-2011: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes232011.htm
  2. BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, private industry, June 2026: https://www.bls.gov/news.release/ecec.nr0.htm
  3. Silkstaff pricing: https://silkstaff.com/#pricing
  4. Deel pricing, contractor management: https://www.deel.com/pricing/

How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-05.