Paralegal salary in Omaha, NE-IA
Paralegals earn more in Omaha than anywhere else in Nebraska. Expect a median of $64,230 a year1, 1.5% above the Nebraska statewide median of $63,250 and 2.1% above the US median of $62,890. That is in the top quarter of US areas (#62 of 506). It is the largest market for the job in Nebraska: about 1,010 people.
BLS occupation 23-2011, area Omaha, NE-IA. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Omaha against Nebraska and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Omaha, NE-IA | $45,330 | $64,230 | $92,480 | |
| Nebraska | $44,230 | $63,250 | $86,990 | |
| United States | $44,740 | $62,890 | $101,500 |
The middle half of paralegals in Omaha earns $50,490–$76,760. Pay is tightly grouped: the top tenth starts at $92,480, only 2.0 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 $26,270 wide, between the figure for Nebraska ($24,550) 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 | $45,330 | $3,778 | $21.79 | $58,490 |
| 25th percentile | $50,490 | $4,208 | $24.27 | $65,148 |
| Median | $64,230 | $5,352 | $30.88 | $82,877 |
| 75th percentile | $76,760 | $6,397 | $36.90 | $99,045 |
| 90th percentile | $92,480 | $7,707 | $44.46 | $119,329 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $13,740 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $12,530, or about $16,168 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.
For scale, the US median of $62,890 falls between the 25th percentile and the median in Omaha, and the Nebraska statewide median of $63,250 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in Omaha
At the $64,230 median, a local hire costs about $82,877 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $18,647 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 fee3; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool4.
Other roles in Omaha
Of the 17 roles we track in Omaha, this one ranks #4 by median pay, between executive assistants ($68,240) and office managers ($63,700). Project Coordinator is the highest at $82,460.
| Role | Median | vs paralegal | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accountant | +19.9% | 5,170 | |
| Executive Assistant | +6.2% | 990 | |
| Paralegal | this role | 1,010 | |
| Office Manager | -0.8% | 5,030 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -3.0% | 2,160 |
Measured against the US median, paralegals rank #2 of the 17 roles we track in Omaha (+2.1%), between data entry specialists (+2.5%) and virtual receptionists (+1.9%). The typical role here is at -2.8%, so, measured against the US, paralegals cost more in Omaha than the area's general pay level would suggest. Paralegals hold 2.0% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Omaha, 1.6% across Nebraska and 2.5% nationally. The job is a smaller part of the local workforce in these roles than it is nationally.
Other areas in Nebraska
Across the 5 areas of Nebraska with data for this job, the median runs from $47,520 in the South Nebraska nonmetro area to $64,230 in Omaha, a gap of $16,710 a year. No other area in Nebraska has as many paralegals, and all 4 others pay less.
| Area | Median | vs Omaha | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Omaha, NE-IA | this area | 1,010 | |
| Lincoln, NE | -4.3% | 420 | |
| Northeast Nebraska (Nonmetro) | -12.8% | 70 | |
| Northwest Nebraska (Nonmetro) | -25.9% | 40 | |
| South Nebraska (Nonmetro) | -26.0% | 90 |
Omaha against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Omaha is #60 of 503 US areas for this job. It is one of the larger markets for this job and one of the better-paying ones. Outside Nebraska, Portland-South Portland and Barnstable Town pay just above Omaha and Helena and Austin-Round Rock just below. All four are within $90 a year of the median in Omaha. Of the three markets with about as many paralegals, none pays as much.
| Metro area | Median | vs Omaha | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barnstable Town, MA | +0.1% | 190 | pay | |
| Portland-South Portland, ME | +0.1% | 700 | pay | |
| Omaha, NE-IA | this area | 1,010 | ||
| Helena, MT | -0.0% | 170 | pay | |
| Austin-Round Rock, TX | -0.1% | 4,390 | pay | |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | -6.0% | 1,000 | jobs | |
| North Port-Bradenton, FL | -6.5% | 990 | jobs | |
| Tucson, AZ | -18.4% | 980 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a paralegal in Omaha, NE-IA?
About $82,877 a year at the median, or $6,906 a month: $64,230 in pay plus about $18,647 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for paralegals in Omaha?
Pay here is higher than in three quarters of US areas. The median was $64,230 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $45,330, the 90th $92,480, and the middle half earned $50,490 to $76,760.
Is Omaha the most expensive area in Nebraska for paralegals?
Yes. Its median of $64,230 is the highest of 5 areas in Nebraska. Lincoln comes next at $61,440.
How many paralegals work in Omaha?
BLS counts about 1,010 in the May 2025 survey. No other area in Nebraska has as many.
Does a paralegal cost more than an office manager in Omaha?
Yes: $530 a year more at the median. The medians are $64,230 and $63,700.
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.