Paralegal salary and cost of hiring in Pennsylvania
The median paralegal in Pennsylvania earned $63,370 a year in May 2025[1], 0.8% above the US median of $62,890. That puts Pennsylvania at #16 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | $45,710 | $63,370 | $96,080 | |
| United States | $44,740 | $62,890 | $101,500 |
The middle half of paralegals in Pennsylvania earns $50,710–$78,980; the top tenth earns $96,080 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 Pennsylvania median that makes about $90,529 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 Pennsylvania
| Area | Median | 75th percentile | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $81,660 | 11,150 | |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $79,060 | 2,620 | |
| Lancaster, PA | $77,040 | 330 | |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $76,440 | 430 | |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $74,230 | 1,000 | |
| Lebanon, PA | $76,380 | 40 | |
| York-Hanover, PA | $72,890 | 240 | |
| Reading, PA | $71,520 | 200 | |
| Johnstown, PA | $72,740 | 50 | |
| State College, PA | $71,900 | 80 | |
| Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | $66,700 | 400 | |
| Erie, PA | $74,850 | 170 | |
| Northwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $59,650 | 120 | |
| Northeastern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $60,820 | 160 | |
| Williamsport, PA | $64,190 | 90 | |
| Southwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $57,670 | 90 | |
| Chambersburg, PA | $54,990 | 100 | |
| Central Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $56,740 | 200 | |
| Altoona, PA | $62,200 | 60 |
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD pays the most ($70,430) and Altoona, PA the least ($49,110): $21,320 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 Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Connecticut | +0.7% | |
| Illinois | +0.5% | |
| Pennsylvania | +0.0% | |
| Nebraska | -0.2% | |
| Utah | -0.2% |
Questions
How much does a paralegal earn in Pennsylvania?
The median was $63,370 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey; the middle half earned $50,710 to $78,980.
What does it cost to employ a paralegal in Pennsylvania?
About $90,529 a year at the median wage once benefits are added, using the 30% benefits share of US private industry (June 2026).
Where in Pennsylvania do paralegals earn the most?
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD, with a median of $70,430 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.