Paralegal salary in Pittsburgh, PA
Pittsburgh pays paralegals close to the Pennsylvania norm. The median is $63,620 a year1, about level with the Pennsylvania statewide median of $63,370 and 1.2% above the US median of $62,890. That is in the top quarter of US areas (#75 of 506). BLS counts about 2,620 people in this job here, 18% of the Pennsylvania total.
BLS occupation 23-2011, area Pittsburgh, PA. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Pittsburgh against Pennsylvania and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh, PA | $45,710 | $63,620 | $94,680 | |
| Pennsylvania | $45,710 | $63,370 | $96,080 | |
| United States | $44,740 | $62,890 | $101,500 |
The middle half of paralegals in Pittsburgh earns $50,400–$79,060. The top tenth earns $94,680 or more, 2.1 times the bottom tenth, close to the US pattern of 2.3 times. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is $28,660 wide, between the figure for Pennsylvania ($28,270) 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 | $45,710 | $3,809 | $21.98 | $58,981 |
| 25th percentile | $50,400 | $4,200 | $24.23 | $65,032 |
| Median | $63,620 | $5,302 | $30.59 | $82,090 |
| 75th percentile | $79,060 | $6,588 | $38.01 | $102,013 |
| 90th percentile | $94,680 | $7,890 | $45.52 | $122,168 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $13,220 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $15,440, or about $19,923 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 Pittsburgh, and the Pennsylvania statewide median of $63,370 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in Pittsburgh
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 $18,470 to the $63,620 median and brings it to $82,090 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 Pittsburgh
Of the 17 roles we track in Pittsburgh, this one ranks #5 by median pay, between recruiters ($65,260) and sales development representatives ($63,370). Project Coordinator is the highest at $99,320.
| Role | Median | vs paralegal | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Executive Assistant | +8.5% | 2,330 | |
| Recruiter | +2.6% | 6,280 | |
| Paralegal | this role | 2,620 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -0.4% | 7,330 | |
| Office Manager | -0.6% | 10,440 |
Measured against the US median, this job is the best paid of the 17 roles we track in Pittsburgh (+1.2%); marketing specialists come last (-19.8%). The typical role here is at -6.7%, so, measured against the US, paralegals cost more in Pittsburgh than the area's general pay level would suggest. Paralegals hold 2.5% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Pittsburgh, 2.6% across Pennsylvania and 2.5% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
Other areas in Pennsylvania
Across the 19 areas of Pennsylvania with data for this job, the median runs from $49,110 in Altoona to $70,430 in Philadelphia-Camden, a gap of $21,320 a year. The one area in Pennsylvania with more paralegals, Philadelphia-Camden, PA-NJ ($70,430), also pays more.
| Area | Median | vs Pittsburgh | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden, PA-NJ | +10.7% | 11,150 | |
| Pittsburgh, PA | this area | 2,620 | |
| Lancaster, PA | -2.9% | 330 | |
| Allentown-Bethlehem, PA-NJ | -4.1% | 430 | |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | -5.1% | 1,000 | |
| Lebanon, PA | -6.5% | 40 | |
| York-Hanover, PA | -6.6% | 240 |
Pittsburgh against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Pittsburgh is #31 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 Pennsylvania, Lexington-Fayette and Lexington Park pay just above Pittsburgh and Bakersfield-Delano and Detroit-Warren just below. All four are within $220 a year of the median in Pittsburgh. Of the three markets with about as many paralegals, two pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Pittsburgh | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sacramento-Roseville, CA | +23.5% | 2,590 | jobs | |
| Las Vegas-Henderson, NV | +4.9% | 2,660 | jobs | |
| Lexington Park, MD | +0.2% | 100 | pay | |
| Lexington-Fayette, KY | +0.0% | 640 | pay | |
| Pittsburgh, PA | this area | 2,620 | ||
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | -0.3% | 300 | pay | |
| Detroit-Warren, MI | -0.3% | 4,550 | pay | |
| Nashville-Murfreesboro, TN | -4.4% | 2,660 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a paralegal in Pittsburgh, PA?
About $82,090 a year at the median, or $6,841 a month: $63,620 in pay plus about $18,470 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do paralegals earn in Pittsburgh?
Pay here is higher than in three quarters of US areas. The median was $63,620 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $45,710, the 90th $94,680, and the middle half earned $50,400 to $79,060.
Is Pittsburgh cheaper than the rest of Pennsylvania for paralegals?
About the same: a median of $63,620 against $63,370 statewide. The next area up in Pennsylvania is Philadelphia-Camden at $70,430, the next down Lancaster at $61,780.
How many paralegals work in Pittsburgh?
BLS counts about 2,620 in the May 2025 survey. That is 18% of the Pennsylvania total of 14,670. Only Philadelphia-Camden has more in Pennsylvania.
Does a paralegal cost more than a sales development representative in Pittsburgh?
Yes: $250 a year more at the median. The medians are $63,620 and $63,370.
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.