Paralegal salary in Raleigh-Cary, NC
Paralegals earn more in Raleigh-Cary than anywhere else in North Carolina. Expect a median of $61,880 a year1, 7.6% above the North Carolina statewide median of $57,500 and 1.6% below the US median of $62,890. That is in the top quarter of US areas (#104 of 506). BLS counts about 2,540 people in this job here, 19% of the North Carolina total.
BLS occupation 23-2011, area Raleigh-Cary, NC. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Raleigh-Cary against North Carolina and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $38,690 | $61,880 | $85,560 | |
| North Carolina | $38,570 | $57,500 | $84,410 | |
| United States | $44,740 | $62,890 | $101,500 |
Paralegals at the 90th percentile earn $85,560, 2.2 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 2.3. The middle half of paralegals in Raleigh-Cary earns $48,910–$75,530. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is $26,620 wide, between the figure for North Carolina ($24,290) 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 | $38,690 | $3,224 | $18.60 | $49,923 |
| 25th percentile | $48,910 | $4,076 | $23.51 | $63,110 |
| Median | $61,880 | $5,157 | $29.75 | $79,845 |
| 75th percentile | $75,530 | $6,294 | $36.31 | $97,458 |
| 90th percentile | $85,560 | $7,130 | $41.13 | $110,400 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $12,970 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $13,650, or about $17,613 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 median and the 75th percentile in Raleigh-Cary, and the North Carolina statewide median of $57,500 falls between the 25th percentile and the median.
What a hire really costs in Raleigh-Cary
At the $61,880 median, a local hire costs about $79,845 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $17,965 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 Raleigh-Cary
Of the 17 roles we track in Raleigh-Cary, this one ranks #8 by median pay, between office managers ($64,550) and payroll specialists ($54,100). Project Coordinator is the highest at $102,280.
| Role | Median | vs paralegal | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sales Development Representative | +10.8% | 8,970 | |
| Office Manager | +4.3% | 5,170 | |
| Paralegal | this role | 2,540 | |
| Payroll Specialist | -12.6% | 590 | |
| Bookkeeper | -18.9% | 7,550 |
Measured against the US median, paralegals rank #8 of the 17 roles we track in Raleigh-Cary (-1.6%), between bookkeepers (-0.9%) and sales development representatives (-2.0%). The typical role here is at -2.0%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Paralegals hold 2.9% of the jobs in the 16 of these roles with a job count in Raleigh-Cary, 2.7% across North Carolina and 2.5% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
Other areas in North Carolina
Across the 18 areas of North Carolina with data for this job, the median runs from $46,520 in the Western North Carolina nonmetro area to $61,880 in Raleigh-Cary, a gap of $15,360 a year. The one area in North Carolina with more paralegals, Charlotte-Concord, NC-SC ($59,870), pays less: a bigger pool at a lower median.
| Area | Median | vs Raleigh-Cary | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | this area | 2,540 | |
| Fayetteville, NC | -2.4% | 420 | |
| Charlotte-Concord, NC-SC | -3.2% | 4,140 | |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | -5.2% | 860 | |
| Asheville, NC | -7.1% | 590 | |
| Wilmington, NC | -9.4% | 580 | |
| Eastern North Carolina (Nonmetro) | -9.7% | 680 |
Raleigh-Cary against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Raleigh-Cary is #33 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 North Carolina, St. Louis and Manchester-Nashua pay just above Raleigh-Cary and Morgantown and Lancaster just below. All four are within $160 a year of the median in Raleigh-Cary. Of the three markets with about as many paralegals, two pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Raleigh-Cary | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sacramento-Roseville, CA | +26.9% | 2,590 | jobs | |
| Pittsburgh, PA | +2.8% | 2,620 | jobs | |
| Manchester-Nashua, NH | +0.3% | 500 | pay | |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | +0.1% | 4,030 | pay | |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | this area | 2,540 | ||
| Morgantown, WV | -0.1% | 100 | pay | |
| Lancaster, PA | -0.2% | 330 | pay | |
| Riverside-San Bernardino, CA | -0.7% | 2,460 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a paralegal in Raleigh-Cary, NC?
About $79,845 a year at the median, or $6,654 a month: $61,880 in pay plus about $17,965 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do paralegals earn in Raleigh-Cary?
Pay here is higher than in three quarters of US areas. The median was $61,880 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $38,690, the 90th $85,560, and the middle half earned $48,910 to $75,530.
Is Raleigh-Cary the most expensive area in North Carolina for paralegals?
Yes. Its median of $61,880 is the highest of 18 areas in North Carolina. Fayetteville comes next at $60,370.
How many paralegals work in Raleigh-Cary?
BLS counts about 2,540 in the May 2025 survey. That is 19% of the North Carolina total of 13,650. Only Charlotte-Concord has more in North Carolina.
Does a paralegal cost more than a payroll specialist in Raleigh-Cary?
Yes: $7,780 a year more at the median. The medians are $61,880 and $54,100.
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.