Cost of hiring a paralegal in Washington-Arlington, DC-VA
BLS publishes pay for this job in only one area of the District of Columbia, and it is Washington-Arlington. The median is $81,590 a year[1], 9.1% below the District of Columbia median of $89,750 and 29.7% above the US median of $62,890. Nationally that is #4 of 506 areas, in the top tenth. About 12,990 paralegals work here.
BLS occupation 23-2011, area Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Washington-Arlington against the District of Columbia and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington, DC-VA | $57,160 | $81,590 | $126,020 | |
| District of Columbia | $59,770 | $89,750 | $131,650 | |
| United States | $44,740 | $62,890 | $101,500 |
The middle half of paralegals in Washington-Arlington earns $64,180–$106,990. The top tenth earns $126,020 or more, 2.2 times the bottom tenth, close to the US pattern of 2.3 times.
What to budget for a paralegal here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $57,160 | $4,763 | $27.48 | $81,657 |
| 25th percentile | $64,180 | $5,348 | $30.86 | $91,686 |
| Median | $81,590 | $6,799 | $39.23 | $116,557 |
| 75th percentile | $106,990 | $8,916 | $51.44 | $152,843 |
| 90th percentile | $126,020 | $10,502 | $60.59 | $180,029 |
An offer at the 75th percentile instead of the median adds $25,400 a year in pay and about $36,286 in employer cost. Going down to the 25th percentile saves $17,410 in pay. These percentiles describe what people in the job earn locally, not experience levels, so place your offer by the tasks and seniority you need.
What a hire really costs in Washington-Arlington
At the $81,590 median, a local hire costs about $116,557 a year: benefits and payroll taxes are 30.0% of total compensation in US private industry[2], about $34,967 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 fee[3]; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool[4].
Other roles in Washington-Arlington
Of the 17 roles we track in Washington-Arlington, this one ranks #6 by median pay. Project Coordinator is the highest at $127,030 and Virtual Receptionist the lowest at $41,240.
| Role | Median | vs paralegal | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | +55.7% | 38,230 | |
| Accountant | +25.2% | 41,470 | |
| Recruiter | +23.6% | 24,450 | |
| Executive Assistant | +10.7% | 12,960 | |
| Marketing Specialist | +6.8% | 21,090 | |
| Paralegal | this role | 12,990 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -4.3% | 29,300 | |
| Office Manager | -6.4% | 23,390 | |
| Payroll Specialist | -22.2% | 2,010 | |
| Bookkeeper | -27.3% | 18,550 | |
| HR Assistant | -27.5% | 1,610 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -34.2% | 37,010 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -40.8% | 18,960 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | -41.7% | 920 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -43.4% | 36,750 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | -47.5% | 1,620 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -49.5% | 17,920 |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a paralegal in Washington-Arlington, DC-VA?
About $116,557 a year at the median, or $9,713 a month: $81,590 in pay plus benefits and payroll taxes at the 30% share of total compensation in US private industry (June 2026). Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do paralegals earn in Washington-Arlington?
The median was $81,590 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $57,160, the 90th $126,020, and the middle half earned $64,180 to $106,990.
How many paralegals work in Washington-Arlington?
BLS counts about 12,990 in the May 2025 survey.
Does a paralegal cost more than a sales development representative in Washington-Arlington?
Yes: $3,480 a year more at the median. The medians are $81,590 and $78,110.
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. Last updated 2026-11-06.