Paralegal salary in Worcester, MA
The median paralegal in Worcester earned $70,990 a year in May 20251. That is 12.9% above the US median of $62,890, even though it is 8.6% below the Massachusetts statewide median of $77,640. Only 28 of 506 US areas pay more for this job. BLS counts about 480 people in this job here, 6% of the Massachusetts total.
BLS occupation 23-2011, area Worcester, MA. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Worcester against Massachusetts and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Worcester, MA | $35,140 | $70,990 | $97,310 | |
| Massachusetts | $49,770 | $77,640 | $117,480 | |
| United States | $44,740 | $62,890 | $101,500 |
Pay is more spread out here than nationally: the top tenth earns $97,310 or more, 2.8 times the bottom tenth, against 2.3 times across the US. Two offers for the same title can sit far apart. The middle half of paralegals in Worcester earns $58,980–$81,290. The mean ($70,240) is no higher than the median, so few high earners skew the figures here. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $22,310 wide, against $34,240 across Massachusetts and $29,740 nationally: employers in Worcester pay within a narrower band.
What to budget for a paralegal here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $35,140 | $2,928 | $16.89 | $45,342 |
| 25th percentile | $58,980 | $4,915 | $28.36 | $76,103 |
| Median | $70,990 | $5,916 | $34.13 | $91,600 |
| 75th percentile | $81,290 | $6,774 | $39.08 | $104,890 |
| 90th percentile | $97,310 | $8,109 | $46.78 | $125,561 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $12,010 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $10,300, or about $13,290 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 Worcester, and the Massachusetts statewide median of $77,640 falls between the median and the 75th percentile.
What a hire really costs in Worcester
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 $20,610 to the $70,990 median and brings it to $91,600 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 Worcester
Of the 17 roles we track in Worcester, this one ranks #8 by median pay, between office managers ($73,130) and payroll specialists ($60,080). Project Coordinator is the highest at $100,290.
| Role | Median | vs paralegal | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Executive Assistant | +6.1% | 1,310 | |
| Office Manager | +3.0% | 3,380 | |
| Paralegal | this role | 480 | |
| Payroll Specialist | -15.4% | 260 | |
| Bookkeeper | -20.6% | 2,780 |
Measured against the US median, paralegals rank #2 of the 17 roles we track in Worcester (+12.9%), between marketing specialists (+14.7%) and accountants (+12.4%). The typical role here is at +6.2%, so, measured against the US, paralegals cost more in Worcester than the area's general pay level would suggest. Paralegals hold 1.5% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Worcester, 2.0% across Massachusetts and 2.5% nationally. The job is a smaller part of the local workforce in these roles than it is nationally.
Other areas in Massachusetts
Across the 7 areas of Massachusetts with data for this job, the median runs from $62,210 in Pittsfield to $79,850 in Boston-Cambridge, a gap of $17,640 a year. The one area in Massachusetts with more paralegals, Boston-Cambridge, MA-NH ($79,850), also pays more.
| Area | Median | vs Worcester | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston-Cambridge, MA-NH | +12.5% | 6,300 | |
| Massachusetts (Nonmetro) | +2.8% | 50 | |
| Worcester, MA | this area | 480 | |
| Springfield, MA | -7.3% | 430 | |
| Barnstable Town, MA | -9.4% | 190 | |
| Amherst Town-Northampton, MA | -9.8% | 100 | |
| Pittsfield, MA | -12.4% | 80 |
Worcester against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Worcester is #112 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 Massachusetts, Olympia-Lacey and Burlington-South Burlington pay just above Worcester and Chicago-Naperville and Stockton-Lodi just below. All four are within $470 a year of the median in Worcester. Of the three markets with about as many paralegals, none pays as much.
| Metro area | Median | vs Worcester | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Burlington-South Burlington, VT | +0.2% | 300 | pay | |
| Olympia-Lacey, WA | +0.2% | 570 | pay | |
| Worcester, MA | this area | 480 | ||
| Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN | -0.6% | 11,590 | pay | |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | -0.7% | 290 | pay | |
| Salem, OR | -19.4% | 480 | jobs | |
| Charleston, WV | -22.8% | 480 | jobs | |
| Wichita, KS | -29.2% | 480 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a paralegal in Worcester, MA?
About $91,600 a year at the median, or $7,633 a month: $70,990 in pay plus about $20,610 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do paralegals earn in Worcester?
Pay here is higher than in three quarters of US areas. The median was $70,990 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $35,140, the 90th $97,310, and the middle half earned $58,980 to $81,290.
Is Worcester cheaper than the rest of Massachusetts for paralegals?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $70,990 against $77,640 statewide. The next area up in Massachusetts is the Massachusetts nonmetro area at $72,970, the next down Springfield at $65,820.
How many paralegals work in Worcester?
BLS counts about 480 in the May 2025 survey. That is 6% of the Massachusetts total of 7,800. Only Boston-Cambridge has more in Massachusetts.
Does a paralegal cost more than a payroll specialist in Worcester?
Yes: $10,910 a year more at the median. The medians are $70,990 and $60,080.
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.