The salary range for a paralegal in New York runs from $48,330 at the 10th percentile to $115,720 at the 90th percentile. When budgeting a hire, use the 25th percentile of $57,430 as a floor for entry-level candidates and the 75th percentile of $94,200 as a reasonable benchmark for experienced professionals. The range you target should reflect the seniority and practice area specialization of the specific role you are filling.
Paralegal salary in New York (2026)
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The average paralegal salary in New York is $76,890 per year. A small pool of very high earners pulls that average upward, which makes the median of $68,410 the more reliable starting point for most hiring decisions. New York employs 34,220 paralegals, and the $8,480 gap between the mean and median reflects real variation in the candidate pool you will be evaluating. Entry-level paralegals in New York typically earn around $48,330, while senior specialists commonly reach or exceed the $115,720 threshold. Plan for a range rather than a single number when budgeting for a paralegal hire, and anchor that range to the seniority and specialization of the role you are filling.
Metric / Value
Metric | Value |
Median Annual Salary | $68,410 |
Average Annual Salary | $76,890 |
vs. National Average | 10.3% above the national mean of $69,700 |
Data comes from the BLS OEWS and covers 34,220 employed paralegals across New York.
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Paralegal salary percentiles in New York
Percentile | Annual Salary |
10th Percentile | $48,330 |
25th Percentile | $57,430 |
75th Percentile | $94,200 |
90th Percentile | $115,720 |
If you are hiring a junior paralegal in New York, expect to anchor your offer somewhere between $48,330 and $57,430 to stay competitive at the lower end of the market. Roles requiring deeper specialization or significant experience will push compensation toward $94,200 to $115,720, so build your budget range around the seniority level you actually need.
Paralegal salary by city in New York
City | Average Annual Salary |
New York City | $80,260 |
Syracuse | $65,330 |
Albany | $62,930 |
Buffalo | $59,940 |
Rochester | $59,220 |
Where you hire within New York will meaningfully affect your compensation budget, so location should be an explicit input in your offer planning. New York City averages $80,260 per year, while Rochester sits at $59,220, a difference of more than $21,000 annually for the same role. If your team operates outside the metro area, you can set offers closer to the upstate figures without losing competitiveness in those local markets.
How New York compares to other states
State | Average Annual Salary | Median Annual Salary |
New York | $76,890 | $68,410 |
California | $81,320 | $77,390 |
Massachusetts | $81,160 | $77,640 |
New Jersey | $72,550 | $71,500 |
Pennsylvania | $68,510 | $63,370 |
Texas | $65,480 | $62,310 |
Employers hiring paralegals in New York face compensation expectations that sit above most comparable states but below California and Massachusetts, which means New York is neither the most nor least expensive market in this peer group. New York's median of $68,410 trails Massachusetts at $77,640 and California at $77,390, so if you are competing for candidates who have offers from firms in those states, expect to close that gap or differentiate on other factors. Pennsylvania and Texas both come in below New York, so candidates relocating from those markets may accept offers closer to the lower end of the New York range.
Frequently asked questions about paralegal salary in New York
What is the salary range for a paralegal in New York?
What do the top-earning paralegals make in New York?
Paralegals at the 90th percentile in New York earn $115,720 per year. The statewide mean of $76,890 sits well below that threshold, which tells you that top-compensated roles are concentrated in a relatively small segment of the market. If you are competing for senior talent in specialized practice areas, plan for offers that approach or exceed the $115,720 level.
What is the average paralegal salary in New York?
The average paralegal salary in New York is $76,890 per year, which is 10.3% above the national mean of $69,700. The median of $68,410 is lower because a smaller group of highly compensated roles pulls the average upward. For most hiring situations, the median is the more practical anchor for setting an initial offer.
How does New York compare to other states for paralegal salary?
New York's average paralegal salary of $76,890 places it above Pennsylvania ($68,510), Texas ($65,480), and New Jersey ($72,550), but below California ($81,320) and Massachusetts ($81,160). If you are hiring in New York and competing against firms in California or Massachusetts, you may need to close a meaningful compensation gap to attract the same candidate pool. For candidates coming from Pennsylvania or Texas, New York compensation levels will generally represent an increase.
Paralegal salary by state
Data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2025, SOC code 23-2011 (Paralegals and Legal Assistants).
Disclaimer
Rippling and its affiliates do not provide tax, accounting, or legal advice. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only, and is not intended to provide or be relied on for tax, accounting, or legal advice. You should consult your own tax, accounting, and legal advisors before engaging in any related activities or transactions.
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