Virginia's mean paralegal salary of $70,740 places it above Pennsylvania ($68,510), Tennessee ($60,790), and North Carolina ($60,770), but below Maryland ($73,060) and Georgia ($71,210). For employers, this means Virginia is a mid-range market regionally, and candidates relocating from Maryland may arrive with higher salary expectations. Budgeting at or slightly above the Virginia median of $63,990 will keep offers competitive for most local hires.
Paralegal salary in Virginia (2026)
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The average paralegal salary in Virginia is $70,740 per year. A small pool of very high earners pulls that average upward, so the median of $63,990 gives employers a more reliable starting point for most hiring decisions. Virginia employs 10,250 paralegals, and the $6,750 gap between the mean and median reflects real variation in the candidate pool you will be evaluating. Junior paralegals in Virginia typically earn around $47,860, while senior specialists reach and exceed the $100,550 level. Plan for a range rather than a single number when budgeting for a paralegal hire in Virginia, and anchor that range to the seniority and specialization of the role you are filling.
Metric / Value
Metric | Value |
Median Annual Salary | $63,990 |
Average Annual Salary | $70,740 |
vs. National Average | 1.5% above the national mean of $69,700 |
Data comes from the BLS OEWS and covers 10,250 employed paralegals across Virginia.
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Paralegal salary percentiles in Virginia
Percentile | Annual Salary |
10th Percentile | $47,860 |
25th Percentile | $56,050 |
75th Percentile | $81,590 |
90th Percentile | $100,550 |
Employers setting an offer for a paralegal in Virginia should expect a wide range depending on experience level. Entry-level candidates typically fall near $47,860, while the most experienced specialists reach $100,550 or beyond, so the seniority of the role you are filling will drive where your offer lands within that spread.
Paralegal salary by city in Virginia
City | Average Annual Salary |
Arlington | $87,900 |
Richmond | $67,940 |
Charlottesville | $62,360 |
Virginia Beach | $60,600 |
Roanoke | $59,920 |
Location will have a material effect on your paralegal compensation budget in Virginia. Arlington commands an average of $87,900, which is $27,980 above Roanoke's average of $59,920, so employers hiring in the Northern Virginia market should plan for meaningfully higher offers than those hiring in other parts of the state.
How Virginia compares to other states
State | Average Annual Salary | Median Annual Salary |
Virginia | $70,740 | $63,990 |
Maryland | $73,060 | $65,640 |
Georgia | $71,210 | $62,400 |
Pennsylvania | $68,510 | $63,370 |
Tennessee | $60,790 | $58,820 |
North Carolina | $60,770 | $57,500 |
Virginia sits in the middle of the regional market, making it a broadly competitive state for paralegal compensation without being the most expensive. Maryland leads nearby peers at a mean of $73,060, while Tennessee and North Carolina come in notably lower at $60,790 and $60,770 respectively, so Virginia employers recruiting across state lines should expect candidates from those markets to have lower salary anchors.
Frequently asked questions about paralegal salary in Virginia
How does Virginia compare to other states for paralegal salary?
What do the top-earning paralegals make in Virginia?
The 90th percentile for paralegals in Virginia is $100,550, which represents what senior specialists in the state typically reach or exceed. Employers competing for that level of talent should expect offers well above the statewide median of $63,990. Roles in the Arlington market, where the average reaches $87,900, are most likely to attract candidates with compensation expectations near or above that threshold.
What is the salary range for a paralegal in Virginia?
The salary range for a paralegal in Virginia runs from $47,860 at the 10th percentile to $100,550 at the 90th percentile. Where a candidate falls within that range depends primarily on experience, specialization, and location. Employers should use the 25th percentile of $56,050 and the 75th percentile of $81,590 as practical anchors for most mid-market offers.
What is the average paralegal salary in Virginia?
The average paralegal salary in Virginia is $70,740 per year, which sits 1.5% above the national mean of $69,700. The median of $63,990 is the more useful figure for most hiring decisions, since a smaller group of higher-paid roles pulls the average upward. Use the median as your baseline and adjust based on the seniority and location of the specific role you are filling.
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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