Paralegals and Legal Assistants salary in Appleton, WI
Paralegals and Legal Assistants in the Appleton, WI metro area earn a median of $57,450 a year ($27.62 an hour), based on BLS data for 180 workers.
Pay ranges from $45,970 for the lowest-paid 10% to $76,640 for the top 10%. That is 9% lower than the national median of $62,890. Pay here is 2% lower than the Wisconsin statewide median of $58,500. There are 1.5 paralegals and legal assistants per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.57). The average (mean) salary is $57,370, close to the median.
Pay range for paralegals and legal assistants in Appleton, WI
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $45,970 | $22.10 |
| 25th percentile | $46,700 | $22.45 |
| Median | $57,450 | $27.62 |
| 75th percentile | $63,270 | $30.42 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $76,640 | $36.85 |
| Average (mean) | $57,370 | $27.58 |
Half of paralegals and legal assistants earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $4,787.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,393.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,209.62 |
| Weekly | $1,104.81 |
| Hourly | $27.62 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $57,450 salary, see how much house you can afford in Wisconsin at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Paralegals and Legal Assistants salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $76,220 | 5,990 |
| Madison, WI | $60,800 | 850 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $60,340 | 1,880 |
| Duluth, MN-WI | $57,790 | 180 |
| Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | $56,780 | 120 |
| Kenosha, WI | $54,940 | 110 |
| Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI | $52,000 | 130 |
| Green Bay, WI | $51,520 | 220 |
| Sheboygan, WI | $51,410 | 70 |
| Janesville-Beloit, WI | $50,780 | 80 |
| La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $49,720 | 100 |
| Eau Claire, WI | $49,050 | 110 |
| Fond du Lac, WI | $47,420 | 30 |
| Wausau, WI | $45,590 | 130 |
Highest-paying states for paralegals and legal assistants
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $89,750 |
| Washington | $79,400 |
| Colorado | $78,190 |
| Massachusetts | $77,640 |
| California | $77,390 |
| Minnesota | $75,570 |
| New Jersey | $71,500 |
| Alaska | $68,700 |
| New York | $68,410 |
| Vermont | $67,160 |
See Paralegals and Legal Assistants pay in every state or the Wisconsin statewide figures.
Related jobs in Appleton, WI
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Lawyer | $126,390 | $60.76 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 23-2011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a paralegals and legal assistants make in Appleton, WI?
The median salary for paralegals and legal assistants in the Appleton, WI metro area is $57,450 a year, or $27.62 an hour. Pay ranges from $45,970 for the lowest-paid 10% to $76,640 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid paralegals and legal assistants make in Appleton, WI?
The top 10% of paralegals and legal assistants in the Appleton, WI metro area earn at least $76,640 a year. The top 25% earn $63,270 or more.
What is the starting pay for paralegals and legal assistants in Appleton, WI?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $45,970 a year, and a quarter of paralegals and legal assistants earn $46,700 or less.
How many paralegals and legal assistants work in Appleton, WI?
About 180 paralegals and legal assistants are employed in the Appleton, WI metro area, not counting the self-employed.