Paralegals and Legal Assistants salary in Ithaca, NY
Paralegals and Legal Assistants in the Ithaca, NY metro area earn a median of $60,550 a year ($29.11 an hour), based on BLS data for 80 workers.
Pay ranges from $45,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $90,160 for the top 10%. That is 4% lower than the national median of $62,890. Pay here is 11% lower than the New York statewide median of $68,410. There are 1.8 paralegals and legal assistants per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.70). The average (mean) salary is $63,570, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for paralegals and legal assistants in Ithaca, NY
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $45,200 | $21.73 |
| 25th percentile | $49,020 | $23.57 |
| Median | $60,550 | $29.11 |
| 75th percentile | $74,070 | $35.61 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $90,160 | $43.35 |
| Average (mean) | $63,570 | $30.56 |
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 | $5,045.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,522.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,328.85 |
| Weekly | $1,164.42 |
| Hourly | $29.11 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $60,550 salary, see how much house you can afford in New York 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 |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $75,330 | 33,850 |
| Kingston, NY | $62,210 | 140 |
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | $61,350 | 600 |
| Syracuse, NY | $61,150 | 970 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $60,680 | 1,340 |
| Binghamton, NY | $60,420 | 240 |
| Glens Falls, NY | $59,170 | 100 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $58,270 | 2,060 |
| Rochester, NY | $57,250 | 1,300 |
| Elmira, NY | $56,230 | 50 |
| Watertown-Fort Drum, NY | $56,190 | 50 |
| Utica-Rome, NY | $54,850 | 170 |
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 New York statewide figures.
Related jobs in Ithaca, NY
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Legal Support Workers, All Other | $92,000 | $44.23 |
| Lawyer | $135,610 | $65.20 |
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 Ithaca, NY?
The median salary for paralegals and legal assistants in the Ithaca, NY metro area is $60,550 a year, or $29.11 an hour. Pay ranges from $45,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $90,160 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid paralegals and legal assistants make in Ithaca, NY?
The top 10% of paralegals and legal assistants in the Ithaca, NY metro area earn at least $90,160 a year. The top 25% earn $74,070 or more.
What is the starting pay for paralegals and legal assistants in Ithaca, NY?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $45,200 a year, and a quarter of paralegals and legal assistants earn $49,020 or less.
How many paralegals and legal assistants work in Ithaca, NY?
About 80 paralegals and legal assistants are employed in the Ithaca, NY metro area, not counting the self-employed.