Paralegals and Legal Assistants salary in Springfield, IL
Paralegals and Legal Assistants in the Springfield, IL metro area earn a median of $59,990 a year ($28.84 an hour), based on BLS data for 230 workers.
Pay ranges from $43,040 for the lowest-paid 10% to $78,350 for the top 10%. That is 5% lower than the national median of $62,890. Pay here is 6% lower than the Illinois statewide median of $63,670. There are 2.3 paralegals and legal assistants per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $62,490, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for paralegals and legal assistants in Springfield, IL
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $43,040 | $20.69 |
| 25th percentile | $48,310 | $23.23 |
| Median | $59,990 | $28.84 |
| 75th percentile | $75,550 | $36.32 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $78,350 | $37.67 |
| Average (mean) | $62,490 | $30.04 |
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 | $4,999.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,499.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,307.31 |
| Weekly | $1,153.65 |
| Hourly | $28.84 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $59,990 salary, see how much house you can afford in Illinois 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $70,550 | 11,590 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $61,970 | 4,030 |
| Peoria, IL | $61,220 | 370 |
| Bloomington, IL | $60,160 | 260 |
| Rockford, IL | $59,700 | 200 |
| Decatur, IL | $59,690 | 30 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $59,110 | 90 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $58,580 | 100 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $57,030 | 280 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $46,160 | 60 |
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 Illinois statewide figures.
Related jobs in Springfield, IL
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Legal Support Workers, All Other | $47,430 | $22.80 |
| Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers | $46,600 | $22.40 |
| Lawyer | $131,400 | $63.18 |
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 Springfield, IL?
The median salary for paralegals and legal assistants in the Springfield, IL metro area is $59,990 a year, or $28.84 an hour. Pay ranges from $43,040 for the lowest-paid 10% to $78,350 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid paralegals and legal assistants make in Springfield, IL?
The top 10% of paralegals and legal assistants in the Springfield, IL metro area earn at least $78,350 a year. The top 25% earn $75,550 or more.
What is the starting pay for paralegals and legal assistants in Springfield, IL?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $43,040 a year, and a quarter of paralegals and legal assistants earn $48,310 or less.
How many paralegals and legal assistants work in Springfield, IL?
About 230 paralegals and legal assistants are employed in the Springfield, IL metro area, not counting the self-employed.