Paralegals and Legal Assistants salary in Texas
Paralegals and Legal Assistants in Texas earn a median of $62,310 a year ($29.96 an hour), based on BLS data for 29,540 workers.
Pay ranges from $39,190 for the lowest-paid 10% to $98,440 for the top 10%. That is 1% lower than the national median of $62,890. Texas ranks 23rd of 51 states for paralegals and legal assistants pay. There are 2.1 paralegals and legal assistants per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $65,480, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for paralegals and legal assistants in Texas
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $39,190 | $18.84 |
| 25th percentile | $47,410 | $22.79 |
| Median | $62,310 | $29.96 |
| 75th percentile | $77,740 | $37.38 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $98,440 | $47.33 |
| Average (mean) | $65,480 | $31.48 |
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 | $5,192.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,596.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,396.54 |
| Weekly | $1,198.27 |
| Hourly | $29.96 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $62,310 salary, see how much house you can afford in Texas at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Paralegals and Legal Assistants salary in cities in Texas
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Midland, TX | $64,500 | 100 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $64,140 | 4,390 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $63,220 | 8,320 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $62,730 | 7,320 |
| Odessa, TX | $59,890 | 100 |
| Amarillo, TX | $59,740 | 190 |
| Killeen-Temple, TX | $58,970 | 220 |
| Abilene, TX | $58,700 | 80 |
| Waco, TX | $58,620 | 250 |
| College Station-Bryan, TX | $57,510 | 180 |
| Tyler, TX | $57,320 | 360 |
| El Paso, TX | $55,830 | 490 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $53,300 | 2,900 |
| Texarkana, TX-AR | $52,590 | 60 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | $51,290 | 410 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $48,890 | 220 |
| Sherman-Denison, TX | $48,110 | 60 |
| Longview, TX | $47,990 | 140 |
| Wichita Falls, TX | $47,360 | 50 |
| McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | $47,330 | 560 |
| Laredo, TX | $47,060 | 140 |
| Eagle Pass, TX | $46,030 | 50 |
| Lubbock, TX | $45,780 | 340 |
| Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | $45,480 | 320 |
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 |
Related jobs in Texas
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers | $60,120 | $28.91 |
| Legal Support Workers, All Other | $63,140 | $30.36 |
| Lawyer | $154,200 | $74.13 |
| Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates | $139,990 | $67.30 |
| Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers | $100,400 | $48.27 |
| Judicial Law Clerk | $63,130 | $30.35 |
| Arbitrators, Mediators, and Conciliators | $50,940 | $24.49 |
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 Texas?
The median salary for paralegals and legal assistants in Texas is $62,310 a year, or $29.96 an hour. Pay ranges from $39,190 for the lowest-paid 10% to $98,440 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid paralegals and legal assistants make in Texas?
The top 10% of paralegals and legal assistants in Texas earn at least $98,440 a year. The top 25% earn $77,740 or more.
What is the starting pay for paralegals and legal assistants in Texas?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $39,190 a year, and a quarter of paralegals and legal assistants earn $47,410 or less.
How many paralegals and legal assistants work in Texas?
About 29,540 paralegals and legal assistants are employed in Texas, not counting the self-employed.