Paralegals and Legal Assistants Salary
The median pay for a paralegals and legal assistants in Washington is $79,400/year ($38.17/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $50K at the entry level to $117K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 102.01), that's roughly $77,836 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,830/month, about 33.2% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Washington. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $79K get you in Washington?
About paralegals and legal assistants
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What this looks like in Washington
Washington sits well above the national pay line for paralegals and legal assistants, local pay runs about 26% higher than the U.S. median of $63K. Rent runs $1,830/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 34.2% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 102.01) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Washington
Entry-level paralegals and legal assistants (10th percentile) start around $50K. Mid-career wages sit at $79K. Top earners bring in $117K or more, a $66K spread from bottom to top.
Paralegals and Legal Assistants salary by metro in Washington
10 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue | $93K | +17% | 6,310 |
| Wenatchee-East Wenatchee | $75K | -5% | 70 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard | $71K | -10% | 190 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater | $71K | -10% | 570 |
| Bellingham | $64K | -19% | 180 |
| Yakima | $63K | -20% | 180 |
| Kennewick-Richland | $63K | -21% | 270 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes | $61K | -23% | 80 |
| Walla Walla | $60K | -24% | 50 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley | $60K | -25% | 610 |
Compare to other states
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Washington numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a paralegals and legal assistant afford a 2BR apartment alone in Washington?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $79K, rent takes 34.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,830/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,600/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for paralegals and legal assistants in Washington?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new paralegals and legal assistants typically earn — is $50K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,028/month. At HUD’s $1,830/month FMR, rent would take 60% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is paralegals and legal assistant a high-paying job in Washington?
Local pay is 26% above the national median — $79K here vs. $63K nationally.
How does Washington compare to the national average for paralegals and legal assistants?
Washington pays $79K median vs. the U.S. average of $63K — that’s +26%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 102.01), the purchasing-power equivalent is $78K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do paralegals and legal assistants make in Washington?
The median is $79,400 a year, that works out to about $38 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $50,470, and experienced paralegals and legal assistants can clear $116,750. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $79K enough to live in Washington?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,354/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,830/month, which eats 34.2% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a paralegals and legal assistants salary go in Washington?
Washington has a Regional Price Parity of 102.01 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median paralegals and legal assistants salary is worth about $77,836 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do paralegals and legal assistants get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.