| Paralegal salaries depend on various factors such as | | | | can get discretionary bonus based on their overall |
| education, training, experience, geographic location and | | | | performance. Overtime payment for the paralegals |
| type of the firm. Paralegals who work in large | | | | depends on whether the paralegal is an exempt or |
| metropolitan areas generally earn more money than | | | | nonexempt employee. Nonexempt employees can get |
| those who work in less populated regions. Generally, | | | | overtime compensation under the state laws. |
| the annual salary of a paralegal can range from | | | | Regulations for paralegals may vary with each state. |
| $24,470 to more than $61,150. The median salary of a | | | | This change also affects the annual salary of |
| paralegal is approximately $33,000. Benefits included in | | | | paralegals. |
| the annual salary of a paralegal are health insurance, | | | | According to a survey conducted by the National |
| sick leave, vacation time and retirement plan. Many | | | | Association of Legal Assistants, the average annual |
| paralegals receive year end and case bonuses in | | | | salary for paralegals in 2004 was $46,862. The |
| addition to their annual salary. | | | | average annual bonus was around $3,339. The |
| There is salary variation in large firms, small legal firms | | | | average total annual salary including bonus was |
| and government agencies. Paralegals working for the | | | | $50,255. The survey highlights that the salaries for |
| government receive higher salaries and benefits. The | | | | paralegals increased by an average of $1,700 per |
| large law firms pay higher salary to paralegals than the | | | | year. The median average salary for a paralegal in |
| smaller ones. Some of the law firms give higher | | | | Los Angeles is $45,116. In San Francisco, paralegals |
| salaries and benefits to paralegals with specific | | | | can expect a beginning salary ranging from $30,000 to |
| qualifications. Attorneys generally pay paralegals based | | | | $45,000. A senior paralegal in San Francisco can |
| on the quantity and quality of their work. Paralegals | | | | expect a salary of $55,000. |