Paralegals and Legal Assistants, Boston

$79,850

BLS OEWS median annual wage in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH. Middle half of wages roughly $63,850 to $98,470.

BLS OEWS median, May 2025, as of May 15, 2026. BEA Regional Price Parity 2024. Disclaimer

vs US median
+27.0%
US median
$62,890
Metro RPP
108.3
Middle half
$63,850 to $98,470
OEWS employment
6,300
SOC
23-2011

Paralegals and Legal Assistants in Boston pay a median $79,850 (May 2025), 27% above the US median of $62,890. At local prices (RPP 108.3), that median buys about what $73,730 buys at US-average prices.

Purchasing power

$79,850 in Boston buys about what $73,730 buys at US-average prices (BEA RPP 108.3, 2024). Housing (rents) RPP is 148.4 vs all-items 108.3 (US = 100, 2024).

Paralegals and Legal Assistants in nearby metros

Metro Median Middle half RPP
Boston $79,850 $63,850 to $98,470 108.3
Washington $81,590 $64,180 to $106,990 108.9
San Francisco $84,030 $74,050 to $103,060 115.6
Tulsa $50,740 $37,770 to $61,900 89.2

BLS OEWS May 2025 where published for the CBSA.

FAQ

What is the median salary for Paralegals and Legal Assistants in Boston?
According to BLS OEWS May 2025, the median annual wage for Paralegals and Legal Assistants in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH is $79,850.
How does Boston pay compare to the US median for Paralegals and Legal Assistants?
Local median pay is 27% above the national OEWS median of $62,890.
How does cost of living change what that wage buys?
BEA RPP for Boston is 108.3 (US = 100, 2024). The local median of $79,850 has about the same purchasing power as $73,730 at US-average prices.
How current is this data?
Wages are BLS OEWS May 2025. Price levels use BEA Regional Price Parities for 2024. See methodology for source details.

What this covers

Includes

  • BEA Regional Price Parities (all items, goods, housing rents, other services)
  • BLS OEWS median wages, percentile bands, and employment where published
  • Purchasing-power math: salary × (destination RPP ÷ origin RPP)

Does not include

  • Federal, state, or local income taxes
  • Childcare, healthcare premiums, or leave benefits
  • Job openings. OEWS employment is a published stock estimate, not hiring demand

Median wages are published BLS OEWS metro estimates; price levels use BEA Regional Price Parities. See methodology and disclaimer.