Paralegals and Legal Assistants, Chicago
$70,550
BLS OEWS median annual wage in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN. Middle half of wages roughly $58,740 to $85,040.
BLS OEWS median, May 2025, as of May 15, 2026. BEA Regional Price Parity 2024. Disclaimer
- vs US median
- +12.2%
- US median
- $62,890
- Metro RPP
- 103.6
- Middle half
- $58,740 to $85,040
- OEWS employment
- 11,590
- SOC
- 23-2011
Paralegals and Legal Assistants in Chicago pay a median $70,550 (May 2025), 12.2% above the US median of $62,890. At local prices (RPP 103.6), that median buys about what $68,098 buys at US-average prices.
Purchasing power
$70,550 in Chicago buys about what $68,098 buys at US-average prices (BEA RPP 103.6, 2024). Housing (rents) RPP is 112 vs all-items 103.6 (US = 100, 2024).
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Paralegals and Legal Assistants in nearby metros
| Metro | Median | Middle half | RPP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $70,550 | $58,740 to $85,040 | 103.6 |
| Phoenix | $62,620 | $49,980 to $80,120 | 103.3 |
| 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 Chicago?
- According to BLS OEWS May 2025, the median annual wage for Paralegals and Legal Assistants in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN is $70,550.
- How does Chicago pay compare to the US median for Paralegals and Legal Assistants?
- Local median pay is 12.2% above the national OEWS median of $62,890.
- How does cost of living change what that wage buys?
- BEA RPP for Chicago is 103.6 (US = 100, 2024). The local median of $70,550 has about the same purchasing power as $68,098 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.