North Carolina's average paralegal salary of $60,770 places it below nearby Georgia ($71,210) and Virginia ($70,740) but above South Carolina ($55,790). Tennessee is nearly identical at $60,790, so you will face similar compensation expectations when hiring from that market. If you are recruiting from higher-cost states like Georgia or Virginia, budget for the possibility that candidates will expect offers closer to those benchmarks.
Paralegal salary in North Carolina (2026)
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The average paralegal salary in North Carolina is $60,770 per year. A small pool of very high earners pulls that average upward, so the median of $57,500 gives you a more reliable starting point for most hiring decisions. North Carolina employs 13,650 paralegals, and the $3,270 gap between the mean and median reflects real variation in the candidate pool you will be evaluating. Junior paralegals in North Carolina typically earn around $38,570, while senior specialists typically reach or exceed $84,410. Plan for a range rather than a single number when budgeting for a paralegal hire, and anchor that range to the seniority and specialization of the role you are filling.
Metric / Value
Metric | Value |
Median Annual Salary | $57,500 |
Average Annual Salary | $60,770 |
vs. National Average | 12.8% below the national mean of $69,700 |
Data comes from the BLS OEWS and covers 13,650 employed paralegals across North Carolina.
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Paralegal salary percentiles in North Carolina
Percentile | Annual Salary |
10th Percentile | $38,570 |
25th Percentile | $47,640 |
75th Percentile | $71,930 |
90th Percentile | $84,410 |
If you are hiring an entry-level paralegal in North Carolina, expect to anchor your offer near $38,570, while a senior specialist with deep practice-area expertise will likely expect compensation closer to $84,410 or above. The spread from the 10th to the 90th percentile is wide enough that role seniority and specialization should drive your offer more than a single statewide figure.
Paralegal salary by city in North Carolina
City | Average Annual Salary |
Charlotte | $66,200 |
Raleigh | $63,060 |
Durham | $61,690 |
Greensboro | $58,740 |
Winston-Salem | $55,240 |
Where you hire within North Carolina will meaningfully affect your compensation budget for a paralegal role. Charlotte commands the highest average at $66,200, while Winston-Salem sits at $55,240, a difference of nearly $11,000 per year that you should factor into any multi-office or remote hiring decision. If your firm operates across multiple markets, use city-level figures rather than the statewide average to set location-specific pay bands.
How North Carolina compares to other states
State | Average Annual Salary | Median Annual Salary |
North Carolina | $60,770 | $57,500 |
Georgia | $71,210 | $62,400 |
Virginia | $70,740 | $63,990 |
Florida | $63,250 | $61,000 |
Tennessee | $60,790 | $58,820 |
South Carolina | $55,790 | $53,880 |
North Carolina sits in the middle of the regional market, making it a cost-effective location relative to Georgia and Virginia but more expensive than South Carolina. Georgia's average of $71,210 and Virginia's $70,740 both run roughly $10,000 higher than North Carolina's $60,770, so firms competing for talent across state lines may need to adjust offers accordingly. Tennessee tracks very closely to North Carolina at $60,790, meaning compensation expectations for candidates moving between those two states will be similar.
Frequently asked questions about paralegal salary in North Carolina
How does North Carolina compare to other states for paralegal salary?
What do the top-earning paralegals make in North Carolina?
Paralegals at the 90th percentile in North Carolina earn $84,410 per year. Senior specialists with deep expertise in high-demand practice areas such as litigation or corporate law are most likely to command compensation at or above that level. When building a budget for a senior hire, treat $84,410 as a floor for top-tier candidates rather than a ceiling.
What is the salary range for a paralegal in North Carolina?
The published salary range for paralegals in North Carolina runs from $38,570 at the 10th percentile to $84,410 at the 90th percentile. That spread of more than $45,000 reflects meaningful differences in experience, specialization, and employer type across the state. Use the 25th percentile figure of $47,640 as a reference point for entry-level offers and the 75th percentile of $71,930 for mid-to-senior roles.
What is the average paralegal salary in North Carolina?
The average paralegal salary in North Carolina is $60,770 per year, with a median of $57,500. The $3,270 gap between those two figures tells you that a segment of higher-compensated roles is pulling the average above what most candidates actually earn. For budgeting purposes, the median of $57,500 is the more grounded starting point for a typical hire.
Paralegal salary by state
Data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2025, SOC code 23-2011 (Paralegals and Legal Assistants).
Disclaimer
Rippling and its affiliates do not provide tax, accounting, or legal advice. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only, and is not intended to provide or be relied on for tax, accounting, or legal advice. You should consult your own tax, accounting, and legal advisors before engaging in any related activities or transactions.
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Jun 29, 2026
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Paralegal salary in South Carolina (2026)
Paralegal salaries in South Carolina average $55,790, with pay ranging from $38,020 to $75,640. See city breakdowns and state comparisons to budget your next hire.
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Paralegal salary in Virginia (2026)
Virginia paralegals earn a median $63,990 and average $70,740. See salary ranges by city, percentile, and how Virginia compares to neighboring states.
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Paralegal salary in Tennessee (2026)
Tennessee paralegals earn $58,820 median and $60,790 on average. See salary by city, percentile, and how Tennessee compares to neighboring states.
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Paralegal salary in Georgia (2026)
Georgia paralegals earn a median $62,400 and average $71,210. See salary ranges by city, percentile, and how Georgia compares to neighboring states.
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Paralegal salary in Kentucky (2026)
Kentucky paralegals earn a median $59,830 per year. See salary ranges by city, percentile, and how Kentucky compares to neighboring states.
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Paralegal salary in Alabama (2026)
Alabama paralegal salaries range from $30,750 to $77,100. See median pay, city breakdowns, and regional comparisons to budget your next hire confidently.
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Paralegal salary in Mississippi (2026)
Mississippi paralegal salaries range from $35,660 to $67,960. See median pay, city breakdowns, and how Mississippi compares to neighboring states.
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Paralegal salary in Maryland (2026)
Maryland paralegals earn $65,640 median and $73,060 on average. Compare salaries by city, percentile, and neighboring states to set competitive offers.
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