Paralegals at the 90th percentile in Texas earn $98,440 per year. Roles at this level typically involve specialized practice areas, significant experience, or positions at large law firms and corporate legal departments. Budget above this threshold when competing for senior candidates with highly specialized backgrounds.
Paralegal salary in Texas (2026)
The average paralegal salary in Texas is $65,480 per year. A small pool of very high earners pulls that average upward, so the median of $62,310 gives employers a more reliable starting point for most hiring decisions. Texas employs 29,540 paralegals, and the $3,170 gap between the mean and median reflects real variation in the candidate pool you will be evaluating. Junior paralegals in Texas typically earn around $39,190, while senior specialists reach and exceed the $98,440 level at the 90th percentile. Plan for a range rather than a single number when budgeting for a paralegal hire in Texas, and anchor that range to the seniority and specialization of the role you are filling.
Metric / Value
Metric | Value |
Median Annual Salary | $62,310 |
Average Annual Salary | $65,480 |
vs. National Average | 6.1% below the national mean of $69,700 |
Data comes from the BLS OEWS and covers 29,540 employed paralegals across Texas.
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Paralegal salary percentiles in Texas
Percentile | Annual Salary |
10th Percentile | $39,190 |
25th Percentile | $47,410 |
75th Percentile | $77,740 |
90th Percentile | $98,440 |
Employers hiring entry-level paralegals in Texas can anchor offers near $39,190, while roles requiring deeper experience or specialization will push compensation toward $77,740 or beyond. Senior specialists in Texas regularly reach and exceed the $98,440 threshold, so budget accordingly when competing for experienced candidates.
Paralegal salary by city in Texas
City | Average Annual Salary |
Austin | $70,870 |
Houston | $69,250 |
Dallas | $68,520 |
San Antonio | $59,390 |
El Paso | $56,920 |
Where you hire in Texas will meaningfully affect your compensation budget for a paralegal role. Austin leads the state at $70,870 on average, while El Paso comes in at $56,920, a difference of nearly $14,000 per year that can shift your total labor cost noticeably across a team. Employers with flexibility on location may find San Antonio or El Paso offer a more cost-effective hiring environment without leaving the Texas talent market.
How Texas compares to other states
State | Average Annual Salary | Median Annual Salary |
Texas | $65,480 | $62,310 |
California | $81,320 | $77,390 |
New York | $76,890 | $68,410 |
Illinois | $72,310 | $63,670 |
Georgia | $71,210 | $62,400 |
Florida | $63,250 | $61,000 |
Texas offers employers a cost-effective market for paralegal talent relative to most major peer states. The Texas average of $65,480 sits below California ($81,320), New York ($76,890), Illinois ($72,310), and Georgia ($71,210), giving Texas-based employers a measurable budget advantage when hiring at comparable experience levels. Florida is the only comparison state with a lower average, at $63,250, making Texas broadly competitive but not the lowest-cost option in the group.
Frequently asked questions about paralegal salary in Texas
What do the top-earning paralegals make in Texas?
What is the salary range for a paralegal in Texas?
The salary range for a paralegal in Texas runs from $39,190 at the 10th percentile to $98,440 at the 90th percentile. The middle of the market sits between $47,410 at the 25th percentile and $77,740 at the 75th percentile. Use the 25th-to-75th percentile band as your core budgeting range and adjust based on the seniority and specialization of the role you are filling.
What is the average paralegal salary in Texas?
The average paralegal salary in Texas is $65,480 per year, with a median of $62,310. The gap between those two figures reflects a segment of higher-compensated roles pulling the average upward, so the median is the more grounded benchmark for most hiring decisions. If you are filling a mid-level role, anchoring your offer near $62,310 and adjusting for experience is a practical starting point.
How does Texas compare to other states for paralegal salary?
Texas sits below the national mean of $69,700 by 6.1%, making it a relatively cost-effective state for paralegal hiring compared to California ($81,320), New York ($76,890), and Illinois ($72,310). Georgia's average of $71,210 also exceeds Texas, while Florida's average of $63,250 falls slightly below. Employers hiring in Texas can generally expect lower compensation benchmarks than in most major coastal and Midwest markets.
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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