Paralegal and Legal Assistant Salary in Baltimore, MD
Paralegals and Legal Assistants in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro area earn a median $65,640 a year — 4% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $52,167 take-home, or $4,347 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median paralegal and legal assistant salary in Baltimore, MD. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,697
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,070
- Medicare (1.45%)$952
- Maryland income tax$2,754
- Take-home pay$52,167
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.75% state
Living in Baltimore City? City residents also pay Baltimore City’s city income tax — about $1,891 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $50,277 ($4,190 a month). Choose “Baltimore City” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Paralegal and Legal Assistant pay by experience in Baltimore, MD
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $49,930 | $24.00 | $40,291 | $3,358 |
| 25th percentile | $51,660 | $24.84 | $41,599 | $3,467 |
| Median (50th) | $65,640 | $31.56 | $52,167 | $4,347 |
| 75th percentile | $81,560 | $39.21 | $62,697 | $5,225 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $97,510 | $46.88 | $73,160 | $6,097 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Maryland resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $65,640 buys in Baltimore, MD
Prices in Baltimore, MD are 4.5% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.18× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median paralegal and legal assistant's $52,167 take-home pay has the buying power of $49,927 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Paralegal and Legal Assistant jobs are about as common in Baltimore, MD as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.13).
Best-paying cities for paralegals and legal assistants, adjusted for cost of living
Baltimore, MD ranks #28 of 36 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $92,900 | $74,185 | $66,753 |
| 2 | Denver, CO | $80,500 | $62,628 | $59,205 |
| 3 | Washington, DC | $81,590 | $62,262 | $57,182 |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $79,850 | $61,232 | $56,557 |
| 5 | Sacramento, CA | $78,550 | $59,993 | $56,242 |
| 6 | Minneapolis, MN | $76,220 | $58,791 | $56,087 |
| 7 | Las Vegas, NV | $66,720 | $55,768 | $55,648 |
| 8 | Kansas City, MO | $63,880 | $51,443 | $55,588 |
| 28 | Baltimore, MD | $65,640 | $52,167 | $49,927 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 36 metros →
About the job: paralegals and legal assistants
Assist lawyers by investigating facts, preparing legal documents, or researching legal precedent. Conduct research to support a legal proceeding, to formulate a defense, or to initiate legal action.
- Typical education
- Associate's degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- -0.3% (slower than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a paralegal and legal assistant make in Baltimore, MD?
The median paralegal and legal assistant salary in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro area is $65,640 a year, or about $31.56 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $51,660 and $81,560.
What is a paralegal and legal assistant’s take-home pay in Baltimore, MD?
On the median $65,640 salary, a single filer living in Maryland takes home about $52,167 a year ($4,347 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,754 in Maryland taxes in 2026.
Is Baltimore, MD a good place to work as a paralegal and legal assistant?
Pay here is 4% above the national median of $62,890. Local prices are 4.5% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $49,927 would in a typical U.S. city. Baltimore, MD ranks #28 of 36 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a paralegal and legal assistant afford rent in Baltimore, MD?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Baltimore, MD is $1,511 a month ($1,857 for two bedrooms) — 35% of a median paralegal and legal assistant’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Baltimore, MD
- Lawyer — $132,400