Paralegal and Legal Assistant Salary in Portland, OR
Paralegals and Legal Assistants in the Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA metro area earn a median $75,430 a year — 20% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $56,125 take-home, or $4,677 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median paralegal and legal assistant salary in Portland, OR. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$7,765
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,677
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,094
- Oregon income tax$5,771
- Take-home pay$56,125
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 8.75% state
The Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA metro spans Oregon, Washington. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Paralegal and Legal Assistant pay by experience in Portland, OR
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $48,970 | $23.54 | $38,072 | $3,173 |
| 25th percentile | $59,360 | $28.54 | $45,511 | $3,793 |
| Median (50th) | $75,430 | $36.26 | $56,125 | $4,677 |
| 75th percentile | $82,800 | $39.81 | $60,664 | $5,055 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $100,350 | $48.25 | $71,475 | $5,956 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Oregon resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $75,430 buys in Portland, OR
Prices in Portland, OR are 5.4% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.25× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median paralegal and legal assistant's $56,125 take-home pay has the buying power of $53,238 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 Portland, OR as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.15).
Best-paying cities for paralegals and legal assistants, adjusted for cost of living
Portland, OR ranks #15 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 |
| 15 | Portland, OR | $75,430 | $56,125 | $53,238 |
*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 Portland, OR?
The median paralegal and legal assistant salary in the Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA metro area is $75,430 a year, or about $36.26 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $59,360 and $82,800.
What is a paralegal and legal assistant’s take-home pay in Portland, OR?
On the median $75,430 salary, a single filer living in Oregon takes home about $56,125 a year ($4,677 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $5,771 in Oregon taxes in 2026.
Is Portland, OR a good place to work as a paralegal and legal assistant?
Pay here is 20% above the national median of $62,890. Local prices are 5.4% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $53,238 would in a typical U.S. city. Portland, OR ranks #15 of 36 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a paralegal and legal assistant afford rent in Portland, OR?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Portland, OR is $1,677 a month ($1,922 for two bedrooms) — 36% of a median paralegal and legal assistant’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Portland, OR
- Lawyer — $155,330