Paralegal and Legal Assistant Salary in Kansas City, MO
Paralegals and Legal Assistants in the Kansas City, MO-KS metro area earn a median $63,880 a year — 2% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $51,443 take-home, or $4,287 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median paralegal and legal assistant salary in Kansas City, MO. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,486
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,961
- Medicare (1.45%)$926
- Missouri income tax$2,065
- Take-home pay$51,443
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.70% state
Living in Kansas City, MO? City residents also pay Kansas City, MO’s Earnings Tax — about $639 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $50,804 ($4,234 a month). Choose “Kansas City, MO” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
The Kansas City, MO-KS metro spans Missouri, Kansas. 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 Kansas City, MO
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $47,230 | $22.71 | $38,847 | $3,237 |
| 25th percentile | $50,600 | $24.33 | $41,396 | $3,450 |
| Median (50th) | $63,880 | $30.71 | $51,443 | $4,287 |
| 75th percentile | $78,360 | $37.67 | $61,211 | $5,101 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $97,890 | $47.06 | $74,032 | $6,169 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Missouri resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $63,880 buys in Kansas City, MO
Prices in Kansas City, MO are 7.5% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 13% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median paralegal and legal assistant's $51,443 take-home pay has the buying power of $55,588 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 Kansas City, MO as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.05).
Best-paying cities for paralegals and legal assistants, adjusted for cost of living
Kansas City, MO ranks #8 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 |
*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.
Paralegal and Legal Assistant salaries elsewhere in Missouri
- St. Louis, MO — $61,970
Frequently asked questions
How much does a paralegal and legal assistant make in Kansas City, MO?
The median paralegal and legal assistant salary in the Kansas City, MO-KS metro area is $63,880 a year, or about $30.71 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $50,600 and $78,360.
What is a paralegal and legal assistant’s take-home pay in Kansas City, MO?
On the median $63,880 salary, a single filer living in Missouri takes home about $51,443 a year ($4,287 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,065 in Missouri taxes in 2026.
Is Kansas City, MO a good place to work as a paralegal and legal assistant?
Pay here is 2% above the national median of $62,890. Local prices are 7.5% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $55,588 would in a typical U.S. city. Kansas City, MO ranks #8 of 36 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a paralegal and legal assistant afford rent in Kansas City, MO?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Kansas City, MO is $1,193 a month ($1,355 for two bedrooms) — 28% of a median paralegal and legal assistant’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Kansas City, MO
- Lawyer — $134,640