Paralegal and Legal Assistant Salary in New York, NY
Paralegals and Legal Assistants in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro area earn a median $75,330 a year — 20% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $58,354 take-home, or $4,863 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median paralegal and legal assistant salary in New York, NY. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$7,743
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,670
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,092
- New York income tax$3,471
- Take-home pay$58,354
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 5.40% state
Living in New York City? City residents also pay New York City’s city income tax — about $2,485 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $55,869 ($4,656 a month). Choose “New York City” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
The New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro spans New York, New Jersey. 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 New York, NY
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $49,180 | $23.64 | $39,637 | $3,303 |
| 25th percentile | $61,040 | $29.35 | $48,526 | $4,044 |
| Median (50th) | $75,330 | $36.22 | $58,354 | $4,863 |
| 75th percentile | $97,720 | $46.98 | $72,851 | $6,071 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $121,170 | $58.25 | $87,964 | $7,330 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, New York resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $75,330 buys in New York, NY
Prices in New York, NY are 12.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.49× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median paralegal and legal assistant's $58,354 take-home pay has the buying power of $51,841 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
New York, NY has 1.4× the national concentration of paralegal and legal assistant jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for paralegals and legal assistants, adjusted for cost of living
New York, NY ranks #22 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 |
| 22 | New York, NY | $75,330 | $58,354 | $51,841 |
*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 New York, NY?
The median paralegal and legal assistant salary in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro area is $75,330 a year, or about $36.22 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $61,040 and $97,720.
What is a paralegal and legal assistant’s take-home pay in New York, NY?
On the median $75,330 salary, a single filer living in New York takes home about $58,354 a year ($4,863 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,471 in New York taxes in 2026.
Is New York, NY 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 12.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $51,841 would in a typical U.S. city. New York, NY ranks #22 of 36 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a paralegal and legal assistant afford rent in New York, NY?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in New York, NY is $2,378 a month ($2,697 for two bedrooms) — 49% of a median paralegal and legal assistant’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in New York, NY
- Lawyer — $208,880