Paralegal and Legal Assistant Salary in Philadelphia, PA
Paralegals and Legal Assistants in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area earn a median $70,430 a year — 12% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $56,215 take-home, or $4,685 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median paralegal and legal assistant salary in Philadelphia, PA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$6,665
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,367
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,021
- Pennsylvania income tax$2,162
- Take-home pay$56,215
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 3.07% state
Living in Philadelphia? City residents also pay Philadelphia’s Resident Wage Tax — about $2,634 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $53,581 ($4,465 a month). Choose “Philadelphia” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
The Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro spans Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland. 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 Philadelphia, PA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $48,970 | $23.54 | $40,024 | $3,335 |
| 25th percentile | $60,110 | $28.90 | $48,633 | $4,053 |
| Median (50th) | $70,430 | $33.86 | $56,215 | $4,685 |
| 75th percentile | $81,660 | $39.26 | $63,771 | $5,314 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $97,950 | $47.09 | $74,731 | $6,228 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Pennsylvania resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $70,430 buys in Philadelphia, PA
Prices in Philadelphia, PA are 2.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.13× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median paralegal and legal assistant's $56,215 take-home pay has the buying power of $54,815 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Philadelphia, PA has 1.5× 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
Philadelphia, PA ranks #9 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 |
| 9 | Philadelphia, PA | $70,430 | $56,215 | $54,815 |
*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 Pennsylvania
- Pittsburgh, PA — $63,620
Frequently asked questions
How much does a paralegal and legal assistant make in Philadelphia, PA?
The median paralegal and legal assistant salary in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area is $70,430 a year, or about $33.86 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $60,110 and $81,660.
What is a paralegal and legal assistant’s take-home pay in Philadelphia, PA?
On the median $70,430 salary, a single filer living in Pennsylvania takes home about $56,215 a year ($4,685 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,162 in Pennsylvania taxes in 2026.
Is Philadelphia, PA a good place to work as a paralegal and legal assistant?
Pay here is 12% above the national median of $62,890. Local prices are 2.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $54,815 would in a typical U.S. city. Philadelphia, PA ranks #9 of 36 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a paralegal and legal assistant afford rent in Philadelphia, PA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Philadelphia, PA is $1,520 a month ($1,810 for two bedrooms) — 32% of a median paralegal and legal assistant’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Philadelphia, PA
- Lawyer — $170,660