Paralegal and Legal Assistant Salary in St. Louis, MO
Paralegals and Legal Assistants in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area earn a median $61,970 a year — 1% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $49,998 take-home, or $4,166 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median paralegal and legal assistant salary in St. Louis, MO. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,256
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,842
- Medicare (1.45%)$899
- Missouri income tax$1,975
- Take-home pay$49,998
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.70% state
Living in St. Louis? City residents also pay St. Louis’s Earnings Tax — about $620 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $49,378 ($4,115 a month). Choose “St. Louis” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
The St. Louis, MO-IL metro spans Missouri, Illinois. 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 St. Louis, MO
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $45,950 | $22.09 | $37,879 | $3,157 |
| 25th percentile | $47,790 | $22.98 | $39,270 | $3,273 |
| Median (50th) | $61,970 | $29.79 | $49,998 | $4,166 |
| 75th percentile | $76,580 | $36.82 | $60,042 | $5,004 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $97,830 | $47.03 | $73,993 | $6,166 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Missouri resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $61,970 buys in St. Louis, MO
Prices in St. Louis, MO are 4.9% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 21% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median paralegal and legal assistant's $49,998 take-home pay has the buying power of $52,580 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 St. Louis, MO as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.19).
Best-paying cities for paralegals and legal assistants, adjusted for cost of living
St. Louis, MO ranks #18 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 |
| 18 | St. Louis, MO | $61,970 | $49,998 | $52,580 |
*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
- Kansas City, MO — $63,880
Frequently asked questions
How much does a paralegal and legal assistant make in St. Louis, MO?
The median paralegal and legal assistant salary in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area is $61,970 a year, or about $29.79 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $47,790 and $76,580.
What is a paralegal and legal assistant’s take-home pay in St. Louis, MO?
On the median $61,970 salary, a single filer living in Missouri takes home about $49,998 a year ($4,166 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,975 in Missouri taxes in 2026.
Is St. Louis, MO a good place to work as a paralegal and legal assistant?
Pay here is 1% below the national median of $62,890. Local prices are 4.9% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $52,580 would in a typical U.S. city. St. Louis, MO ranks #18 of 36 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a paralegal and legal assistant afford rent in St. Louis, MO?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in St. Louis, MO is $989 a month ($1,211 for two bedrooms) — 24% of a median paralegal and legal assistant’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in St. Louis, MO
- Lawyer — $142,690