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State comparison · 2025

Paralegals and Legal Assistants salary: District of Columbia vs New Mexico

Occupation

Paralegals and Legal Assistants in District of Columbia earn a median of $89,750. In New Mexico, $59,840. After cost-of-living, the gap is 25.8% — not 50%.

Nominal pay gap
+50%
District of Columbia vs New Mexico
COL-adjusted gap
+25.8%
After BEA Regional Price Parities

District of Columbia

Paralegals and Legal Assistants

Median
$89,750
p25
$72,240
p75
$114,920
p10
$59,770
p90
$131,650
COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
109.9
Hiring velocity (180d)
+500%
See full breakdown for District of Columbia

New Mexico

Paralegals and Legal Assistants

Median
$59,840
p25
$48,130
p75
$72,520
p10
$43,660
p90
$80,490
COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
92.2
See full breakdown for New Mexico

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Cost-of-living adjustment from BEA Regional Price Parities (overall index). Hiring velocity from DOL OFLC public disclosure data, recent 180 days vs prior. See methodology.