State comparison · 2025
Paralegals and Legal Assistants salary: District of Columbia vs South Dakota
Paralegals and Legal Assistants in District of Columbia earn a median of $89,750. In South Dakota, $58,320. After cost-of-living, the gap is 24.1% — not 53.9%.
Nominal pay gap
+53.9%
District of Columbia vs South Dakota
COL-adjusted gap
+24.1%
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%
South Dakota
Paralegals and Legal Assistants
- Median
- $58,320
- p25
- $53,730
- p75
- $67,200
- p10
- $48,890
- p90
- $84,090
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 88.6
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.