Salary distribution
Where Illinois paralegals and legal assistants fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $48,820 and $80,830, with a median of $62,290.
Paralegals and Legal Assistants in Illinois: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 10 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $62,500. Every figure below is an actual offered salary an employer attested to under federal law.
By DOL wage level
DOL classifies every offer into one of four wage levels based on the role's experience and skill requirements.
| Level | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|
| Level I — entry | 3 | $60,000 |
| Level II — qualified | 3 | $55,786 |
| Level III — experienced | 3 | $65,000 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 1 | $85,000 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Paralegals and Legal Assistants in Illinois. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elman Law Group, LLC | Legal Assistant | 2 | $55,911 |
| Childrens Legal Center | Law Clerk | 2 | $60,000 |
| Dentons US LLP | Lateral Conflicts Analyst | 1 | $70,350 |
| The Crone Law Group P.C. | Law Clerk | 1 | $85,000 |
| Disparti Law Group, P.A. | Legal Analyst | 1 | $55,786 |
| LIBERTY LAW FIRM | PARALEGAL | 1 | $55,786 |
| Highland Park-Highwood Legal Aid Clinic | Practice Assistant II | 1 | $672,000 |
| LAW OFFICES OF METIN SERBEST | LEGAL ASSISTANT | 1 | $65,000 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Lateral Conflicts Analyst at Dentons US LLP$70,350ChicagoWage Level IIIDecided Jun 27, 2025I-200-25171-117947
- Law Clerk at The Crone Law Group P.C.$85,000ChicagoWage Level IVDecided Jun 6, 2025I-200-25150-035322
- Legal Analyst at Disparti Law Group, P.A.$55,786ChicagoWage Level IIDecided Jun 4, 2025I-200-25148-026238
- PARALEGAL at LIBERTY LAW FIRM$55,786NAPERVILLEWage Level IIDecided May 28, 2025I-200-25140-997465
- Legal Assistant at Elman Law Group, LLC$46,821ChicagoWage Level IDecided May 9, 2025I-200-25125-935340
- Legal Assistant at Elman Law Group, LLC$65,000ChicagoWage Level IIIDecided May 9, 2025I-200-25125-935341
- Practice Assistant II at Highland Park-Highwood Legal Aid Clinic$672,000Highland ParkWage Level IIDecided May 2, 2025I-200-25115-905344
- Law Clerk at Childrens Legal Center$60,000ChicagoWage Level IDecided Feb 18, 2025I-200-25041-679366
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification. Disclosed wages reflect what employers attested to pay; actual paid wages may differ. Only certified filings are shown — denied and withdrawn cases are excluded.
Paralegals and Legal Assistants pay by experience level in Illinois
Each band reflects DOL Wage Levels I-IV mapped onto a four-step ladder. Click a level to see the disclosed-wage range for that segment.
Paralegals and Legal Assistants specialties in Illinois
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 6 certified offers. The most common variant is Law Clerk at a median of $60,000.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Law Clerk | Childrens Legal Center | 3 | $60,000 |
| Legal Assistant | Elman Law Group, LLC | 3 | $65,000 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Paralegals and Legal Assistants in Illinois, by industry
Median offered wage across 10 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Professional services leads with a median of $65,000.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional services | Elman Law Group, LLC | 8 | $65,000 |
| Nonprofit and civic | Childrens Legal Center | 2 | $60,000 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in Illinois over the past 2 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2024 dollars.
Typical entry
Education
Associate's degree
Experience
None
On-the-job training
None
Top skills (O*NET)
- 4.1 / 5
Written Comprehension
Ability
- 4.1 / 5
Administrative
Knowledge
- 4.1 / 5
English Language
Knowledge
- 4.0 / 5
Oral Expression
Ability
- 4.0 / 5
Oral Comprehension
Ability
- 4.0 / 5
Reading Comprehension
Basic skill
- 4.0 / 5
Written Expression
Ability
- 3.9 / 5
Law and Government
Knowledge
Common tasks (O*NET)
- 01
Prepare affidavits or other documents, such as legal correspondence, and organize and maintain documents in paper or electronic filing system.
- 02
Prepare legal documents, including briefs, pleadings, appeals, wills, contracts, and real estate closing statements.
- 03
Prepare for trial by performing tasks such as organizing exhibits.
- 04
Investigate facts and law of cases and search pertinent sources, such as public records and internet sources, to determine causes of action and to prepare cases.
- 05
Meet with clients and other professionals to discuss details of case.
- 06
File pleadings with court clerk.
- 07
Gather and analyze research data, such as statutes, decisions, and legal articles, codes, and documents.
- 08
Direct and coordinate law office activity, including delivery of subpoenas.
10-year outlook
Growth 2024 → 2034
+0.2%
Projected annual openings
—
BLS outlook
Slower than average
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034 cycle.
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Metro-level salary data for paralegals and legal assistants in major Illinois metropolitan areas.
- Chicago$66,930
Compare Paralegals and Legal Assistants pay across nearby states
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Paralegals and Legal Assistants in Illinois?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Paralegals and Legal Assistants in Illinois is $62,290.
- How does Illinois compare to the national median for Paralegals and Legal Assistants?
- The Illinois median is +0.2% versus the BLS national figure of $62,188.
- What is the salary range for Paralegals and Legal Assistants in Illinois?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $44,180 and the 90th-percentile at $102,270, which captures most full-time workers in the role.
- Is Paralegals and Legal Assistants a growing field?
- BLS Employment Projections show employment growing by 0.2% over the projection cycle. See the 10-year outlook section above for details.
- What education is required for Paralegals and Legal Assistants?
- BLS lists the typical entry-level education as Associate's degree. Many employers also weigh prior experience and credentials.
Information on this page is for general educational purposes only. It is not career, financial, or tax advice. Wage data reflects BLS estimates for the reference year shown and may not match individual offers, employer-specific ranges, or current market conditions. Confirm with a licensed professional before making career or compensation decisions.