Lawyers vs Paralegals & Legal Assistants
Median pay is about $97k higher for Lawyers. The usual entry education is doctoral (JD) plus bar for Lawyers and associate's for Paralegals & Legal Assistants.
marks the higher pay or growth. Education, difficulty and the AI rows depend on what you want, so they are not marked.
| Measure | Lawyers | Paralegals & Legal Assistants |
|---|---|---|
| Pay | ||
| Median pay | $159,670, higher | $62,890 |
| Entry pay 25th percentile | $102,990, higher | $50,340 |
| Experienced pay 75th percentile | $221,370, higher | $80,080 |
| Outlook, 2025 to 2035 | ||
| Projected growth | +4.7% Growing fast, higher | -0.3% Declining |
| Openings a year | 28,700 | 40,800 |
| Getting in | ||
| Typical education | Doctoral (JD) plus bar | Associate's |
| Difficulty modeled | 4.6 / 5 | 2 / 5 |
| AI | ||
| Displacement risk modeled | Low | High |
| AI exposure modeled, percentile | 90th pct | 78th pct |
Skills
Both lean on the same top skills: speaking, reading comprehension, active listening, critical thinking, writing, active learning.
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Pay and outlook: BLS (OEWS 2025, Employment Projections 2025-2035). Skills: O*NET 30.3. Difficulty, displacement risk and AI exposure are modeled estimates. How these numbers are made.