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Paralegal Salary Information

If you have an affinity with the law, enjoy research and want a career that leaves plenty of room for promotion, as well as progression then working as a paralegal may be the right choice for you. Of course, before you make the leap and decide to pursue a career change, having some paralegal salary information on hand is important.

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Paralegal Starting Salary

The starting paralegal salary is between $30,000 and $35,000 per year, depending on the level of qualification achieved. Having a four year bachelor degree as opposed to the two year certificate or associate's degree will give a candidate a distinct advantage.

After two or three years experience this could be expected to increase to about $40,000 with promotion and increased responsibility. Paralegal salary information from the department of labor indicates the current median wage of a paralegal is around $51,000 per year with about one half of all paralegals earning between $40,000 and $60,000 per year. The top quarter earn over $60,000 a year, with some making six figure incomes.

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Specialist Paralegal Salary

Many qualified paralegals go on to specialize in a particular area. While at the beginning of your career your job description may include preparing and checking legal documents and correspondence, with experience you will go to complete more challenging tasks, many once only completed by lawyers. With this responsibility comes an increase in salary.

A specialist with around five years experience can expect to earn a paralegal salary upwards of $50,000 per year. They may specialize in a particular area of law, such as family law or real estate, or have a large amount of experience in a particular task or area, such as research or investigation.

Paralegal Benefits

Working as a paralegal you will receive benefits such as annual holiday leave and paid sick leave. You will also have an allowance for parental leave in most instances. Depending on your employer you may also receive medical, optical and dental benefits. Paralegal benefits are usually increased if you are working for a larger firm or a government organization.

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