Legal Support Workers, All Other
Legal Support Workers, All Other (SOC 23-2099) earn a median $72,110 a year ($34.67 an hour) in the United States, with 46,760 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is Virginia.
What legal support workers, all other do
Legal support workers, all other, is the residual category for people who assist with legal work but are not paralegals and legal assistants or title examiners, abstractors, and searchers, the two legal support occupations with their own classification. Titles reported to O*NET include advocate, brief writer, case briefer, closer, and contract clerk, which suggest the range of tasks, from summarizing cases and drafting briefs to preparing documents for a closing. They assist with legal work through research, documentation, and similar support tasks. Because the category is a catch-all, the tasks, the education involved, and the pay depend on the specialty and employer, and the data used for this page do not give a single set of tasks or a single education level for the group. The group differs from lawyers and judges, who practice or decide matters of law, and from legal secretaries, who perform clerical work. Escrow closer is another listed title.
Also called: Advocate, Brief Writer, Case Briefer, Closer, Contract Clerk.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $21.06 | $26.41 | $34.67 | $52.58 | $86.52 | $43.10 | 46,760 |
| Annual | $43,800 | $54,940 | $72,110 | $109,360 | $179,960 | $89,660 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where legal support workers, all other earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Virginia | Hourly | $42.09 | $63.29 | $86.52 | $93.84 | $93.84 | $76.04 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $87,540 | $131,640 | $179,960 | $195,190 | $195,190 | $158,160 | ||||
| District of Columbia | Hourly | $30.43 | $35.72 | $42.54 | $62.08 | $83.61 | $50.15 | 1,770 | 2.52 | 8.38 |
| Annual | $63,290 | $74,300 | $88,480 | $129,130 | $173,920 | $104,310 | ||||
| Kansas | Hourly | $27.93 | $31.77 | $42.41 | $51.72 | $62.98 | $44.00 | 60 | 0.04 | 0.14 |
| Annual | $58,090 | $66,080 | $88,210 | $107,580 | $131,000 | $91,530 | ||||
| New Jersey | Hourly | $26.10 | $31.26 | $42.41 | $61.58 | $86.52 | $48.94 | 660 | 0.15 | 0.51 |
| Annual | $54,280 | $65,020 | $88,210 | $128,090 | $179,960 | $101,780 | ||||
| Minnesota | Hourly | $30.94 | $36.14 | $41.80 | $48.52 | $66.71 | $45.76 | 220 | 0.08 | 0.25 |
| Annual | $64,360 | $75,170 | $86,940 | $100,920 | $138,760 | $95,190 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Illinois | Hourly | $18.14 | $22.48 | $30.41 | $38.86 | $49.53 | $33.52 | 3,010 | 0.49 | 1.64 |
| Annual | $37,740 | $46,750 | $63,250 | $80,830 | $103,010 | $69,730 | ||||
| Texas | Hourly | $19.54 | $27.08 | $30.36 | $43.23 | $69.03 | $37.49 | 2,900 | 0.21 | 0.69 |
| Annual | $40,650 | $56,330 | $63,140 | $89,920 | $143,580 | $77,980 | ||||
| Colorado | Hourly | $21.74 | $26.78 | $32.05 | $46.16 | $70.67 | $39.32 | 2,000 | 0.70 | 2.31 |
| Annual | $45,220 | $55,700 | $66,660 | $96,020 | $146,990 | $81,780 | ||||
| District of Columbia | Hourly | $30.43 | $35.72 | $42.54 | $62.08 | $83.61 | $50.15 | 1,770 | 2.52 | 8.38 |
| Annual | $63,290 | $74,300 | $88,480 | $129,130 | $173,920 | $104,310 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $24.01 | $29.30 | $36.79 | $50.79 | $74.18 | $42.62 | 1,760 | 0.18 | 0.60 |
| Annual | $49,940 | $60,940 | $76,520 | $105,650 | $154,290 | $88,650 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | Hourly | $36.61 | $48.65 | $81.58 | $91.46 | $93.84 | $71.38 | 6,430 | 2.05 | 6.82 |
| Annual | $76,140 | $101,200 | $169,690 | $190,240 | $195,190 | $148,470 | ||||
| Charlottesville, VA | Hourly | $29.26 | $33.71 | $66.94 | $91.46 | $93.84 | $62.27 | 40 | 0.32 | 1.07 |
| Annual | $60,860 | $70,120 | $139,240 | $190,240 | $195,190 | $129,510 | ||||
| Boulder, CO | Hourly | $25.13 | $31.93 | $64.85 | $77.59 | $88.99 | $56.79 | 90 | 0.47 | 1.55 |
| Annual | $52,280 | $66,410 | $134,890 | $161,380 | $185,100 | $118,120 | ||||
| Lexington Park, MD | Hourly | $36.61 | $42.41 | $61.58 | $86.52 | $93.84 | $63.47 | 40 | 0.57 | 1.89 |
| Annual | $76,140 | $88,210 | $128,090 | $179,960 | $195,190 | $132,010 | ||||
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | Hourly | $34.71 | $43.30 | $51.92 | $79.83 | $90.32 | $60.68 | 380 | 0.33 | 1.11 |
| Annual | $72,190 | $90,070 | $107,980 | $166,050 | $187,860 | $126,220 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | Hourly | $36.61 | $48.65 | $81.58 | $91.46 | $93.84 | $71.38 | 6,430 | 2.05 | 6.82 |
| Annual | $76,140 | $101,200 | $169,690 | $190,240 | $195,190 | $148,470 | ||||
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | Hourly | $18.90 | $22.48 | $30.40 | $40.33 | $50.70 | $34.26 | 2,120 | 0.47 | 1.56 |
| Annual | $39,320 | $46,750 | $63,240 | $83,890 | $105,450 | $71,250 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $23.28 | $30.71 | $38.62 | $50.06 | $62.79 | $41.63 | 2,020 | 0.32 | 1.07 |
| Annual | $48,430 | $63,880 | $80,330 | $104,120 | $130,590 | $86,600 | ||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $24.87 | $31.28 | $39.97 | $55.20 | $81.33 | $46.34 | 1,560 | 0.16 | 0.55 |
| Annual | $51,720 | $65,060 | $83,140 | $114,810 | $169,170 | $96,380 | ||||
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | Hourly | $24.14 | $29.30 | $34.74 | $46.83 | $70.67 | $40.67 | 1,200 | 0.75 | 2.49 |
| Annual | $50,220 | $60,950 | $72,250 | $97,400 | $146,990 | $84,600 | ||||
Top industries employing legal support workers, all other
Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) employ 29.6% of legal support workers, all other nationally (13,860 jobs) at a median $139,240 a year ($66.94 an hour), followed by Legal Services (22.6%) and State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) (14.0%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999100 | 13,860 | 29.6% | $139,240 | $66.94 |
| Legal Services NAICS 541100 | 10,550 | 22.6% | $63,100 | $30.34 |
| State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999200 | 6,530 | 14.0% | $62,160 | $29.88 |
| Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999300 | 5,250 | 11.2% | $63,290 | $30.43 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools NAICS 611300 | 1,430 | 3.1% | $90,200 | $43.37 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (46,760). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $59,790 for legal support workers, all other in May 2021 and $72,110 in May 2025, with employment of 46,090 and 46,760.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $59,790 | $28.75 | 46,090 |
| May 2022 | $62,340 | $29.97 | 46,480 |
| May 2023 | $67,700 | $32.55 | 43,760 |
| May 2024 | $68,760 | $33.06 | 47,380 |
| May 2025 | $72,110 | $34.67 | 46,760 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
45 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Virginia profile | $86.52 | $179,960 | $87,540 | $195,190 | ** | ** | ** |
| 2 | District of Columbia profile | $42.54 | $88,480 | $63,290 | $173,920 | 1,770 | 2.52 | 8.38 |
| 3 | Kansas profile | $42.41 | $88,210 | $58,090 | $131,000 | 60 | 0.04 | 0.14 |
| 4 | New Jersey profile | $42.41 | $88,210 | $54,280 | $179,960 | 660 | 0.15 | 0.51 |
| 5 | Minnesota profile | $41.80 | $86,940 | $64,360 | $138,760 | 220 | 0.08 | 0.25 |
| 6 | California profile | $41.26 | $85,830 | $49,350 | $142,610 | ** | ** | ** |
| 7 | Washington profile | $41.17 | $85,630 | $52,700 | $147,930 | 1,080 | 0.30 | 1.01 |
| 8 | Alaska profile | $40.87 | $85,000 | $50,760 | $129,410 | 110 | 0.34 | 1.13 |
| 9 | New Hampshire profile | $39.85 | $82,890 | $57,960 | $179,960 | 130 | 0.19 | 0.63 |
| 10 | Delaware profile | $39.03 | $81,170 | $51,920 | $133,340 | 290 | 0.60 | 1.99 |
| 11 | Rhode Island profile | $38.15 | $79,350 | $55,590 | $117,210 | 90 | 0.18 | 0.58 |
| 12 | Massachusetts profile | $37.42 | $77,830 | $53,330 | $161,540 | ** | ** | ** |
| 13 | New York profile | $36.79 | $76,520 | $49,940 | $154,290 | 1,760 | 0.18 | 0.60 |
| 14 | Pennsylvania profile | $36.15 | $75,190 | $38,420 | $185,100 | 970 | 0.16 | 0.53 |
| 15 | Maine profile | $34.67 | $72,110 | $52,580 | $113,960 | ** | ** | ** |
| 16 | Missouri profile | $33.34 | $69,350 | $46,090 | $107,800 | 370 | 0.13 | 0.42 |
| 17 | Nebraska profile | $33.18 | $69,010 | $56,200 | $95,200 | 160 | 0.16 | 0.53 |
| 18 | Kentucky profile | $32.80 | $68,220 | $46,360 | $133,910 | 180 | 0.09 | 0.31 |
| 19 | Ohio profile | $32.32 | $67,230 | $39,940 | $169,690 | 690 | 0.12 | 0.41 |
| 20 | Colorado profile | $32.05 | $66,660 | $45,220 | $146,990 | 2,000 | 0.70 | 2.31 |
| 21 | Michigan profile | $31.86 | $66,280 | $38,920 | $174,800 | 1,020 | 0.23 | 0.77 |
| 22 | Vermont profile | $31.78 | $66,100 | $29,930 | $139,240 | 70 | 0.22 | 0.74 |
| 23 | Idaho profile | $31.00 | $64,480 | $48,410 | $169,670 | 60 | 0.07 | 0.22 |
| 24 | Utah profile | $30.95 | $64,380 | $44,950 | $174,800 | 280 | 0.16 | 0.54 |
| 25 | Illinois profile | $30.41 | $63,250 | $37,740 | $103,010 | 3,010 | 0.49 | 1.64 |
| 26 | North Carolina profile | $30.37 | $63,170 | $43,220 | $185,100 | 1,000 | 0.20 | 0.67 |
| 27 | Arizona profile | $30.36 | $63,160 | $49,040 | $105,370 | ** | ** | ** |
| 28 | Texas profile | $30.36 | $63,140 | $40,650 | $143,580 | 2,900 | 0.21 | 0.69 |
| 29 | Wisconsin profile | $30.35 | $63,130 | $47,900 | $105,210 | 390 | 0.13 | 0.44 |
| 30 | Hawaii profile | $30.06 | $62,530 | $52,960 | $142,080 | 200 | 0.33 | 1.09 |
| 31 | Oregon profile | $29.26 | $60,860 | $37,220 | $127,590 | 520 | 0.27 | 0.88 |
| 32 | Nevada profile | $29.24 | $60,820 | $43,850 | $84,070 | 1,080 | 0.70 | 2.32 |
| 33 | Georgia profile | $29.15 | $60,620 | $41,710 | $120,680 | 1,370 | 0.28 | 0.93 |
| 34 | Tennessee profile | $28.18 | $58,610 | $37,440 | $100,030 | ** | ** | ** |
| 35 | New Mexico profile | $27.78 | $57,780 | $40,770 | $169,670 | 120 | 0.14 | 0.45 |
| 36 | Indiana profile | $27.40 | $56,990 | $23,390 | $134,170 | 550 | 0.17 | 0.57 |
| 37 | Florida profile | $27.35 | $56,880 | $40,170 | $147,520 | ** | ** | ** |
| 38 | Mississippi profile | $26.89 | $55,930 | $37,130 | $88,210 | 100 | 0.09 | 0.29 |
| 39 | West Virginia profile | $26.87 | $55,890 | $31,890 | $174,800 | 160 | 0.23 | 0.77 |
| 40 | Montana profile | $26.85 | $55,850 | $44,490 | $155,080 | 190 | 0.37 | 1.24 |
| 41 | Oklahoma profile | $26.60 | $55,330 | $35,540 | $83,790 | 160 | 0.10 | 0.32 |
| 42 | North Dakota profile | $25.95 | $53,980 | $36,770 | $95,930 | 50 | 0.11 | 0.36 |
| 43 | Louisiana profile | $24.63 | $51,230 | $33,430 | $105,490 | 1,200 | 0.62 | 2.07 |
| 44 | Arkansas profile | $21.48 | $44,670 | $35,010 | $72,040 | 290 | 0.22 | 0.73 |
| 45 | Iowa profile | $21.38 | $44,470 | $38,670 | $69,530 | 760 | 0.49 | 1.61 |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (23-2090), with their national median annual wage.
Part of Legal Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 23-2099 Legal Support Workers, All Other.
**- Employment estimate not available.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 23-2099, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 23-2099.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.