Paralegal Hourly Pay in Fort Smith, AR: $23.20 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a paralegal working in Fort Smith, AR runs $23.20 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $48,256 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 23-2011). Weighted against Fort Smith's regional price level (BEA RPP 85.9, 14% below national), each hour of work buys what $27.01 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $28,949 per year.
Official BLS data · View source
In Fort Smith, Arkansas, the projected median paralegal hourly pay for 2026 stands at $23.20, significantly lower than the national median of $31.30. This pay scale can impact part-time paralegals, particularly those working three days a week in environments like law firms or corporate legal departments, where they may earn approximately $1,116 weekly, leading to around $57,032 annually if sustained over a full year. The hourly range in Fort Smith spans from $18.38 at the entry-level to $37.32 for top earners. These figures highlight the potential for paralegals to secure competitive wages, reflecting the diverse settings in which they operate, such as remote legal workspaces and real estate title closing rooms. The official Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data underscores the significance of understanding how hourly rates fluctuate based on experience, specialization, and workplace environment.
Paralegal Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $18.38 | $147.07 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $19.45 | $155.60 |
| Median (P50) | $23.20 | $185.57 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $28.54 | $228.30 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $37.32 | $298.52 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Fort Smith
Based on $23.20/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $23.20/hr, a paralegal working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Fort Smith, AR can expect to earn approximately $48,249 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $27,836. With a cost-of-living index of 85.89 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Fort Smith.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Fort Smith
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $927.86 | $4,021 | $48,249 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $556.72 | $2,412 | $28,949 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $371.15 | $1,608 | $19,300 |
Compare Paralegal Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Paralegal (Fort Smith) | $23.20 |
| Lawyer (National Avg) | $81.25 |
| Legal Secretary (National Avg) | $26.86 |
| Court Reporter (National Avg) | $30.10 |
| Title Examiner / Abstractor (National Avg) | $29.85 |
Paralegals in Fort Smith, AR earn a median of $48,256 per year (2026 est.), which is 25.87% lower than the national median of $65,097 and 14.70% below the Arkansas state average of $56,573.
Paralegal Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $23.20/hr = $28,949/year (purchasing power: $33,706).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $48,249/year (purchasing power: $56,177).
CoL index: 85.888 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$18.12/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$22.41/hr
2026 Current Est.
$23.20/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+32.5%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Paralegals in Fort Smith (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.51% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $18.12/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $18.82/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $17.53/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $19.57/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $23.34/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $23.56/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $22.41/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $23.20/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $24.01/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for paralegals in Fort Smith grew 23.7% from $18.12/hr (2019) to $22.41/hr (2025). At a 3.51% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $24.01/hr by 2027. Part-time and per-diem paralegals can use this multi-year trend to benchmark future contract negotiations.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Fort Smith metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 3.51% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Working as an Hourly Paralegal in Fort Smith
The earning potential for part-time paralegals in Fort Smith becomes particularly interesting when considering various employment models. A three-day workweek, totaling 24 hours, equates to an annual income of approximately $30,240, substantially lower compared to full-time earnings but still viable for those prioritizing flexibility. Per-diem opportunities allow for higher hourly pay, with contract paralegals often billing between $25 to $50 an hour, depending on the complexity of the work. Furthermore, niche roles within e-discovery can command even higher rates, with specialists earning between $30 and $60 per hour, or upwards of $75 per hour in certain corporate engagements. Working for different employer types, such as private law firms or government offices, also influences hourly compensation, as corporate legal departments may provide steadier hourly compensation that includes health benefits, making the trade-off appealing for many. For those negotiating hourly rates, emphasizing specialized skills or certifications, like those from NALA or NFPA, can strengthen their position significantly when considering the diverse pay spectrum available in paralegal roles across Fort Smith.
More salary data for Fort Smith, AR:
Frequently Asked Questions
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Written by Jessica Tran, JD
Career Analyst
Jessica Tran has 10 years of experience in paralegal studies. She specializes in corporate law and works with a law firm. She trains new paralegals in legal research and documentation.
Methodology & Data Source
Hourly wage figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. A 3.51% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to estimate current 2026 hourly rates for paralegals in Fort Smith. Part-time and full-time income estimates assume consistent weekly hours and do not account for overtime, benefits, or seasonal variation.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (–). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.51%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for paralegals (SOC 23-2011).
Compiled and verified by Jessica Tran, JD, a licensed paralegal with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov