Paralegal Hourly Pay in Lawrence, KS: $26.14 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a paralegal working in Lawrence, KS runs $26.14 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $54,374 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 23-2011). Weighted against Lawrence's regional price level (BEA RPP 90.2, 10% below national), each hour of work buys what $28.96 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $32,618 per year.
Official BLS data · View source
Paralegals in Lawrence, KS, earn a median hourly rate of $26.14, which reflects a significant gap compared to the national median of $31.30. This hourly compensation is critical for those working part-time schedules, such as those on a three-day workweek, where they manage to strike a balance between professional responsibilities and personal time. In typical work environments—ranging from law firm cubicles to corporate legal departments and even remote e-discovery tasks—hourly compensation varies from $18.78 for entry-level positions to $31.29 for experienced professionals. The official Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data highlights this spectrum, indicating a competitive market for paralegals, despite the lower pay scale compared to national averages.
Paralegal Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $18.78 | $150.21 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $20.91 | $167.27 |
| Median (P50) | $26.14 | $209.09 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $31.01 | $248.09 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $31.29 | $250.33 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Lawrence
Based on $26.14/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $26.14/hr, a paralegal working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Lawrence, KS can expect to earn approximately $54,363 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $31,364. With a cost-of-living index of 90.24 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Lawrence.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Lawrence
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $1,045.45 | $4,530 | $54,363 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $627.27 | $2,718 | $32,618 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $418.18 | $1,812 | $21,745 |
Compare Paralegal Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Paralegal (Lawrence) | $26.14 |
| 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 Lawrence, KS earn a median of $54,374 per year (2026 est.), which is 16.47% lower than the national median of $65,097 and 8.10% below the Kansas state average of $59,166.
Paralegal Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $26.14/hr = $32,618/year (purchasing power: $36,145).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $54,363/year (purchasing power: $60,241).
CoL index: 90.243 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$19.02/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$25.25/hr
2026 Current Est.
$26.14/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+42.2%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Paralegals in Lawrence (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.51% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $19.02/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $18.72/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $22.13/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $23.29/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $23.74/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $22.84/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $25.25/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $26.14/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $27.05/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for paralegals in Lawrence grew 32.8% from $19.02/hr (2019) to $25.25/hr (2025). At a 3.51% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $27.05/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 Lawrence 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 Lawrence
Considering part-time earnings, a paralegal working 24 hours a week in Lawrence would take home approximately $32,646 annually, which is substantially less than full-time paralegals. For those engaged in per-diem contracts, the pay can range from $25 to $50 per hour, with specialized roles like e-discovery review commanding $30 to $60 per hour. Freelance corporate paralegals sometimes see rates between $40 and $75, while contract paralegals involved in trial preparation can earn $50 to $90 per hour during busy litigation periods. The kind of employer influences hourly compensation significantly, whether in a large law firm, a corporate legal office, or government positions, as the varying benefits often accompany lower hourly wages. Many paralegals must weigh these benefits against higher pay rates that may offer no health coverage. Negotiating pay effectively in Lawrence can be vital; understanding local market trends, knowing your worth, and aligning with recognized national standards from organizations like NALA or NFPA can all help secure a better hourly rate.
More salary data for Lawrence, KS:
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 Lawrence. 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