Paralegal Hourly Pay in St. Joseph, MO: $24.76 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a paralegal working in St. Joseph, MO runs $24.76 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $51,507 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 23-2011). Weighted against St. Joseph's regional price level (BEA RPP 86.4, 14% below national), each hour of work buys what $28.66 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $30,900 per year.
Official BLS data · View source
In St. Joseph, Missouri, paralegals earn a median hourly pay of $24.76, which is significantly lower than the national median of $31.30 per hour. This wage provides a stable income for those in various settings, whether they are employed in law firm cubicles, corporate legal departments, or even remote positions focused on e-discovery reviews. With an hourly range spanning from $19.51 for entry-level roles to $37.64 for experienced professionals, this pay structure allows for flexible employment options. Part-time paralegals, working about three days a week, can still expect a reasonable paycheck while balancing their commitments outside of work, whether they aim for consistent part-time work or seek per-diem opportunities in busy legal environments.
Paralegal Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $19.51 | $156.09 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $23.81 | $190.46 |
| Median (P50) | $24.76 | $198.08 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $30.90 | $247.18 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $37.64 | $301.09 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in St. Joseph
Based on $24.76/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $24.76/hr, a paralegal working full-time (40 hr/wk) in St. Joseph, MO can expect to earn approximately $51,500 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $29,712. With a cost-of-living index of 86.38 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in St. Joseph.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in St. Joseph
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $990.38 | $4,292 | $51,500 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $594.23 | $2,575 | $30,900 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $396.15 | $1,717 | $20,600 |
Compare Paralegal Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Paralegal (St. Joseph) | $24.76 |
| 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 St. Joseph, MO earn a median of $51,507 per year (2026 est.), which is 20.88% lower than the national median of $65,097 and 0.90% above the Missouri state average of $51,047.
Paralegal Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $24.76/hr = $30,900/year (purchasing power: $35,771).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $51,500/year (purchasing power: $59,619).
CoL index: 86.382 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$19.68/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$23.92/hr
2026 Current Est.
$24.76/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+30.2%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Paralegals in St. Joseph (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.51% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $19.68/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $15.30/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $22.20/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $22.17/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $23.38/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $23.14/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $23.92/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $24.76/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $25.63/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for paralegals in St. Joseph grew 21.6% from $19.68/hr (2019) to $23.92/hr (2025). At a 3.51% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $25.63/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 St. Joseph 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 St. Joseph
Considering the diverse contexts in which paralegals operate, those working part-time in St. Joseph typically earn substantial income, even if they don't match full-time salaries. A paralegal on a 24-hour work week could realistically bring in a stable income over the year, even if it is proportionately lower than their full-time counterparts. Freelance and contract paralegal roles can also vastly vary; per diem paralegals can receive between $25 and $75 per hour, depending on their specialization and client demands. Legal firms, corporate legal departments, and government entities each offer different earning potentials, reflecting the trade-off between hourly rate and job benefits such as healthcare and paid leave. Negotiating hourly pay effectively involves understanding the specific higher and lower ends of the scale depending on the employer type, which can significantly influence earning potential in this profession across St. Joseph.
More salary data for St. Joseph, MO:
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 St. Joseph. 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, 6-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