Paralegal Hourly Pay in Madison, WI: $30.26 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a paralegal working in Madison, WI runs $30.26 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $62,934 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 23-2011). Weighted against Madison's regional price level (BEA RPP 97.3, 3% below national), each hour of work buys what $31.10 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $37,759 per year.
Official BLS data · View source
In Madison, Wisconsin, the projected paralegal hourly pay for 2026 is $30.26, which is slightly below the national average hourly rate of $31.30. This median rate positions paralegals in various practice settings—from law firms to corporate legal departments—favorably for part-time schedules or per-diem assignments. Working three days a week, a part-time paralegal could typically expect a stable income while enjoying flexible hours. Entry-level positions may start around $23.65 per hour, while experienced paralegals can earn up to $41.19 per hour, allowing for a range of earning potentials that appeal to a spectrum of professionals within this field. This data reflects the official Bureau of Labor Statistics figures, helping prospective candidates in Madison make informed decisions about their career paths.
Paralegal Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $23.65 | $189.22 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $24.07 | $192.53 |
| Median (P50) | $30.26 | $242.05 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $36.84 | $294.71 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $41.19 | $329.49 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Madison
Based on $30.26/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $30.26/hr, a paralegal working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Madison, WI can expect to earn approximately $62,932 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $36,307. With a cost-of-living index of 97.29 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Madison.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Madison
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $1,210.24 | $5,244 | $62,932 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $726.14 | $3,147 | $37,759 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $484.10 | $2,098 | $25,173 |
Compare Paralegal Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Paralegal (Madison) | $30.26 |
| 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 Madison, WI earn a median of $62,934 per year (2026 est.), which is 3.32% lower than the national median of $65,097 and 18.00% above the Wisconsin state average of $53,334.
Paralegal Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $30.26/hr = $37,759/year (purchasing power: $38,812).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $62,932/year (purchasing power: $64,687).
CoL index: 97.287 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$27.69/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$29.23/hr
2026 Current Est.
$30.26/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+13.1%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Paralegals in Madison (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.51% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $27.69/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $27.59/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $23.68/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $26.10/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $28.66/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $28.69/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $29.23/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $30.26/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $31.32/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for paralegals in Madison grew 5.6% from $27.69/hr (2019) to $29.23/hr (2025). At a 3.51% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $31.32/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 Madison 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 Madison
When considering part-time work in Madison, a paralegal working 24 hours weekly can expect to take home around $37,668 annually compared to full-time counterparts. Contract and freelance work, including per-diem arrangements, often come with varied pay scales, with agency positions generally billing $25 to $50 per hour. In the e-discovery space, specialization may boost compensation significantly, with rates ranging from $30 to $60 per hour. Law firms, whether large or boutique, typically offer different hourly rates based on their size and case complexity. While some paralegals might sacrifice higher hourly wages for benefits like health insurance with traditional employers, others may prefer the flexibility of freelance roles. When negotiating hourly pay in Madison, it’s crucial to understand local market rates and emphasize any specialized training or certifications from recognized institutions like NALA or NFPA, especially for roles demanding niche skills in e-discovery and litigation support.
More salary data for Madison, WI:
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 Madison. 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