Paralegal Salary in Belleville, IL: $59,228 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time paralegal in Belleville, IL earns a median $59,228/year (≈ $28.48/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 23-2011). Once you factor in Belleville's price level (3% below national, BEA RPP 97.1), that paycheck buys what $60,997 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 4.6% below the Illinois state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
Projected for 2026, an appealing median annual salary of $59,228 reflects the demand for paralegals in Belleville, Illinois. With a potential pay range from $44,474 at the lower end to $91,804 for more experienced and specialized roles, paralegals can find lucrative opportunities in the area. Those adept in e-discovery, particularly with software like Relativity, may benefit from significant salary premiums. These estimates are derived from state-level data provided by BLS, adjusted to account for the local cost of living, which impacts overall compensation in Belleville's legal sector. Given the current trends, those seeking careers in paralegal positions in Belleville can find a supportive job market that may reward advanced skills, particularly in specialized areas of law.
About the Belleville Market
Salary estimated from Illinois average ($64,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $44,474 | $21.39 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $48,451 | $23.29 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $59,228 | $28.48 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $74,393 | $35.76 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $91,804 | $44.14 |
Median Salary Position
9.02% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Belleville
In Belleville, IL, the paralegal salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $47,330 (2026 est.). At $59,228, the local median is 9.02% below the national median of $65,097.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Belleville: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Belleville Paralegal Pay Compares
Belleville median: $59,228/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Belleville Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Illinois Average | $62,084 | -4.60% less |
| National Average | $65,097 | -9.02% less |
Paralegals in Belleville, IL earn a median of $59,228 per year (2026 est.), which is 9.02% lower than the national median of $65,097 and 4.60% below the Illinois state average of $62,084.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Belleville has a cost of living 2.90% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Belleville, IL has a cost-of-living index of 97.1 (below the national average of 100). A paralegal earning $59,228 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $60,997 in an average-cost city — an effective 2.99% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$47,075
2025 BLS Actual
$57,220
2026 Current Est.
$59,228
2019–2027 Growth
+30.2%
Salary Trajectory for Paralegals in Belleville (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.51% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $47,075 | Actual |
| 2020 | $48,149 | Actual |
| 2021 | $51,160 | Actual |
| 2022 | $53,863 | Actual |
| 2023 | $55,473 | Actual |
| 2024 | $59,274 | Actual |
| 2025 | $57,220 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $59,228 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $61,307 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Belleville metropolitan area, the median paralegal salary grew 21.6% from $47,075 (2019) to $57,220 (2025). At a 3.51% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $61,307 by 2027 — a total increase of $14,232 (30.23%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Belleville 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.
Salary by Experience Level
| Experience | Estimated Salary Range |
|---|---|
| 0-2 years (New Graduate) | $44,474 – $48,451 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $48,451 – $59,228 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $59,228 – $74,393 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $74,393 – $91,804 |
Paralegal salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual paralegal compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Paralegal Job Market in Belleville
In the local job market, there are currently just 10 paralegals employed, suggesting a close-knit community potentially offering ample networking opportunities but limited competition. The cost of living in Belleville is relatively low with a CoL index of 97.1, providing workers with solid purchasing power for their salary. Employers such as mid-size law firms and in-house corporate legal departments often offer the most competitive pay in the region; however, larger firms and specialized corporate positions can yield higher compensation due to the increased demands associated with those roles. Variance in paralegal pay can also be affected by factors such as certification through NALA or NFPA, area of specialty, and multilingual capabilities, such as proficiency in Spanish or Mandarin. To maximize pay in Belleville, aspiring paralegals should focus on gaining certifications, pursuing in-demand specialties like e-discovery, and leveraging networking opportunities to connect with prospective employers.
More salary data for Belleville, IL:
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
Salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. The BLS reported a median annual salary of $57,220 for paralegalsin the Belleville metropolitan area. A 3.51% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 compensation. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.
Data Sources & Methodology
Salary data for Belleville is estimated from official BLS state-level occupational wage data (2025), adjusted for regional cost-of-living differences using BEA RPP (Regional Price Parities).
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