Paralegal Salary in Lawrence, KS: $54,374 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time paralegal in Lawrence, KS earns a median $54,374/year (≈ $26.14/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 23-2011). Once you factor in Lawrence's price level (10% below national, BEA RPP 90.2), that paycheck buys what $60,253 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 8.1% below the Kansas state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In 2026, paralegals in Lawrence, Kansas, can expect a median annual salary of $54,374, which lags behind the national figure of $65,097. This local compensation reflects a salary range from $39,044 at the lower end to $65,097 at the higher percentiles, illustrating the diversity within the profession. This data comes from statistics based on 2025 BLS OEWS data, projected to 2026. Within the local job market, many paralegals find themselves weighing the benefits of working in law firms, which might offer higher pay, against the more favorable work-life balance often found in corporate legal environments. Employers vary significantly, with larger firms and specialized areas often providing better financial incentives, yet those who choose in-house corporate legal positions may exchange some salary for more predictable hours and less intense workloads.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $39,044 | $18.78 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $43,495 | $20.91 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $54,374 | $26.14 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $64,497 | $31.01 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $65,097 | $31.29 |
Median Salary Position
16.47% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Lawrence
In Lawrence, KS, the paralegal salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $26,053 (2026 est.). At $54,374, the local median is 16.47% below the national median of $65,097.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Lawrence: You'd be above the median
How Lawrence Paralegal Pay Compares
Lawrence median: $54,374/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Lawrence Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Kansas Average | $59,166 | -8.10% less |
| National Average | $65,097 | -16.47% less |
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.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Lawrence has a cost of living 9.76% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Lawrence, KS has a cost-of-living index of 90.243 (below the national average of 100). A paralegal earning $54,374 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $60,253 in an average-cost city — an effective 10.81% boost.
Compare Purchasing Power
Select a city to see how your salary compares after cost of living
Select a city above to compare purchasing power
2019 BLS Actual
$39,550
2025 BLS Actual
$52,530
2026 Current Est.
$54,374
2019–2027 Growth
+42.3%
Salary Trajectory for Paralegals in Lawrence (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.51% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $39,550 | Actual |
| 2020 | $38,930 | Actual |
| 2021 | $46,030 | Actual |
| 2022 | $48,450 | Actual |
| 2023 | $49,390 | Actual |
| 2024 | $47,510 | Actual |
| 2025 | $52,530 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $54,374 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $56,282 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Lawrence metropolitan area, the median paralegal salary grew 32.8% from $39,550 (2019) to $52,530 (2025). At a 3.51% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $56,282 by 2027 — a total increase of $16,732 (42.31%) from 2019.
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.
Salary by Experience Level
| Experience | Estimated Salary Range |
|---|---|
| 0-2 years (New Graduate) | $39,044 – $43,495 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $43,495 – $54,374 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $54,374 – $64,497 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $64,497 – $65,097 |
Paralegal salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual paralegal compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Paralegal Job Market in Lawrence
Lawrence's paralegal job market employs about 110 professionals, presenting a competitive landscape for job seekers. The cost-of-living index stands at 90.243, suggesting that while salaries may be lower than the national average, the purchasing power of paralegals is somewhat enhanced by lower living costs. Employers in Lawrence include various law firms, corporate legal departments, and government offices, with BigLaw firms typically offering the highest salaries. The disparity in pay can often be attributed to factors such as the type of employer, legal specialties (with e-discovery positions leading to the highest compensation rates), and certifications from respected organizations like NALA or NFPA. To maximize earnings, aspiring paralegals can focus on gaining relevant certifications and experience in high-demand areas, thus significantly improving their paralegal pay in Lawrence, KS.
More salary data for Lawrence, KS:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do paralegals make in Lawrence, KS in 2026?
Is Lawrence, KS a good place to work as a paralegal?
Can paralegals make $100K in Lawrence?
What is the cost-of-living adjusted paralegal salary in Lawrence?
How much does a paralegal make per hour in Lawrence?
Related Pages
Compare Salaries
Career Resources
Nearby Cities in Kansas
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 $52,530 for paralegalsin the Lawrence 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
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