Paralegal Salary in Akron, OH: $62,406 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time paralegal in Akron, OH earns a median $62,406/year (≈ $30.01/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 23-2011). Once you factor in Akron's price level (7% below national, BEA RPP 93.4), that paycheck buys what $66,837 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 3.6% above the Ohio state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In 2026, paralegals in Akron, Ohio are projected to see a median annual salary of $62,406, which is slightly lower than the national median of $65,097. The salary range for this profession spans from $44,509 at the 10th percentile to $89,453 at the 90th percentile, reflecting the pay disparities often assigned based on firm size and type. Differences in compensation are influenced by the structures of law firms, with larger firms typically offering higher pay compared to mid-market or smaller firms. Additionally, this data, derived from 2025 BLS OEWS surveys, indicates a competitive local job market, positioning paralegals well within the broader legal landscape in Akron.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $44,509 | $21.40 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $50,865 | $24.46 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $62,406 | $30.01 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $78,254 | $37.63 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $89,453 | $43.01 |
Median Salary Position
4.13% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Akron
In Akron, OH, the paralegal salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $44,944 (2026 est.). At $62,406, the local median is 4.13% below the national median of $65,097.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Akron: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Akron Paralegal Pay Compares
Akron median: $62,406/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Akron Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Ohio Average | $60,238 | +3.60% more |
| National Average | $65,097 | -4.13% less |
Paralegals in Akron, OH earn a median of $62,406 per year (2026 est.), which is 4.13% lower than the national median of $65,097 and 3.60% above the Ohio state average of $60,238.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Akron has a cost of living 6.63% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Akron, OH has a cost-of-living index of 93.37 (below the national average of 100). A paralegal earning $62,406 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $66,837 in an average-cost city — an effective 7.1% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$50,070
2025 BLS Actual
$60,290
2026 Current Est.
$62,406
2019–2027 Growth
+29.0%
Salary Trajectory for Paralegals in Akron (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.51% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $50,070 | Actual |
| 2020 | $52,290 | Actual |
| 2021 | $45,690 | Actual |
| 2022 | $49,080 | Actual |
| 2023 | $48,230 | Actual |
| 2024 | $57,420 | Actual |
| 2025 | $60,290 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $62,406 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $64,597 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Akron metropolitan area, the median paralegal salary grew 20.4% from $50,070 (2019) to $60,290 (2025). At a 3.51% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $64,597 by 2027 — a total increase of $14,527 (29.01%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Akron 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) | $44,509 – $50,865 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $50,865 – $62,406 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $62,406 – $78,254 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $78,254 – $89,453 |
Paralegal salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual paralegal compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Paralegal Job Market in Akron
The job market for paralegals in Akron features approximately 410 professionals, a figure that suggests a stable demand for legal support roles within the region. With a cost-of-living index of 93.37, which is below the national average, paralegals may find their take-home pay stretches further compared to other areas. Prominent employers in the region include mid-sized law firms and corporate legal departments that tend to offer competitive salaries. Factors contributing to wage variation include firm size, legal specialty—such as e-discovery, corporate, or litigation— and credentials from organizations like NALA or NFPA. Paralegals seeking to maximize their earnings may benefit from specializing in high-demand areas or acquiring certifications, as bilingual skills in languages like Spanish or Mandarin can also command a premium in a diverse workplace.
More salary data for Akron, OH:
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 $60,290 for paralegalsin the Akron 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