Paralegal Salary in Richmond, VA: $65,149 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time paralegal in Richmond, VA earns a median $65,149/year (≈ $31.32/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 23-2011). Once you factor in Richmond's price level (2% below national, BEA RPP 97.9), that paycheck buys what $66,575 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 7.3% above the Virginia state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In Richmond, Virginia, the paralegal salary showcases solid growth potential with a projected median annual compensation of $65,149 for 2026, slightly ahead of the national median of $65,097. The salary range for paralegals in this area varies widely from $50,099 at the lower end (P10) to $95,188 at the upper end (P90), underscoring the influence of specialization, such as e-discovery, where professionals can command higher premiums due to their expertise in software like Relativity and Concordance. These figures are derived from official BLS OEWS surveys, highlighting Richmond's competitive job market for paralegals.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $50,099 | $24.09 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $54,943 | $26.42 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $65,149 | $31.32 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $79,796 | $38.36 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $95,188 | $45.76 |
Median Salary Position
0.08% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Richmond
In Richmond, VA, the paralegal salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $45,089 (2026 est.). At $65,149, the local median is 0.08% above the national median of $65,097.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Richmond: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Richmond Paralegal Pay Compares
Richmond median: $65,149/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Richmond Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia Average | $60,717 | +7.30% more |
| National Average | $65,097 | +0.08% more |
Paralegals in Richmond, VA earn a median of $65,149 per year (2026 est.), which is 0.08% higher than the national median of $65,097 and 7.30% above the Virginia state average of $60,717.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Richmond has a cost of living 2.14% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Richmond, VA has a cost-of-living index of 97.858 (below the national average of 100). A paralegal earning $65,149 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $66,575 in an average-cost city — an effective 2.19% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$47,910
2025 BLS Actual
$62,940
2026 Current Est.
$65,149
2019–2027 Growth
+40.8%
Salary Trajectory for Paralegals in Richmond (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.51% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $47,910 | Actual |
| 2020 | $49,690 | Actual |
| 2021 | $48,220 | Actual |
| 2022 | $54,240 | Actual |
| 2023 | $56,670 | Actual |
| 2024 | $58,990 | Actual |
| 2025 | $62,940 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $65,149 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $67,436 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Richmond metropolitan area, the median paralegal salary grew 31.4% from $47,910 (2019) to $62,940 (2025). At a 3.51% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $67,436 by 2027 — a total increase of $19,526 (40.76%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Richmond 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) | $50,099 – $54,943 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $54,943 – $65,149 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $65,149 – $79,796 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $79,796 – $95,188 |
Paralegal salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual paralegal compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Paralegal Job Market in Richmond
Currently, there are approximately 1,930 paralegals employed in Richmond, which indicates a robust job market amid a favorable cost of living index of 97.858, meaning that residents may enjoy greater purchasing power compared to national averages. Pay structure varies across different employers; typically, BigLaw firms offer the highest salaries, but with intense work hours, while in-house corporate legal departments provide a more balanced lifestyle with steady compensation. Factors contributing to the broad pay spectrum include firm size, area of specialization, and certification status from associations like NALA and NFPA. Paralegals looking to maximize their salary should consider pursuing additional certifications and focus on high-demand specialties like e-discovery, as well as staying informed about regional job openings to navigate the competitive landscape of paralegal pay in Richmond VA.
More salary data for Richmond, VA:
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 $62,940 for paralegalsin the Richmond 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