Occupational Employment Statistics

DETAILED OCCUPATION DATA

23-2011 Paralegals and Legal Assistants

Occupational Description:
Assist lawyers by investigating facts, preparing legal documents, or researching legal precedent. Conduct research to support a legal proceeding, to formulate a defense, or to initiate legal action. Excludes “Legal Secretaries” (43-6012).

Occupational Employment Statistics(OES) Wage Data
First Quarter 2026

Geography	Employment	Emp SE*	Percentiles
Geography	Employment	Emp SE*	Mean	10th	25th	Median	75th	90th
Minnesota	7,400	466	$36.56/hr	$23.59/hr	$27.79/hr	$37.35/hr	$41.23/hr	$50.87/hr

Leading Industries for Paralegals and Legal Assistants

Industry	OES Employment (Statewide)	OES Median Wage (Statewide)
Construction	N/A	N/A
Manufacturing	40	$53.20/hr
Trade, Transportation and Utilities	50	$52.21/hr
Information	N/A	N/A
Financial Activities	470	$53.61/hr
Professional and Business Services	5,720	$33.62/hr
Education and Health Services	30	$40.44/hr
Leisure and Hospitality	N/A	N/A
Other Services	30	$32.44/hr
Public Administration	1,040	$38.50/hr

Other Regional Data for Paralegals and Legal Assistants

Geography	Employment	Median Wage	Projections % Change 2022-2032
Northeast Balance of State	40	$28.25/hr	N/A
Southwest Balance of State	100	$30.79/hr	N/A
La Crosse WI-MN MSA	100	$24.58/hr	N/A
Mankato-North Mankato MN MSA	100	$29.40/hr	N/A
Grand Forks ND-MN MSA	110	$24.36/hr	N/A
Duluth MN-WI MSA	180	$28.56/hr	N/A
Southeast Balance of State	190	$31.64/hr	N/A
Northeast Minnesota	190	$29.62/hr	3.5%
Rochester MN MSA	200	$30.26/hr	N/A
St Cloud MN MSA	210	$29.60/hr	N/A
Southwest Minnesota	220	$29.89/hr	4.7%
Northwest Balance of State	250	$30.38/hr	N/A
Northwest Minnesota	300	$29.57/hr	2.7%
Fargo ND-MN MSA	310	$28.44/hr	N/A
Southeast Minnesota	350	$31.09/hr	3.5%
Central Minnesota	380	$30.56/hr	3.8%
Seven County Mpls-St Paul, MN	5,770	$37.67/hr	3.2%
Minneapolis-St Paul-Bloomington MN-WI MSA	5,990	$37.67/hr	N/A
Minnesota	7,400	$37.35/hr	3.5%

Related Occupations

Occupations	Employment	Median Wage	Projections % Change 2022-2032
Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants	2,410	$31.10/hr	-22.0%
Compliance Officers	6,140	$42.00/hr	5.9%
Correspondence Clerks	N/A	N/A	N/A
Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants	7,970	$38.62/hr	-20.3%
Court, Municipal, and License Clerks	5,360	$27.82/hr	3.9%
Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks	2,790	$30.18/hr	-15.1%
Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and Timekeeping	3,380	$26.83/hr	-4.1%
Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs	2,910	$30.91/hr	5.3%
Insurance Claims and Policy Processing Clerks	3,580	$28.56/hr	-1.7%
Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers	560	$28.79/hr	-4.3%

Task for Paralegals and Legal Assistants

Meet with clients and other professionals to discuss details of case.
Gather and analyze research data, such as statutes, decisions, and legal articles, codes, and documents.
Prepare affidavits or other documents, such as legal correspondence, and organize and maintain documents in paper or electronic filing system.
Prepare legal documents, including briefs, pleadings, appeals, wills, contracts, and real estate closing statements.
File pleadings with court clerk.
Direct and coordinate law office activity, including delivery of subpoenas.
Prepare affidavits or other documents, such as legal correspondence, and organize and maintain documents in paper or electronic filing system.
Direct and coordinate law office activity, including delivery of subpoenas.
Investigate facts and law of cases and search pertinent sources, such as public records and internet sources, to determine causes of action and to prepare cases.
Meet with clients and other professionals to discuss details of case.