DETAILED OCCUPATION DATA

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 and Administrative Assistants" (43-6012).

Occupational Employment Statistics(OES) Wage Data
Wages Updated to First Quarter, 2020

					Percentiles
Geography	Employment	Emp SE*	Mean	Mean SE*	10th	25th	Median	75th	90th
Minnesota	5,580	407	$27.88/hr	$0.50/hr	$16.65/hr	$20.04/hr	$26.80/hr	$33.72/hr	$41.01/hr
U S	329,870	3,629	$26.72/hr	$0.13/hr	$15.62/hr	$19.19/hr	$25.13/hr	$31.87/hr	$40.07/hr
*SE = Standard error, a measure of the statistical reliability of the estimate.

Leading Industries for Paralegals and Legal Assistants Industry OES Employment OES Median Wage Professional and Business Services 4,410 $25.77/hr Public Administration 780 $28.01/hr Financial Activities 200 $30.34/hr Manufacturing 110 N/A Education and Health Services 30 $35.41/hr Trade, Transportation and Utilities 10 $30.67/hr

Other Regional Data For Paralegals and Legal Assistants Geography (click title for details) OES Projections Employment Median Wage % Change 2022 - 2032 Minnesota 5,580 $26.80/hr 3.5% Minneapolis-St Paul-Bloomington MN-WI MSA 4,420 $28.22/hr N/A Seven County Mpls-St Paul, MN 4,340 $28.35/hr 3.2% Central Minnesota 310 $23.11/hr 3.8% Southeast Minnesota 290 $23.56/hr 3.5% Northwest Balance of State 270 $21.24/hr N/A Southeast Balance of State 250 $23.28/hr N/A Fargo ND-MN MSA 210 $23.68/hr N/A Southwest Minnesota 200 $21.87/hr 4.7% St Cloud MN MSA 150 $23.06/hr N/A Northwest Minnesota 140 $21.56/hr 2.7% Duluth MN-WI MSA 130 $22.33/hr N/A Northeast Minnesota 130 $24.61/hr 3.5% Rochester MN MSA 120 $22.72/hr N/A Southwest Balance of State 100 $20.30/hr N/A Mankato-North Mankato MN MSA 80 $24.06/hr N/A La Crosse WI-MN MSA 80 $20.91/hr N/A Grand Forks ND-MN MSA 70 $21.17/hr N/A Northeast Balance of State 60 $23.14/hr N/A

Related Occupations

Occupation (click title for details)	OES		Projections
	Employment	Median Wage	% Change 2022 - 2032
Lawyers	11,420	$53.91/hr	7.4%
Court, Municipal, and License Clerks	7,290	$22.84/hr	3.9%
Loan Interviewers and Clerks	5,760	$20.35/hr	-3.2%
Legal Secretaries	3,390	$25.75/hr	-22.0%
Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers	1,600	$26.42/hr	-4.3%
Tax Preparers	1,350	$26.02/hr	1.7%

• Prepares legal documents, including briefs, pleadings, appeals, wills, contracts, and real estate closing statements.
• Investigates facts and law of cases to determine causes of action and to prepare cases.
• Appraises and inventories real and personal property for estate planning.
• Calls upon witnesses to testify at hearing.
• Arbitrates disputes between parties and assists in real estate closing process.
• Presents arguments and evidence to support appeal at appeal hearing.
• Keeps and monitors legal volumes to ensure that law library is up-to-date.
• Directs and coordinates law office activity, including delivery of subpoenas.
• Answers questions regarding legal issues pertaining to civil service hearings.
• Prepares affidavits or other documents, maintains document file, and files pleadings with court clerk.
• Gathers and analyzes research data, such as statutes, decisions, and legal articles, codes, and documents.