Paralegals and Legal Assistants pay range in Appleton
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $45,970 a year or less, while the top 10% make $76,640 or more. The middle half of paralegals and legal assistants in Appleton earn between $46,700 and $63,270.
- $46K10th
- $47K25th
- $57KMedian
- $63K75th
- $77K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $57,370 | $4,781 | $27.58 |
| Median | $57,450 | $4,788 | $27.62 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $46,700 | $3,892 | $22.45 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $63,270 | $5,272 | $30.42 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Paralegals and Legal Assistants pay in Appleton vs. Wisconsin and the U.S.
Paralegals and legal assistants in Appleton earn 6% less than the Wisconsin average ($61,270) and 18% less than the U.S. average ($69,700). At the median the gap is -9% against the U.S. median of $62,890.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Appleton | $57,370 | $57,450 | $45,970 | $76,640 | 180 |
| Wisconsin | $61,270 | $58,500 | $45,220 | $86,210 | 4,780 |
| United States | $69,700 | $62,890 | $44,740 | $101,500 | 392,880 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Paralegals and Legal Assistants salary after taxes in Appleton
On the average salary of $57,370, a single filer in Appleton takes home about $46,337 a year, or $3,861 a month and $1,782 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Appleton a good place for paralegals and legal assistants? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Appleton area are 8% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.4), so the average $57,370 buys what about $62,076 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Appleton ($49,910). A typical home costs $350,370, or 6.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Paralegals and Legal Assistants salary in other Wisconsin cities
Appleton ranks 6th of 13 Wisconsin metro areas for this job; Milwaukee pays the most ($64,370).
Highest-paying cities for paralegals and legal assistants
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($103,080).
- San Jose, CA$103,080
- San Francisco, CA$92,830
- Seattle, WA$92,230
- Washington, DC$87,900
- Denver, CO$85,240
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Paralegals and Legal Assistants salary in Appleton: questions
How much do paralegals and legal assistants make an hour in Appleton?
$27.58 an hour on average, and $27.62 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level paralegals and legal assistants salary in Appleton?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $45,970 a year and the 25th percentile is $46,700, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the paralegals and legal assistants take-home pay in Appleton?
About $46,337 a year ($3,861 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $57,370.
Do paralegals and legal assistants earn more in Appleton than elsewhere?
The average here is 18% less than the U.S. average for this job ($69,700).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 23-2011; area Appleton, WI (11540). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.6%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.57, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.57).
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