Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants earn $55,570 nationally at the median. The middle 50% of workers fall between $44,450 and $71,970. Where you land depends on specialization, employer, and experience.
Perform secretarial duties using legal terminology, procedures, and documents. Prepare legal papers and correspondence, such as summonses, complaints, motions, and subpoenas. May also assist with legal research.
Also known as:
Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants earn $55,570 nationally, near the national median for college graduates. The middle 50% of earners fall between $44,450 and $71,970. Actual pay varies by employer, specialization, and location.
Near the national median for college graduates.
25th to 75th percentile. Most workers earn within this band.
O*NET data identifies 5 core activities and 5 measurable skills for Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants roles. Use this section to judge whether the day-to-day reality aligns with what you actually want to spend time doing.
Success depends on precision and structured processes, where detail-oriented people who work consistently within established systems perform best.
Leadership, influence, and business acumen are rewarded here, where managing teams, driving decisions, or persuading others shapes career outcomes.
This career demands analytical thinking: researching problems, interpreting data, and applying logical reasoning to find practical solutions.
What the physical and mental conditions of this job actually look like day to day, based on O*NET Work Context data collected from people working in this occupation.
Split between indoor and outdoor or field settings.
Mix of sitting and movement throughout the day.
Moderate pressure. Regular deadlines exist but are generally manageable with experience.
The BLS projects -5.8% employment change for Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants through 2034, a declining trend, below the national average of +5%. About 19,600 openings per year keep the field accessible to new entrants.
Declining employment projected.
New positions plus replacements for retirees and career-changers.
Total US employment as of BLS May 2024.
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 and Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2024.
The five states below employ the most Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants professionals nationwide. State-level wages can differ significantly from the $55,570 national median. Research your specific market before committing to a program.
| # | State | Jobs | Median Wage | vs. National |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 23,960 | $61,320 | +10.3% |
| 2 | New York | 15,430 | $74,400 | +33.9% |
| 3 | Florida | 10,970 | $53,790 | -3.2% |
| 4 | Texas | 9,900 | $49,150 | -11.6% |
| 5 | Illinois | 8,860 | $58,070 | +4.5% |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024. Employment figures rounded. Read our methodology →
Most Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants positions require a high school diploma or equivalent to qualify. The program below is the most common academic pathways into this field, ranked by how many graduates they produce each year.
A medium amount of preparation is required, often an associate degree, certificate program, or apprenticeship, plus some related experience.
| # | Program | Graduates/yr | 4yr Median | Colleges |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Legal Support | 10,507 | $53,266 | 614 |
Colleges offering the degree programs that lead to this career, ranked by UCD Score. A strong program plus solid outcomes is a good place to begin your search.
| # | College | UCD Score | Net Price | Salary 10yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Victor Valley College Victorville, CA | 90 | $1,947 | $36,119 |
| 2 | De Anza College Cupertino, CA | 85 | $6,642 | $56,596 |
| 3 | Indian River State College Fort Pierce, FL | 84 | $3,815 | $38,315 |
| 4 | Miami Dade College Miami, FL | 84 | $5,463 | $40,654 |
| 5 | Irvine Valley College Irvine, CA | 83 | $2,090 | $49,156 |
| 6 | University of West Florida Pensacola, FL | 83 | $9,364 | $49,137 |
Once you've sized up Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, these tools turn the numbers into a plan. Estimate the real cost of a degree that leads here, weigh the long-term payoff, compare specific colleges side-by-side, and find programs that match your profile.
See if the degree that leads to Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants pays off. Weighs each college's cost against the earnings graduates see.
Enter a budget and see the colleges whose net price fits, with the out-of-pocket cost and likely loan load for each.
Put any 2–4 colleges side-by-side. Admissions, cost, outcomes, and earnings, all on one screen, no tab-hopping.
Answer six quick questions and see your best-fit colleges ranked by budget, field of study, and what matters most to you.
Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants has real financial strengths, but declining employment projections deserve careful consideration. The 2 upsides and 1 concerns below are all data-sourced.
Air traffic controllers earn more than the typical bachelor's-degree career, with an associate degree. The occupations that pay six figures without four years of college.
Group every career by the degree it requires and master's-level jobs pay a median of about $91,000, statistically tied with bachelor's-level work. The premium hides in a few fields.
Only 95 of 385 federal careers both pay a median above $80,000 and grow faster than the typical job. Here is the rare set that clears both bars.
Browse our full directory: every college, major, program, and career we track, all built from verified government data.
Scout uses AI and can make mistakes. Verify important numbers on the page.
