How much does a legal secretary make?
Answer: A typical legal secretary in the United States makes $55,570 a year (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Line up 100 people; this is the one in the middle (median). about 156,000 people work in this job. About the same as the US-wide typical pay ($50,980).
If 100 people had this job
Lowest at bottom-left, highest at top-rightHover over a person to see their yearly pay
Legal secretary pay in the United States (May 2025, median and spread)
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $36,500 | $55,570 | $91,730 | about 156,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $99,280 | about 2,000 |
| New York | $72,230 | about 10,000 |
| Connecticut | $66,220 | about 1,000 |
| Delaware | $66,130 | about 980 |
| Minnesota | $63,180 | about 2,000 |
Why does pay differ?
In the United States, more experience can bring higher pay, and wages also differ by location and employer type, such as a law firm, government office, or company. Extra legal knowledge may help someone take on more specialized work.
What if you lived in a different state?
Pay varies a lot by state in the USTop 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
What does a legal secretary do?
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.
What's a typical day like?
They start by checking the calendar, answering calls and emails, and organizing case files. They prepare or proofread legal papers, send correspondence, and may take notes at a hearing or deposition.
How to get this job
After high school, build office-software skills; legal-terms classes help, and employers train new hires. A degree is usually unnecessary; apprenticeships exist, and NALS offers an optional credential after three years in legal work.
Vocational school or a few years' experience (preparation level 3 of 5)
Good for people who like keeping things organized and leading and selling.
Did you know?
A U.S. legal secretary may attend a deposition—a formal question-and-answer session—and take notes, not just work at a desk.
Similar jobs
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Office and Administrative Support jobs that pay a bit moreSources and data
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.bls.gov/ooh/office-and-administrative-support/print/secretaries-and-administ
- www.onetonline.org/link/summary/43-6012.00
- www.bls.gov/oes/2023/may/oes436012.htm
- www.nals.org/page/pls
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY