Factors that Affect Legal Salary Earnings

Because those in the law profession might work in just about any setting, from government to business to private law firms, calculating average earnings is a complex endeavor. Pay can vary drastically depending on factors such as the size of the law firm you work for, your area of specialty, and whether you supplement your income with freelance work.

Whether you're a lawyer or a legal assistant, your earnings are going to vary quite a bit depending on what industry you work in. Generally speaking, private sector jobs tend to pay a higher legal salary than jobs in the government sector. However, court reporters who work for the government tend to earn more than those who work in other industries.

Where you live also has a significant effect on your earnings. Legal salary tends to be higher in locations with a higher cost of living. Metropolitan cities like Washington, D.C.; San Jose, California; and even Portland, Oregon boast some of the highest legal salaries.

As a paralegal, the amount you earn depends on the specialty you choose on concentrate on at your job. The National Association of Legal Assistants looked at how much paralegals and legal assistants earned when they spent greater than 40 percent of their time working in a particular specialty area:

Regardless of what your ultimate goal is in terms of a profession in the law field, a competitive legal salary starts with a solid education from a respected degree or certificate program. Start your search for accredited online legal programs here.

_{Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2010; National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA).}