Paralegals in Washington earn a median of $79,400 per year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), and this guide ranks accredited paralegal schools near East Wenatchee by proximity. Most paralegals complete an ABA-approved certificate or associate degree, then pursue voluntary certification such as the NALA Certified Paralegal credential.
Key Facts
Washington median wage: $79,400/yr
Pay range (10th-90th pct): $50,470 - $116,750
Washington employment: 9,460 paralegals
Job outlook (2024-2034): +0.2% (national)
Washington location quotient: 1.05
Typical program length: Certificate 6-12 mo; associate ~2 yr
The schools below are sorted by proximity to East Wenatchee. Each entry lists the school, location, and credentials offered.
How we rank schools – graduation rate, graduate earnings, cost and retention.
Advertising plays no part.
This page lists 5 schools
within 98 miles, closest group first, then ordered by
BOC Score with the highest at the top.
5 do not have enough federal
outcome data to score, and appear last rather than being hidden.
LOCAL RANK
Location / proximity to this page
Defines the local group
Graduation rate how often students finish
30%
Median earnings, 10 years after entry whether it paid off
25%
Average net price what students actually pay after aid; lower ranks higher
20%
Retention rate how many come back for year two
15%
Fully online availability whether you can study while working
10%
Scores come from IPEDS (2024) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Earnings are for all graduates of a school, not one program, so treat them as a signal
about the institution rather than about this subject.
Sponsored listings are paid placements and are labelled as such; they are separate from
this ranking and never change it. Read the full methodology.
#1
Yakima Valley College
📍
Yakima, WA
•58.7 miles away•BOC Score
55.9
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
South 16th Ave. & Nob Hill Blvd. Yakima, WA 98907-2520
Annual Wage by Percentile, United States - Paralegals and Legal AssistantsSource: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025
Paralegals and Legal Assistants annual wage percentiles
Percentile
Annual wage
10th
$44,740
25th
$50,340
50th (median)
$62,890
75th
$80,080
90th
$101,500
Projected employment growth, United States, Paralegals and Legal Assistants, 2024-2034Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024-2034
Paralegals and Legal Assistants employment projection 2024 to 2034
Year
Employment
2024
376,200
2034 projected
376,800
Percent change
+0.2%
How to become a paralegal in Washington
Complete an accredited program. Finish an ABA-approved paralegal certificate or associate degree, or an accredited paralegal or legal studies program.
Build practical experience. Gain hands-on experience through internships, legal clinics, or entry-level roles in law firms, courts, or corporate legal teams.
Earn a voluntary credential. Strengthen your resume by sitting for an exam such as the NALA Certified Paralegal (CP) or the NFPA Paralegal CORE Competency Exam (PCCE).
Maintain your skills. Keep current with continuing legal education and legal-technology tools that local employers expect.
Pathways into the Field
Paralegals are not licensed by the state, so there is no formal apprenticeship or required hour total. Most enter through an ABA-approved certificate or associate degree, then build experience via internships, legal clinics, or entry-level roles in law firms, courts, or corporate legal departments. Confirm current requirements with your state bar association before enrolling.
What You Study in a Paralegal Program
Legal research and writing
Civil litigation and procedure
Contracts, torts, and business law
Legal ethics and professional responsibility
Law office technology and e-discovery tools
How to Choose the Right Paralegal School
Confirm the program is ABA-approved or recommended by your state bar association.
Review coursework for legal research, litigation, contracts, and law-office technology.
Compare internship placement and career-services support. Individual outcomes may vary.
Look for flexible online, evening, or accelerated formats that fit your schedule.
Ask about certification prep for NALA, NFPA, or NALS credentials.
Other Popular Online Programs in Washington
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does paralegal training take near East Wenatchee?
Paralegal certificate programs typically take 6 to 12 months of full-time study, while associate degree programs generally run about 2 years (IPEDS credential levels, 2023). Actual time depends on full-time vs. part-time enrollment and any prerequisite coursework.
How much do paralegals earn in Washington?
According to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), paralegals in Washington earned a median annual wage of about $79,400. The 10th to 90th percentile range was approximately $50,470 to $116,750 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Is paralegal a growing field?
Nationally, BLS projects paralegal and legal-assistant employment to change +0.2% from 2024 to 2034, with about 39,300 openings per year, mostly from workers leaving the occupation (BLS Employment Projections, 2024-2034).
Do I need to be certified to work as a paralegal?
Paralegal certification is voluntary in most states. Many employers favor candidates who hold the NALA Certified Paralegal (CP) or NFPA Paralegal CORE Competency Exam (PCCE) credential, but neither is a license required by the state.
About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.
Data sources
Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.
Data
Provider
Vintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
