How to Become a Legal Secretary in North Carolina (2026)

Q: How much do legal secretaries earn in North Carolina?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), legal secretaries in North Carolina earned a median annual wage of approximately $43,720. Employment concentration in North Carolina is roughly 0.76 of the national average, meaning fewer workers per capita than the U.S. as a whole.

Q: What is the job outlook for legal secretaries in North Carolina?

North Carolina currently employs approximately 3,780 workers, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects -5.8% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034.

Updated September 2, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

North Carolina legal secretaries and administrative assistants earn a median annual wage of $43,720 ($21.02/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 3,780 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -21.3% below the national median of $55,570 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $43,720 ($21.02/hr)
25th percentile: $36,890 per year
75th percentile: $50,650 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $71,640 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $31,190 per year
Workers employed in North Carolina: 3,780
Versus national median: -21.3% below the U.S. median of $55,570
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.76 - this occupation is less concentrated in North Carolina than the national average

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Last reviewed September 2, 2026.

North Carolina employs about 3,780 legal secretaries earning a median $43,720 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Most legal secretaries train through an approved program before entering the field in North Carolina.

North Carolina employs approximately 3,780 legal secretaries according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $43,720 ¹. Nationally, legal secretary employment is projected to grow -5.8% from 2024 to 2034, with about 19,600 openings per year ². This page covers how to become a Legal Secretary in North Carolina, including requirements, training programs, and salary data.

At a Glance

Training paths: trade school or community college
Typical timeline: varies by program; confirm with the school
Median wage (North Carolina): $43,720 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a Legal Secretary in North Carolina

How to become a Legal Secretary in North Carolina? Complete a training program or apprenticeship, gain work experience, and meet any state or employer requirements for legal secretaries in North Carolina.

How long does it take? legal secretary training length in North Carolina varies by program. Confirm current requirements with the school and the state board before you enroll.

What do legal secretaries earn in North Carolina? The median annual wage for legal secretaries in North Carolina is $43,720 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $31,190 and experienced professionals can earn $71,640 or more ¹.

How to Become a Legal Secretary in North Carolina

Finish high school or earn a GED. Most North Carolina training programs require a high school diploma or GED to enroll.
Complete an approved training program. Enroll in an approved legal secretary program in North Carolina that combines classroom instruction with supervised practice.
Gain supervised work experience. Build documented on-the-job hours under a qualified supervisor; confirm the exact total currently required with the licensing board.
Meet state and employer requirements. Confirm any registration, certification, or employer requirements that apply to legal secretaries in North Carolina before you start working.

Steps and hour totals vary by credential level; confirm current requirements with the state board before you apply.

Legal Secretary Wages by Metro Area in North Carolina

Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants Wages by Metro Area in North Carolina

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), legal secretaries and administrative assistants wages in North Carolina vary by metro area.

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia	1,020	$45,570	$51,650	$37,170	$78,650
Raleigh-Cary	780	$47,340	$51,250	$32,130	$76,660
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk	470	$49,560	$54,890	$35,190	$75,000
Durham-Chapel Hill	230	$47,490	$51,150	$37,320	$75,100
Winston-Salem	160	$45,960	$48,780	$31,440	$76,310
Greenville	70	$34,580	$39,450	$25,310	$59,000
Jacksonville	60	$36,030	$35,320	$22,250	$45,910
Fayetteville	40	$36,360	$39,520	$28,880	$55,740
Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton	40	$39,990	$44,520	$36,160	$66,540
Pinehurst-Southern Pines	40	$39,210	$40,400	$29,570	$53,070
Burlington	30	$37,800	$42,780	$30,540	$66,720
Asheville	N/A	$44,130	$44,330	$35,110	$55,340
Greensboro-High Point	N/A	$37,380	$44,700	$32,940	$73,160

Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for legal secretaries in North Carolina? North Carolina currently employs approximately 3,780 legal secretaries ¹. Nationally, legal secretary employment is projected to grow -5.8% from 2024 to 2034 ².

What training programs are available in North Carolina? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and state-approved training programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in North Carolina.

How much do legal secretaries earn in North Carolina compared to the national average? The median annual wage for legal secretaries in North Carolina is $43,720, which is $10,420 below the national median of $54,140 according to BLS data ¹.

In North Carolina

Best Trade Schools in North Carolina (2026)

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Citations

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/.

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎

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)	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	May 2025
Employment Projections	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System	National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)	2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirements	CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programs	CareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2025-10-25)
O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones)	U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.)	O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13)