Do paralegals need a license in New York?

No statewide license is required for paralegals in New York. Most employers expect industry certifications such as CP (Certified Paralegal), and AAfPE Certificate.

How to Become a Paralegal in New York (2026)

Q: How much do paralegals earn in New York?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), paralegals in New York earned a median annual wage of approximately $68,410. Employment concentration in New York is about 1.40 times the national average for this occupation.

Q: What is the job outlook for paralegals in New York?

New York currently employs approximately 34,220 workers, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 0.2% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034.

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

New York paralegals and legal assistants earn a median annual wage of $68,410 ($32.89/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 34,220 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately 8.8% above the national median of $62,890 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $68,410 ($32.89/hr)
25th percentile: $57,430 per year
75th percentile: $94,200 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $115,720 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $48,330 per year
Workers employed in New York: 34,220
Versus national median: 8.8% above the U.S. median of $62,890
Job concentration: Location quotient 1.40 - this occupation is more concentrated in New York than the national average

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Last reviewed June 8, 2026.

New York employs about 34,220 paralegals earning a median $68,410 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). No statewide license is required; most paralegals train through a certificate program and earn an industry certification before employers will hire them.

Key Facts

Median wage (New York): $68,410/yr (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
Employed in New York: 34,220 workers (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
Location quotient: 1.40x U.S. average (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
Projected growth: 0.2% (2024-2034) (Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024)

Compare Paralegal Schools in New York

BOC Score, tuition, graduation rate, and median graduate earnings from federal IPEDS and U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard data. Earnings are reported across all programs at the school (all majors), not a single trade. Distance is measured from the page's primary location.
#	School	BOC Score (0–100)	Tuition	Median grad earnings (all majors)	Graduation rate	Online	Distance
1	County College of Morris	72.1	$6,210 - $15,033	$52,838	35%	Yes*	38 mi
2	Bergen Community College	63.9	Contact school for pricing	$51,761	Not reported	Yes*	25 mi
3	Monroe University	62.7	Contact school for pricing	$48,907	57%	Yes*	34 mi
4	Rockland Community College	59.7	Contact school for pricing	$48,706	Not reported	Yes*	13 mi
5	CUNY Hostos Community College	56.5	Contact school for pricing	$45,126	17%	Yes*	36 mi
6	SUNY Westchester Community College	55.9	Contact school for pricing	$112,190	24%	Yes*	26 mi
7	Dutchess Community College	55.7	Contact school for pricing	$44,694	Not reported	Yes*	32 mi
8	CUNY Bronx Community College	54.4	Contact school for pricing	$44,993	17%	Yes*	34 mi
9	Sussex County Community College	53.8	Contact school for pricing	$41,662	40%	Yes*	36 mi

Schools closest to the page's primary location are gathered first, then ranked by BOC Score; distance from the page's primary location is shown for reference. The BOC Score is an independent measure of school outcomes (graduation, earnings, net price, retention) expressed as a 0–100 percentile within each school's peer group; higher is better and advertising never affects it. *Online availability refers to coursework; hands-on trade training is completed in person. Read the full methodology.

New York employs approximately 34,220 paralegals according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $68,410 ¹. The state’s concentration of paralegal jobs is 1.40x the national average, indicating strong demand. Nationally, paralegal employment is projected to grow 0.2% from 2024 to 2034, with about 39,300 openings per year ². This page covers how to become a Paralegal in New York, including certification options, 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 (New York): $68,410 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a Paralegal in New York

How to become a Paralegal in New York? New York does not require a state license for paralegals, but employers typically expect industry certifications such as CP (Certified Paralegal) and AAfPE Certificate. Complete a training program to prepare.

How long does it take? paralegal training length in New York varies by program. Confirm current requirements with the school and the state board before you enroll.

Do I need a license in New York? No state license is required, but certifications such as CP (Certified Paralegal) and AAfPE Certificate are expected by most employers.

What do paralegals earn in New York? The median annual wage for paralegals in New York is $68,410 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $48,330 and experienced professionals can earn $115,720 or more ¹.

How to Become a Paralegal in New York

Finish high school or earn a GED. Most New York training programs require a high school diploma or GED to enroll.
Complete an approved training program. Enroll in an approved paralegal program in New York 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.
Earn an industry certification. While New York does not require a statewide license, earn CP (Certified Paralegal) to meet employer expectations and improve hiring prospects.

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

Paralegal Certification Options in New York

New York does not require a state license to work as a paralegal. However, industry certifications can strengthen your resume and may be required by employers.

Common certifications for paralegals include:

CP (Certified Paralegal)
AAfPE Certificate

For more information, visit the NALA - Paralegal Association ³. Contact training programs in New York for details on certification preparation courses.

Paralegal Wages by Metro Area in New York

Paralegals and Legal Assistants Wages by Metro Area in New York

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), paralegals and legal assistants wages in New York vary by metro area.

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
New York-Newark-Jersey City	33,850	$75,330	$80,260	$49,180	$121,170
Buffalo-Cheektowaga	2,060	$58,270	$59,940	$45,730	$81,050
Albany-Schenectady-Troy	1,340	$60,680	$62,930	$47,250	$81,320
Rochester	1,300	$57,250	$59,220	$43,100	$81,830
Syracuse	970	$61,150	$65,330	$47,290	$81,460
Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh	600	$61,350	$65,400	$47,290	$90,350
Binghamton	240	$60,420	$60,130	$48,380	$77,400
Utica-Rome	170	$54,850	$59,470	$44,980	$79,030
Kingston	140	$62,210	$66,630	$46,450	$91,900
Glens Falls	100	$59,170	$62,200	$47,310	$82,260
Ithaca	80	$60,550	$63,570	$45,200	$90,160
Elmira	50	$56,230	$58,960	$39,400	$81,390
Watertown-Fort Drum	50	$56,190	$59,280	$43,330	$81,560

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 paralegals in New York? New York currently employs approximately 34,220 paralegals ¹. Nationally, paralegal employment is projected to grow 0.2% from 2024 to 2034 ².

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

How much do paralegals earn in New York compared to the national average? The median annual wage for paralegals in New York is $68,410, which is $7,400 above the national median of $61,010 according to BLS data ¹.

In New York

Best Trade Schools in New York (2026)

Top local programs

Explore More Trades in New York

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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
NALA - Paralegal Association: https://www.nala.org/ ↩︎

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)