There are many different industries in which a paralegal can work. You might think that life as a paralegal means doing the same things year after year. In fact, you can add some variety to your career as a paralegal by working in the many different industries in the field. You can also give your income a little boost along the way.
But when you choose an industry for your paralegal career, it’s important to do your homework. After all, some industries promise better paralegal salaries than others. You will also find higher employment levels in some industries, which means you have a better chance of finding a position in that industry.
For example, paralegals working in the federal executive branch industry earn $60,340 annually on average. This industry also happens to be one among those with the highest employment levels in the entire paralegal field. Paralegals working in the management industry, another of the five industries with the highest employment levels, earn an average income of $57,720 annually.

This chart displays annual mean salaries for Paralegals in the U.S. The data was collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics OES - May 2008.
Those working in employment services aren’t far behind with an average annual income of $53,970. The average salary of a paralegal in the insurance carrier industry is $53,310 annually. And those in legal services, believe it or not, earn the least of the top five industries with annual average income of $47,380.
Salary is important, but a high salary is nothing without job security. By choosing a strong industry with a high employment level, you can make sure you enjoy a long career as a paralegal.
Related Charts for Paralegal Salaries
Paralegal Pay Scale - All Industries
Paralegal Salaries - Popular Metropolitan Areas
Paralegal Salary Ranges - Popular Paying States
The bar graph above shows the average salary iof a paralegal n industries with the highest employment levels. The data is displayed below in table format:
| Industry |
Annual Mean Wage |
| Legal Services |
47,380 |
| Federal Executive Branch |
60,340 |
| Management |
57,720 |
| Insurance Carriers |
53,310 |
| Employment Services |
53,970 |
|