Paralegal Hourly Pay in Alexandria, LA: $28.25 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a paralegal working in Alexandria, LA runs $28.25 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $58,752 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 23-2011). Weighted against Alexandria's regional price level (BEA RPP 85.7, 14% below national), each hour of work buys what $32.97 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $35,253 per year.
Official BLS data · View source
In Alexandria, Louisiana, the projected median hourly pay for paralegals is $28.25, which falls below the national median of $31.30. This discrepancy may impact professionals seeking part-time or per-diem opportunities in a variety of legal settings, such as law offices and corporate legal departments. Those working three days a week, typically accumulating around 24 hours, can anticipate earnings that reflect the local rate, potentially influencing their decision to pursue contractual positions or contract work. The hourly pay range in Alexandria extends from $18.12 for entry-level roles to $37.09 for experienced paralegals, allowing graduates from NALA, NFPA, or ABA-approved programs to find a variety of opportunities in different legal environments, from government offices to private firms, as indicated by the official Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data.
Paralegal Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $18.12 | $145.00 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $22.75 | $182.01 |
| Median (P50) | $28.25 | $225.98 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $31.80 | $254.39 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $37.09 | $296.70 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Alexandria
Based on $28.25/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $28.25/hr, a paralegal working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Alexandria, LA can expect to earn approximately $58,756 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $33,897. With a cost-of-living index of 85.69 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Alexandria.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Alexandria
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $1,129.92 | $4,896 | $58,756 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $677.95 | $2,938 | $35,253 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $451.97 | $1,959 | $23,502 |
Compare Paralegal Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Paralegal (Alexandria) | $28.25 |
| Lawyer (National Avg) | $81.25 |
| Legal Secretary (National Avg) | $26.86 |
| Court Reporter (National Avg) | $30.10 |
| Title Examiner / Abstractor (National Avg) | $29.85 |
Paralegals in Alexandria, LA earn a median of $58,752 per year (2026 est.), which is 9.75% lower than the national median of $65,097.
Paralegal Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $28.25/hr = $35,253/year (purchasing power: $41,142).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $58,756/year (purchasing power: $68,571).
CoL index: 85.686 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$19.62/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$27.29/hr
2026 Current Est.
$28.25/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+49.0%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Paralegals in Alexandria (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.51% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $19.62/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $19.65/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $21.32/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $23.39/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $23.18/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $22.21/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $27.29/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $28.25/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $29.24/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for paralegals in Alexandria grew 39.1% from $19.62/hr (2019) to $27.29/hr (2025). At a 3.51% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $29.24/hr by 2027. Part-time and per-diem paralegals can use this multi-year trend to benchmark future contract negotiations.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Alexandria metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 3.51% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Working as an Hourly Paralegal in Alexandria
The potential for a part-time paralegal in Alexandria to earn effectively can be compelling, especially when budgeting against personal expenses. For someone working 24 hours weekly, the annual take-home can approximate $35,200, a modest figure compared to full-time earnings. Contract paralegals might find various opportunities that pay per diem rates ranging from $25 to $50 per hour; e-discovery specialists, particularly those equipped with skills in software like Relativity, may command $30 to $60 an hour. Compensation varies considerably by employer as well, with law firms potentially offering different rates than corporate in-house teams or public sector offices. Negotiating hourly rates in Alexandria might involve weighing the trade-offs between higher pay and the benefits provided by full-time roles, a crucial consideration for many paralegals balancing career ambitions with financial stability.
More salary data for Alexandria, LA:
Frequently Asked Questions
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Written by Jessica Tran, JD
Career Analyst
Jessica Tran has 10 years of experience in paralegal studies. She specializes in corporate law and works with a law firm. She trains new paralegals in legal research and documentation.
Methodology & Data Source
Hourly wage figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. A 3.51% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to estimate current 2026 hourly rates for paralegals in Alexandria. Part-time and full-time income estimates assume consistent weekly hours and do not account for overtime, benefits, or seasonal variation.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (–). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.51%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for paralegals (SOC 23-2011).
Compiled and verified by Jessica Tran, JD, a licensed paralegal with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov