Paralegal Salary in Oak Ridge, TN: $53,145 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time paralegal in Oak Ridge, TN earns a median $53,145/year (≈ $25.55/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 23-2011). Once you factor in Oak Ridge's price level (8% below national, BEA RPP 91.8), that paycheck buys what $57,892 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 1.9% below the Tennessee state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
With a 2026 median annual salary of $53,145, paralegal pay in Oak Ridge, TN, reflects a noticeable gap compared to the national median of $65,097, which translates to a disparity of approximately 18.36%. Local salaries range from around $37,767 at the lower end of the market to an impressive $82,375 for top earners, providing opportunities across various employment types. These figures, derived from 2025 BLS data and adjusted for regional cost factors, illustrate how the local salary landscape may heavily depend on the type of law firm or organization. In Oak Ridge, paralegals may find positions in either small firms or governmental legal offices, although work in larger or more prestigious law firms generally offers higher compensation.
About the Oak Ridge Market
Salary estimated from Tennessee average ($52,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $37,767 | $18.16 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $42,060 | $20.23 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $53,145 | $25.55 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $66,445 | $31.94 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $82,375 | $39.60 |
Median Salary Position
18.36% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Oak Ridge
In Oak Ridge, TN, the paralegal salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $44,608 (2026 est.). At $53,145, the local median is 18.36% below the national median of $65,097.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Oak Ridge: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Oak Ridge Paralegal Pay Compares
Oak Ridge median: $53,145/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Oak Ridge Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Tennessee Average | $54,174 | -1.90% less |
| National Average | $65,097 | -18.36% less |
Paralegals in Oak Ridge, TN earn a median of $53,145 per year (2026 est.), which is 18.36% lower than the national median of $65,097 and 1.90% below the Tennessee state average of $54,174.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Oak Ridge has a cost of living 8.20% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Oak Ridge, TN has a cost-of-living index of 91.8 (below the national average of 100). A paralegal earning $53,145 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $57,892 in an average-cost city — an effective 8.93% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$42,240
2025 BLS Actual
$51,343
2026 Current Est.
$53,145
2019–2027 Growth
+30.2%
Salary Trajectory for Paralegals in Oak Ridge (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.51% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $42,240 | Actual |
| 2020 | $43,204 | Actual |
| 2021 | $45,906 | Actual |
| 2022 | $48,331 | Actual |
| 2023 | $49,776 | Actual |
| 2024 | $46,835 | Actual |
| 2025 | $51,343 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $53,145 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $55,011 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Oak Ridge metropolitan area, the median paralegal salary grew 21.6% from $42,240 (2019) to $51,343 (2025). At a 3.51% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $55,011 by 2027 — a total increase of $12,771 (30.23%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Oak Ridge 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.
Salary by Experience Level
| Experience | Estimated Salary Range |
|---|---|
| 0-2 years (New Graduate) | $37,767 – $42,060 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $42,060 – $53,145 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $53,145 – $66,445 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $66,445 – $82,375 |
Paralegal salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual paralegal compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Paralegal Job Market in Oak Ridge
In Oak Ridge, the job market for paralegals includes only six individuals currently employed, pointing to a tightly held local employment pool that could afford competitive pay in specific sectors. With a cost-of-living index of 91.8, the purchasing power for paralegals remains relatively strong, despite salaries lagging behind the national average. The highest-paying opportunities often arise within in-house corporate legal departments or federal offices, while smaller firms typically offer lower compensation. Factors influencing salary variation include firm size—BigLaw firms typically pay more than their mid-sized or small counterparts—as well as specialization, such as e-discovery roles, which command a premium. To maximize earnings, paralegals in Oak Ridge should enhance their qualifications through national certifications from NALA or NFPA, consider specializing in high-demand areas, and potentially seek freelance opportunities to diversify their income.
More salary data for Oak Ridge, TN:
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
Salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. The BLS reported a median annual salary of $51,343 for paralegalsin the Oak Ridge metropolitan area. A 3.51% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 compensation. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.
Data Sources & Methodology
Salary data for Oak Ridge is estimated from official BLS state-level occupational wage data (2025), adjusted for regional cost-of-living differences using BEA RPP (Regional Price Parities).
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