Staff Salary Guide
Robert Half Legal, a staffing service for law firms, has recently released their 2006 Salary Guide. According to the latest numbers compiled by Robert Half Legal, salaries for legal staff increased 6 to 8% nationwide during 2005. Legal secretaries and paralegals at small to mid-size firms experienced the greatest salary growth, compared to their counterparts at large and small firms. Salaries for 2006 breakdown as follows:
Small Small/Mid Midsize Large
Senior Secretaries $39-49k $42-53k $45-56 $50-65k
(12+ years’ experience)
Midlevel Sec'y $36-46k $38-52k $41-52k $47-59k
(7-11 years’ exp.)
Legal Secretary $33-42k $37-44k $38-48k $38-52k
(3-6 years’ exp.)
Junior Legal Sec'y $27-35k $29-37k $33-39k $34-41k
(1-2 years’ exp.)
Senior Paralegal $39-50k $43-54k $46-59k $52-73k
(7+years’ exp.)
Midlevel Paralegal $34-44k $38-48k $42-52k $43-59k
(4-6 years’ exp.)
Junior Paralegal $29-37k $32-40k $34-42k $36-45k
(2-3 years’ exp.)
Case Clerk $23-28k $26-31k $27-33k $29-35
(0-2 years’ exp.)
Due to demand and other economic factors, some areas of the country the rates are substantially higher. The Half Survey includes differentials for certain metro areas. For example, firms in Washington,D.C. can expect to pay up to 126% of these national averages, according to the Half survey. A small firm in downtown DC would expect to pay a legal secretary with 5 years of experience approximately $50,000, whereas a suburban counterpart would pay up to 20% less than that. The suburban differential continues in Washington, despite large growth in the counties surrounding the District of Columbia. There is still a perceived “lifestyle” benefit working at smaller suburban firms—commutes are easier, parking is free, and working hours tend to be shorter. I expect that lifestyle differential to keep salaries lower in those suburban areas when compared to similar downtown firms.
The Half survey also provides salary information for lawyers. You can obtain a copy of the guide at http://www.roberthalflegal.com/FreeResources
