Show me the money...

What are typical paralegal salaries? Do some companies pay a lot more for this position than others? What does a top earner make in this field?

What skills should you learn to increase your salary?

Host said: What are typical paralegal salaries? Do some companies pay a lot more for this position than others? What does a top earner make in this field?

What skills should you learn to increase your salary?

More computer skills

Host said: What are typical paralegal salaries? Do some companies pay a lot more for this position than others? What does a top earner make in this field?

What skills should you learn to increase your salary?

I've been a paralegal for 20 years and make 71,000. I work for a small boutique firm so there goes the notion that only large firms pay well. I'm a highly skilled litigation paralegal and I know there are (or were)jobs that pay more, but I don't want to work my behind off. The higher paying jobs require lots of over time and often travel. Skills you should learn. Any electronic database-LiveNote, Summation, Concordance, CaseMap, and knowledge of gathering electronic discovery - which I must admit-I don't know. Time for me to brush up.

loyalramfan in Los Angeles, California said: I've been a paralegal for 20 years and make 71,000. I work for a small boutique firm so there goes the notion that only large firms pay well. I'm a highly skilled litigation paralegal and I know there are (or were)jobs that pay more, but I don't want to work my behind off. The higher paying jobs require lots of over time and often travel. Skills you should learn. Any electronic database-LiveNote, Summation, Concordance, CaseMap, and knowledge of gathering electronic discovery - which I must admit-I don't know. Time for me to brush up.

Hi Loyalramfan - I lived in LA for 16 years. That's where I started my 5-year stint as a legal secretary. I'm curious - do you live in the city, or do you commute in? I'm asking because I know that $71K won't go far there, and it will get you even less in OC. Are you a single guy without kids?

dh in Northern CA, California said: Hi Loyalramfan - I lived in LA for 16 years. That's where I started my 5-year stint as a legal secretary. I'm curious - do you live in the city, or do you commute in? I'm asking because I know that $71K won't go far there, and it will get you even less in OC. Are you a single guy without kids?

I work in Century City and live about 3 miles from work. I know - unheard of in LA. Actually it's the opposite. It will get more in OC. I moved up from OC 5 years ago and got a 10,000 raise within 2 years because LA pays more. I think 71K is a good salary, but then again I's single (woman) with no kids.

loyalramfan in Los Angeles, California said: I work in Century City and live about 3 miles from work. I know - unheard of in LA. Actually it's the opposite. It will get more in OC. I moved up from OC 5 years ago and got a 10,000 raise within 2 years because LA pays more. I think 71K is a good salary, but then again I's single (woman) with no kids.

Oops! Sorry. I stereotyped you as a guy because of the loyal"ramfan."

Last I heard from the recruiter I used to use in OC, she was placing experienced secretaries in jobs that paid $70k/year or more. Last time I spoke to her was Fall, '07. I spent 16 years in LA and 4 in Irvine. I thought Irvine had a much higher cost of living but salaries seemed to be very close because I maintained contact with friends (former coworkers) in LA plus the new friends in OC. We often secretly shared salary info, especially if one of us left the place. I once heard, however, that if there's one place that pays more than Downtown LA, it's Century City.

I never have worked as a paralegal, only word processor or secretary.