National salary comparison — BLS OES 2024-2025 data
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Project Managers earn a national median of $98,580/year vs Paralegals at $59,200/year. Project Managers earn 40% more nationally. The gap is $39,380 per year — or $3,282 per month.
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Project Manager
$98,580
national median/year
$8,215/mo • $47/hr
VS
Paralegal
$59,200
national median/year
$4,933/mo • $28/hr
Annual salary gap
$39,380
Project Managers earn 40% more per year nationally. Over 30 years at 7% investment return that gap compounds to approximately $446,384.
Best states for Paralegals
vs Project Managers
Hawaii+$-26,120
Maine+$-30,120
Nebraska+$-30,120
South Carolina+$-30,120
Arkansas+$-32,120
Best states for Project Managers
vs Paralegals
Massachusetts+$48,120
Washington+$48,120
California+$46,120
Connecticut+$44,120
New Jersey+$44,120
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Project Managers earn more nationally. The median annual salary for Project Managers is $98,580 versus $59,200 for Paralegals — a difference of $39,380 per year or $3,282 per month.
The national median salary gap between Project Managers and Paralegals is $39,380 per year. Project Managers earn 40% more. Over a 30-year career this difference, if invested at 7% annual return, compounds to approximately $446,384.
Based on BLS OES 2024-2025 data, California pays Project Managers the highest median salary at $122,320 per year.
Based on BLS OES 2024-2025 data, California pays Paralegals the highest median salary at $76,200 per year.
Salary is one factor — Project Managers earn more nationally. But career choice involves job satisfaction, work-life balance, education requirements, and job growth. Project Management Specialists and Paralegals and Legal Assistants both have different educational paths, licensing requirements, and long-term growth projections. Use salary as a starting point, not the only factor.
Based on a standard 2,080-hour work year, Project Managers earn approximately $47 per hour nationally and Paralegals earn approximately $28 per hour. Actual hourly rates vary based on overtime, part-time work, and whether the role is salaried or hourly.
Methodology: Salary data from Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) 2024-2025. Figures represent median annual wages for wage and salary workers. Self-employed excluded. Hourly rates calculated at 2,080 hours per year. State salary figures from same BLS OES dataset. Updated annually.
