National salary comparison — BLS OES 2024-2025 data
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Social Workers earn a national median of $54,150/year vs Paralegals at $59,200/year. Paralegals earn 9% more nationally. The gap is $5,050 per year — or $421 per month.
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Social Worker
$54,150
national median/year
$4,513/mo • $26/hr
VS
Paralegal
$59,200
national median/year
$4,933/mo • $28/hr
Annual salary gap
$5,050
Paralegals earn 9% more per year nationally. Over 30 years at 7% investment return that gap compounds to approximately $57,243.
Best states for Paralegals
vs Social Workers
New York+$11,880
Virginia+$11,880
Maryland+$9,880
New Jersey+$9,880
California+$7,880
Best states for Social Workers
vs Paralegals
Alaska+$6,120
North Dakota+$2,120
West Virginia+$2,120
Wyoming+$2,120
Arkansas+$120
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Paralegals earn more nationally. The median annual salary for Social Workers is $54,150 versus $59,200 for Paralegals — a difference of $5,050 per year or $421 per month.
The national median salary gap between Social Workers and Paralegals is $5,050 per year. Paralegals earn 9% more. Over a 30-year career this difference, if invested at 7% annual return, compounds to approximately $57,243.
Based on BLS OES 2024-2025 data, California pays Social Workers the highest median salary at $68,320 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 — Paralegals earn more nationally. But career choice involves job satisfaction, work-life balance, education requirements, and job growth. Child, Family, and School Social Workers 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, Social Workers earn approximately $26 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.
