National salary comparison — BLS OES 2024-2025 data
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Teachers earn a national median of $63,680/year vs Paralegals at $59,200/year. Teachers earn 7% more nationally. The gap is $4,480 per year — or $373 per month.
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Teacher
$63,680
national median/year
$5,307/mo • $31/hr
VS
Paralegal
$59,200
national median/year
$4,933/mo • $28/hr
Annual salary gap
$4,480
Teachers earn 7% more per year nationally. Over 30 years at 7% investment return that gap compounds to approximately $50,782.
Best states for Paralegals
vs Teachers
Colorado+$2,460
Virginia+$1,860
Florida+$1,560
Hawaii+$20
Arizona+$-2,010
Best states for Teachers
vs Paralegals
Wyoming+$19,980
Rhode Island+$17,120
Connecticut+$15,920
New York+$15,040
Massachusetts+$14,010
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Teachers earn more nationally. The median annual salary for Teachers is $63,680 versus $59,200 for Paralegals — a difference of $4,480 per year or $373 per month.
The national median salary gap between Teachers and Paralegals is $4,480 per year. Teachers earn 7% more. Over a 30-year career this difference, if invested at 7% annual return, compounds to approximately $50,782.
Based on BLS OES 2024-2025 data, New York pays Teachers the highest median salary at $89,240 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 — Teachers earn more nationally. But career choice involves job satisfaction, work-life balance, education requirements, and job growth. Elementary and Middle School Teachers 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, Teachers earn approximately $31 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.
