Arizona has a lot going for it – a strong economy, plenty of warm weather and sunny skies, and a business-friendly climate. As a result, the Grand Canyon State enjoys some of the strongest economic growth and population growth projections in the coming years. In fact, Forbes ranks Arizona third in the nation for its economic growth prospects.
Arizona continues to enjoy a diversified economy that’s marked by many companies choosing to relocate and/or expand their business operations here. PetSmart, Banner Health, and Circle K are just some of the big corporate players here who not only positively influence a growing economy but are also big employers of paralegals.
With a strong skillset backed by a recognized paralegal degree, Arizona’s paralegals lend their services to corporate law departments, nonprofit organizations, governmental agencies, and law firms specializing in everything from litigation to personal injury to bankruptcy to estate law.
Paralegal Job Market Trends in Arizona
As of May 2020, paralegals in Arizona earned an average salary of $52,350, which is about $25.17 per hour. Gain significant experience and specialize in an area of law that interests you and you’ll quickly climb the career ladder, positioning yourself for a salary that more closely reflects the top 10% of all earners, which was $76,540, or about $36.80 per hour, as of 2020.
During this time, Arizona was home to about 7,510 paralegal jobs. Between 2011 and 2021, the American Bar Association reported an increase of 8.4% in the number of active lawyers in the state. This type of dynamic growth will likely translate into an increasing demand for paralegals in the coming years.
Average Paralegal Salary in Arizona by City
Both Flagstaff and Phoenix came out on top for both average and top (10%) salaries for paralegals in Arizona.
Phoenix is one of the key locations benefitting from the fact that Arizona has established itself as a leading center for automotive research. General Motors, Google, and Uber are all testing self-driving vehicles in the Phoenix metro area. Paralegals with experience in such areas as intellectual property and patent law are especially likely to benefit from this type of growth.
Flagstaff:
Average – $53,750 ($25.84 an hour)
Top 10% – $78,790 ($37.88 an hour)
Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale:
Average – $54,040 ($25.98 an hour)
Top 10% – $77,860 ($37.43 an hour)
Prescott:
Average – $42,180 ($20.28 an hour)
Top 10% – $51,680 ($24.85 an hour)
Tucson:
Average – $45,150 ($21.71 an hour)
Top 10% – $64,500 ($31.01 an hour)
May 2020 Bureau of Labor Statistics salary, growth, and job market trends for paralegals and legal assistants. Figures represent state data, not school specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed December 2021.