As the insurance capital of the U.S., Connecticut has long enjoyed a strong business climate that ranks it among the top locations for paralegals working in corporate legal departments. A large number of corporate brands located here (General Electric, Pitney Bowes, United Natural Foods, Xerox, and Aetna, to name just a few) make it a place where paralegals familiar with trademark and copyright law and intellectual property licensing do well.
Paralegal Job Market Trends in Connecticut
It therefore comes as little surprise that Connecticut ranks among the top states in the nation for its concentration of paralegals jobs. In fact, as of 2020, Connecticut’s concentration of paralegal jobs landed it fifth in the country, just below New York. The concentration of paralegals in the state’s nonmetropolitan area even higher, ranking second in the nation during this time. But a high concentration of paralegal jobs isn’t the only thing that Connecticut has going for it.
Connecticut’s average paralegal salary stands at $61,070, or $29.36 per hour – that’s about $5,000 more annually than the national average. And for those with significant experience, industry credentials, and likely experience in a legal specialty like litigation, bankruptcy law, or immigration law, salaries here reach about $85,550 for those earners at the 90th percentile.
Average Paralegal Salary in Connecticut by City
The Bridgeport-Stamford-Norfolk region remains the big player for paralegal salaries in Connecticut, beating out other metro regions in the state by as much as $12,000 at the average mark and the only metro area to break $90,000 among the top 10% of earners.
A recent study by the strategic guidance firm TNS Group highlighted Stamford for its status as one of the best areas in the Northeast for young professionals to find employment. The city has a number of prominent sectors that rely heavily on legal assistance from paralegals, including insurance and finance, healthcare, and managed IT services providers.
Bridgeport-Stamford-Norfolk:
Average – $67,020 ($32.22 hourly)
Top 10% – $93,140 ($44.78 hourly)
Danbury:
Average – $58,030 ($27.90 hourly)
Top 10% – $76,980 ($37.01 hourly)
Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford:
Average – $59,990 ($28.84 hourly)
Top 10% – $85,050 ($40.89 hourly)
New Haven:
Average – $60,050 ($28.87 hourly)
Top 10% – $88,110 ($42.36 hourly)
Norwich-New London-Westerly:
Average – $53,100 ($25.53 hourly)
Top 10% – $74,930 ($36.02 hourly)
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.