Thanks to a pro-business climate that includes minimal business regulations, Kansas has earned itself a solid status as the epicenter of the aerospace industry, with major corporations like Boeing, Cessna, and Learjet operating here. Wichita alone is home to Spirit AeroSystems Holding, the largest company in the state with revenues exceeding $7.2 billion.
As a result, economic development in Kansas is making major headlines. In fact, Site Selection magazine recognized Kansas for making the most strides in economic development in 2020 and ranked it tenth in the nation for its number of economic development projects during this time.
Paralegal Job Market Trends in Kansas
Kansas’ economic growth, of course, has translated into a growing legal services industry which, in turn, has allowed jobs among paralegals to come in strong. As of May 2020, the Kansas nonmetropolitan area enjoyed the highest employment of paralegals among all nonmetro areas in the nation.
During this time, the average salary for paralegals in Kansas was $45,090, or $21.68 per hour. But the big news in this state lies with the top earners. With extensive experience, including experience in one more legal specialties such as family law, criminal litigation, or estate law, paralegals here can earn salaries that far exceed the state average. As of May 2020, the top earners in the state (90th percentile) earned about $73,650, or $35.41 per hour – that’s nearly $29,000 more than the state average.
Average Paralegal Salary in Kansas by City
Topeka’s paralegals enjoyed salaries that exceeded their colleagues in other metro areas of the state. Home to Fortune 500 companies like Westar Energy and Collective Brands, Topeka has become a hub for the agricultural, construction, manufacturing industries.
Lawrence:
Average – $39,270 ($18.88 hourly)
Top 10% – $49,760 ($23.92 hourly)
Topeka:
Average – $49,030 ($23.57 hourly)
Top 10% – $74,900 ($36.01 hourly)
Wichita:
Average – $46,490 ($22.35 hourly)
Top 10% – $66,270 ($31.86 hourly)
Manhattan:
Average – $30,350 ($14.59 hourly)
Top 10% – $39,750 ($19.03 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.