A dominating manufacturing industry, a strong construction industry in Kalamazoo, an information technologies boom in Ann Arbor, and a swiftly recovering auto industry for Detroit and Dearborn have allowed Michigan’s GDP to post modest gains in recent years and the state to remain a hot spot for the legal services industry and the paralegals who keep it organized, efficient, and afloat.
Paralegals here with specialized knowledge in everything from corporate law to intellectual property law are sure to find a wealth of opportunities in Michigan’s corporate sector, while governmental agencies, nonprofits, and law firms remain strong employers of paralegals throughout the state.
Paralegal Job Market Trends in Michigan
As of May 2020, Michigan was home to 6,870 paralegal jobs, far outpacing the number of paralegal jobs in Indiana (4,350) and Wisconsin (4,320).
During this time, the average salary for paralegals in Michigan was $54,350, or $26.13 per hour. The highest earners here (top 10%), who likely bring with them extensive experience, particularly in a legal specialty like criminal litigation, commercial litigation, family law, or bankruptcy law, earned about $80,260, or $38.59 during this time, revealing a profession that’s ripe with opportunities for advancement.
Average Paralegal Salary in Michigan by City
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn’s strong salaries for paralegals are undoubtedly tied to the auto industry here, which includes the big three – General Motors, Ford, and GMAC. The Grand Rapids metro region, which came in on top for its pay of paralegals, is laser focused to become the Midwest’s leading technology cluster by 2031. As of May 2020, it also ranked sixth in the nation among metro regions for its pay of paralegals.
Ann Arbor:
Average – $52,900 ($25.43 hourly)
Top 10% – $79,830 ($38.38 hourly)
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn:
Average – $53,790 ($25.86 hourly)
Top 10% – $78,160 ($37.58 hourly)
Flint:
Average – $53,860 ($25.90 hourly)
Top 10% – $78,000 ($37.50 hourly)
Grand Rapids-Wyoming:
Average – $73,090 ($35.14 hourly)
Top 10% – $116,990 ($56.25 hourly)
Kalamazoo-Portage:
Average – $55,250 ($26.56 hourly)
Top 10% – $76,660 ($38.30 hourly)
Lansing-East Lansing:
Average – $56,250 ($27.04 hourly)
Top 10% – $81,550 ($39.20 hourly)
Saginaw:
Average – $45,820 ($22.03 hourly)
Top 10% – $60,730 ($29.10 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.