Competition for jobs should continue as the growing number of graduates from paralegal education programs keeps pace with employment growth. Employment of paralegals is expected to grow much faster than average--ranking among the fastest growing occupations in the economy through the year 2006--as law firms and other employers with legal staffs increasingly hire paralegals to lower the cost, and increase the availability and efficiency, of legal services. Private law firms will continue to be the largest employers of paralegals, especially in areas such as intellectual property, health care law, elder law, and the environment.

Graduation from an American Bar Association (ABA) approved program can enhance one's employment opportunities. JCCC's paralegal program is one of only 30% of the paralegal programs offered in the United States which have been approved by the ABA.

Employment Information

Greater Kansas City Area: Paralegals remain among the fastest growing occupations in the Greater Kansas City area. Paralegals held 800 jobs in 1996, and 1,220 jobs are projected by the year 2006 (+53%). Approximately 50 average annual openings, including replacements, are anticipated.

State: Paralegals held 890 jobs in Kansas in 1997. Current projections of future employment needs and anticipated job openings were not available.

National: Paralegals held 113,000 jobs in 1996, with 189,000 jobs projected by 2006 (+68%). Approximately 29,000 average annual openings, including replacements, are anticipated. Paralegals are listed among the fastest growing occupations nationwide.

Salary Information

Johnson County: Paralegal personnel employed in Johnson County, Kansas earned an average annual salary of $31,990 in 1996.

Greater Kansas City Area: Paralegal personnel in the Greater Kansas City area earned an average annual salary of $32,074 in 1997.

State: Paralegal personnel in Kansas earned an average annual wage of $28,683 in 1997. Half earned more than $26,707 and half earned less.

National: Earnings of paralegals vary greatly. Salaries depend on education, training, experience, the type and size of employer, and the geographic location of the job. Generally, paralegals who work for large law firms or in large metropolitan areas earn more than those who work for smaller firms or in less populated regions.

According to the National Federation of Paralegal Associations, paralegals earned an average annual salary of $32,900 in 2000. Starting salaries of paralegals with one year or less experience averaged $29,300. In addition to a salary, many paralegals received an annual bonus, which averaged about $1,900 in 1995. The average annual salary of paralegal specialists who work for the federal government was about $44,400 in 2000.

JCCC Career Program Completers: An average annual salary of $31,000 was reported by 2000 paralegal program completers responding to the 2000 short-term follow-up study who were employed full-time in a related job.

An average annual salary of $34,902 was reported by 1999 paralegal program completers working full-time in a related job who responded to the long-term follow-up study conducted in 2000.

JCCC Placement Information

Fully 80% of paralegal program completers responding to the January 1999 follow-up study were working in a job related to their paralegal career program; 4% were employed in an unrelated job, 4% were unemployed, and 12% were out of the workforce altogether at the time the survey was conducted.

Approximately 90% of respondents to the 2000 follow-up study paralegal program completers were employed in a related job; 5% were working in an unrelated job, 5% were out of the labor force altogether.

Note: Salary and placement information for JCCC career program completers is based on data supplied by respondents to follow-up studies and is not necessarily representative of all career program completers.