Maryland Paralegal Career and Salary Guide
Like most states, Maryland does not regulate or require certification for prospective paralegals. On this page, you will discover information on paralegal salaries in Maryland, the job outlook in the state, and resources to help you launch your career.
Table of Contents
- How to Become a Paralegal in Maryland
- Paralegal Certification
- Paralegal Career and Salary Outlook
- Paralegal Resources
How to Become a Paralegal in Maryland
There are a few ways to get started in the paralegal field in Maryland because state regulations don’t specify one path. Most paralegals combine education with internships and on-the-job training. Following are the basic steps to becoming a paralegal in Maryland:
1. Earn a degree or certificate in paralegal studies.
Programs in paralegal studies are offered at many Maryland paralegal schools, including certificates in legal studies, paralegal associate degrees, and bachelor’s degrees in paralegal studies. The American Bar Association (ABA) has approved five of these programs.1
2. Gain experience.
Work experience is a great way to get hired and to distinguish yourself early in your career. Some paralegals participate in internships during their degree programs, and others work preparing documents or as legal secretaries, to get on-the-job training and work their way up to legal assistants.
3. Seek certification, if desired.
Maryland has no legal, certification, or licensure requirements for paralegals, but adding a voluntary credential may distinguish you from the competition.
Paralegal Certification in Maryland
Paralegal certification in Maryland is voluntary. While the state does not require it, prospective paralegals and legal assistants are encouraged to pursue national certification from the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA, the Paralegal Association), American Alliance of Paralegals Inc. (AAPI), or the National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA). Collectively, these associations establish the industry standard for professional excellence in the paralegal field. Voluntary certification usually involves competency exams. Paralegals and legal assistants are also encouraged to join the Maryland Association of Paralegals (MAP) for information regarding paralegal education and paralegal jobs in Maryland. For more information on national associations and voluntary certification, take a look at our guide, Steps to Become a Paralegal.
Maryland Paralegal Career and Salary Outlook
Projected Job Growth
6.9%
Paralegals in Maryland from 2022-20322
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) recently reported 6,190 paralegals and legal assistants working in the state of Maryland, earning an average annual salary of $68,070.3 The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria and the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington metropolitan areas that include parts of Maryland have the fifth- and sixth-highest employment levels for paralegals in the country, and the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria metro area is the third-highest paying metropolitan area after the San Jose and San Francisco areas.4 Projections Central predicts positive job growth of 6.9% for paralegals and legal assistants in Maryland, higher than the national projected growth of 4.2%.2
Maryland Paralegal Salary by Metro Area
| Metro Area | Number Employed4 | Average Annual Salary4 |
|---|---|---|
| Statewide | 6,190 | $68,070 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson | 3,850 | $68,600 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 9,320 | $71,110 |
| Salisbury, MD-DE | 240 | $56,970 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 10,820 | $84,530 |
Paralegal Employers in Maryland
Maryland’s paralegals work for a wide variety of employers and industries. You might find your niche with a corporation’s in-house counsel, a banking institution, or a government agency. Private law firms are the largest source of paralegal positions nationwide. The state’s many government agencies also employ paralegals, for those more driven to public service than business or traditional law firm positions.
LinkedIn is a good research resource where you can search on geography (Maryland or city-level) for “paralegal” to find networking opportunities, job postings, and companies most associated with users identifying as paralegals; companies in Maryland with the most LinkedIn users as paralegals include:
- Maryland Office of the Attorney General
- Office of the Public Defender Maryland
- Social Security Administration
- State of Maryland
- United States Attorneys’ Office
- University of Maryland
- US Department of Justice
For more information about paralegal careers, take a look at our careers page.
Paralegal Resources
Here are some resources to help paralegals in Maryland with professional development, networking, and career growth.
Paralegal Associations in Maryland
These are volunteer organizations, typically with elected boards, that focus on professional development and networking for a specific geographical location and/or area of law.
- Maryland Association of Paralegals (MDPA): An affiliate of NFPA, offers opportunities for networking, continuing education, and scholarships for area paralegals.
Additional Resources
- Maryland Courts: Functions as the main portal for Maryland courts, offering access to court news and publications, an employment portal, individual court pages, e-filing systems, and links to law libraries throughout the state.
- Paralegal411 Jobs Board: To search for Maryland paralegal jobs, visit our jobs board.
- Thurgood Marshall State Law Library: Contains a comprehensive collection of print titles focused on Maryland and Anglo-American law and an extensive digital collection.
- University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law Thurgood Marshall Law Library: Allows legal professionals with a bar association card and government-issued identification access to the university law library’s 400,000 print volumes for legal research purposes.
References:
1. American Bar Association Directory of ABA Approved Paralegal Education Programs: https://www.americanbar.org/groups/paralegals/paralegal-resource-directory/
2. Projections Central Long Term Occupational Projections, 2022-2032: https://projectionscentral.org/Projections/LongTerm
3. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2023 Occupational Employment and Wages, Paralegals and Legal Assistants: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes232011.htm
4. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2023 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oessrcma.htm