CDCareer Decision

Paralegals and Legal Assistants Salary in SD

In the 2025 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS dataset, Paralegals and Legal Assistants in SD have a median annual salary of $58,320, with 600 recorded jobs in this area. Recorded earnings range from $48,890 at the 10th percentile to $84,090 at the 90th percentile.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · Data year: 2025 · Last updated: 2026-09-22

Salary overview

Median annual salary

$58,320

Data year: 2025

Hourly median

$28.04

Employment

600

Source

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS

Salary distribution

$48,890
10th
$53,730
25th
$58,320
Median
$67,200
75th
$84,090
90th

Local compared with national

SD

$58,320

Median annual · 2025

United States

$62,890

Median annual · 2025

The SD median is 7.3% below the national median in the available dataset (a difference of $4,570).

Top skills

  1. 1.WritingImportance 4.0
  2. 2.Reading ComprehensionImportance 3.9
  3. 3.Active ListeningImportance 3.9
  4. 4.SpeakingImportance 3.6
  5. 5.Critical ThinkingImportance 3.3
  6. 6.Active LearningImportance 3.0
  7. 7.MonitoringImportance 3.0
  8. 8.Social PerceptivenessImportance 3.0
  9. 9.Service OrientationImportance 3.0
  10. 10.Complex Problem SolvingImportance 3.0
  11. 11.Judgment and Decision MakingImportance 3.0
  12. 12.Time ManagementImportance 3.0

Career information

Education and experience

Typical education
Bachelor's Degree
Experience
Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years
Job zone
3

Technology used

  • a la mode WinTOTAL
  • AbacusNext HotDocs
  • Adobe Acrobat
  • American LegalNet USCourtForms
  • Appligent Citation FDFMerge
  • Blumbeg Drafting Libraries
  • Bowne JFS Litigator's Notebook
  • Bridgeway eCounsel
  • Case analysis software
  • CaseSoft DepPrep
  • CaseSoft TextMap
  • CaseSoft TimeMap
  • Computer access catalog software
  • Corel WordPerfect Office Suite
  • Corporate Focus Solium Shareworks

Common tasks

  • Direct and coordinate law office activity, including delivery of subpoenas.
  • Prepare affidavits or other documents, such as legal correspondence, and organize and maintain documents in paper or electronic filing system.
  • Prepare, edit, or review legal documents, including legislation, briefs, pleadings, appeals, wills, contracts, and real estate closing statements.
  • Investigate facts and law of cases and search pertinent sources, such as public records and internet sources, to determine causes of action and to prepare cases.
  • Prepare for trial by performing tasks such as organizing exhibits.
  • Meet with clients and other professionals to discuss details of cases.
  • Gather and analyze research data, such as statutes, decisions, and legal articles, codes, and documents.
  • File pleadings with court clerks.
  • Call upon witnesses to testify at hearings.
  • Arbitrate disputes between parties and assist in the real estate closing process, such as by reviewing title searches.

Related careers

Occupations recorded as related in the dataset. A relationship does not imply a guaranteed transition.

Paralegals and Legal Assistants salary in other locations

Other occupations in SD