Lawyer vs. Paralegal vs. Compliance Officer
Law related careers with very different education requirements.
Short answer: Lawyers have the highest national median wage of the group at $159,670 (May 2025). Lawyers are projected to grow fastest, +4.7% from 2025 to 2035. Lawyers typically enter with doctoral or professional degree; Paralegals and legal assistants typically enter with associate's degree; Compliance officers typically enter with bachelor's degree.
| Measure | Lawyers | Paralegals and legal assistants | Compliance officers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median annual wage (May 2025) | $159,670 | $62,890 | $80,730 |
| 10th percentile wage | $78,360 | $44,740 | $48,220 |
| 90th percentile wage | $351,600 | $101,500 | $133,720 |
| Employment (May 2025) | 754,500 | 392,880 | 417,070 |
| Projected change, 2025 to 2035 | +4.7% | -0.3% | +3.8% |
| Openings per year | 28,700 | 40,800 | 32,700 |
| Typical entry education | Doctoral or professional degree | Associate's degree | Bachelor's degree |
| Related work experience | None | None | None |
| On-the-job training | None | None | Moderate-term on-the-job training |
| O*NET Job Zone (1 to 5) | 5 | 3 | 4 |
| Self-employed share | 11.3% | 2.1% | 0.7% |
| Top skills | Speaking, Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Critical Thinking | Writing, Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Speaking | Reading Comprehension, Speaking, Active Listening, Writing |
| Licenses and certifications in our library | CT-ATTORNEY-ADMISSION, UBE-NEXTGEN-BAR-MPRE | None listed | None listed |
Wages Verified data describe all workers in each occupation, not starting pay. Growth and openings are Official projection. Highlighted cells mark the highest median wage and fastest projected growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, National. May 2025 reference period. Published April 30, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, Table 1.2: Occupational projections, 2025-35, and worker characteristics, 2025. Base year 2025, projected year 2035. Published August 27, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
Source: National Center for O*NET Development for USDOL/ETA, O*NET 31.0 Database (August 2026 release). Database release 31.0, August 2026; element dates vary by occupation. Published August 25, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.