U.S. Federal Government (non-Defense) / Department of Commerce / Paralegal Specialist

Job-title file

Paralegal Specialist

Provide legal advice, draft and review documents, and represent the agency in legal matters.

146 employees hold this title in Department of Commerce. Median total compensation for the role is $108,078, below the department median of $127,707.

Employees: 146
Total payroll: $16M
Role median: $108,078
Agency median: $127,707
Comparison: Below

What the records show

Role pay distribution

Pay distribution for this role

$58,068$146,126+

Hover a bar for its range; click to filter the list below.

How total compensation varies among the 146 people in this role. Even for one job title, pay differs with seniority, step, overtime, and tenure. Each bar is a pay range; the far-right bar collects the highest earners.

Compared with the local labor market

Paralegal Specialist pay vs. the United States

Across all employers in the United States, the median wage for Paralegals and Legal Assistants — about 392,880 people — is $62,890. Department of Commerce pays a median base salary of $107,590 for this role, 71% above that figure — above the 90th percentile of local pay for the occupation.

Where Department of Commerce sits in the local pay range

10th

25th

Median

75th

90th

$44,740

$50,340

$62,890

$80,080

$101,500

Department of Commerce median · $107,590

The bar is the range of annual wages for Paralegals and Legal Assistants across every employer in the United States, from the 10th to the 90th percentile, with the middle 50% highlighted. The marker shows Department of Commerce’s median base salary for this role. Both figures are base pay only.

Median total compensation for this role at Department of Commerce is $108,078, which includes overtime and employer-paid benefits. The benchmark above excludes both, so total compensation is deliberately not compared against it.

Benchmark: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025). BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) covers all employers in the area — private, non-profit, and government alike — so this is a comparison against the whole local labor market for the occupation, not against private-sector pay. OEWS wages are straight-time pay and exclude overtime, shift differentials, and employer-paid benefits, so the government figure shown here is base pay on the same basis. Total compensation is not comparable to it. Job titles are matched to the closest standard occupation, so the comparison is between similar work rather than an identical job classification.

Compare departments

This role across U.S. Federal Government (non-Defense)

Paralegal Specialist is held in 54 U.S. Federal Government (non-Defense) departments. In Department of Commerce, the median of $108,078 ranks #21 of 54.

Highest-paying departments for this role

Federal Housing Finance Agency

$176,909 · 1

Securities and Exchange Commission

$145,791 · 84

Commodity Futures Trading Commission

$143,249 · 12

Federal Reserve System

$141,092 · 20

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation

$130,932 · 29

Federal Communications Commission

$128,956 · 5

Department of Treasury

$125,827 · 5

Social Security Administration

$120,246 · 702

Fed Retirement Thrift Investment Board

$119,037 · 1

Export-Import Bank of the United States

$119,037 · 1

U.S. Agency for International Development

$117,962 · 3

Department of Health and Human Services

$115,981 · 65

Median total compensation for the Paralegal Specialist role in other U.S. Federal Government (non-Defense)departments (highest first). Each bar links to that department’s page for this role.

Compare jurisdictions

Paralegal Specialist beyond U.S. Federal Government (non-Defense)

This role is reported in 4 jurisdictions. In U.S. Federal Government (non-Defense), the median of $96,330 ranks #3 of 4. See Paralegal Specialist across all of U.S. Federal Government (non-Defense) →

Highest-paying jurisdictions for this role

Connecticut

$148,330 · 8

District of Columbia

$98,412 · 99

Florida

$44,437 · 405

Median total compensation for comparable Paralegal Specialistroles in other jurisdictions. Titles are matched by normalized name across sources, not identical job classification, and pay is not cost-of-living adjusted. Each bar links to that jurisdiction’s page for the role.

Record list

Employees with this title

Page 1

Tina Lee

Paralegal Specialist/Department of Commerce

2024 total comp

$119,463

Sub-department: Patent and Trademark Office
Base pay: $119,463
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $119,463
Pay grade: 12
Work city: Tucker
Work county: De Kalb
Work state: Georgia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $119,463
Basic Pay (before locality): $96,770
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 135580089
Length of Service (Years): 33
Occupation Code (OPM): 0950
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

At Department of Commerce, Tina Lee serves as a Paralegal Specialist based in Tucker, Georgia. Their 2024 pay totaled $119,463. They are classified at grade 12.

Juliana Lee

Paralegal Specialist/Department of Commerce

2024 total comp

$119,037

Sub-department: Patent and Trademark Office
Base pay: $119,037
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $119,037
Pay grade: 12
Work city: Alexandria
Work county: Alexandria
Work state: Virginia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $119,037
Basic Pay (before locality): $89,327
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 510040510
Length of Service (Years): 9
Occupation Code (OPM): 0950
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

At Department of Commerce, Juliana Lee serves as a Paralegal Specialist based in Alexandria, Virginia. Their 2024 pay totaled $119,037. They are classified at grade 12.

Andrew Kellogg

Paralegal Specialist/Department of Commerce

2024 total comp

$119,037

Sub-department: Patent and Trademark Office
Base pay: $119,037
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $119,037
Pay grade: 12
Work city: Invalid
Work county: Invalid
Work state: Invalid

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $119,037
Basic Pay (before locality): $89,327
Country: Invalid
Duty Station Code: *
Length of Service (Years): 15
Occupation Code (OPM): 0950
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Andrew Kellogg holds the role of Paralegal Specialist at Department of Commerce based in Invalid, Invalid. In 2024, their total compensation was $119,037. Their pay grade is 12.

Patricia Volpe

Paralegal Specialist/Department of Commerce

2024 total comp

$119,028

Sub-department: Patent and Trademark Office
Base pay: $115,731
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $3,297
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $119,028
Pay grade: 12
Work city: Alexandria
Work county: Alexandria
Work state: Virginia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $115,731
Basic Pay (before locality): $86,846
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 510040510
Length of Service (Years): 29
Occupation Code (OPM): 0950
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Patricia Volpe is a Paralegal Specialist at Department of Commerce based in Alexandria, Virginia. 2024 total compensation came to $119,028. They are classified at grade 12.

Julia Caracoza

Paralegal Specialist/Department of Commerce

2024 total comp

$117,972

Sub-department: Nat Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrative
Base pay: $117,972
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $117,972
Pay grade: 12
Work city: Long Beach
Work county: Los Angeles
Work state: California

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $117,972
Basic Pay (before locality): $86,846
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 061970037
Length of Service (Years): 36
Occupation Code (OPM): 0950
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

At Department of Commerce, Julia Caracoza serves as a Paralegal Specialist based in Long Beach, California. Their 2024 pay totaled $117,972. They are classified at grade 12.

Ruiz Rodriguez

Paralegal Specialist/Department of Commerce

2024 total comp

$117,962

Sub-department: Nat Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrative
Base pay: $117,962
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $117,962
Pay grade: 13
Work city: Silver Spring
Work county: Montgomery
Work state: Maryland

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $117,962
Basic Pay (before locality): $88,520
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 241450031
Length of Service (Years): 8
Occupation Code (OPM): 0950
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Ruiz Rodriguez is a Paralegal Specialist at Department of Commerce based in Silver Spring, Maryland. 2024 total compensation came to $117,962. They are classified at grade 13.

Shelley Jamison

Paralegal Specialist/Department of Commerce

2024 total comp

$117,224

Sub-department: Patent and Trademark Office
Base pay: $115,731
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $1,493
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $117,224
Pay grade: 12
Work city: Washington
Work county: District of Columbia
Work state: District of Columbia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $115,731
Basic Pay (before locality): $86,846
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 110010001
Length of Service (Years): 33
Occupation Code (OPM): 0950
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Shelley Jamison holds the role of Paralegal Specialist at Department of Commerce based in Washington, District of Columbia. In 2024, their total compensation was $117,224. Their pay grade is 12.

Michelle Eason

Paralegal Specialist/Department of Commerce

2024 total comp

$116,695

Sub-department: Patent and Trademark Office
Base pay: $112,425
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $4,270
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $116,695
Pay grade: 12
Work city: Hyattsville
Work county: Prince George's
Work state: Maryland

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $112,425
Basic Pay (before locality): $84,365
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 240830033
Length of Service (Years): 33
Occupation Code (OPM): 0950
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Michelle Eason is a Paralegal Specialist at Department of Commerce based in Hyattsville, Maryland. 2024 total compensation came to $116,695. They are classified at grade 12.

Christa Shaffer

Paralegal Specialist/Department of Commerce

2024 total comp

$116,231

Sub-department: Patent and Trademark Office
Base pay: $115,731
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $500
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $116,231
Pay grade: 12
Work city: Rockville
Work county: Montgomery
Work state: Maryland

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $115,731
Basic Pay (before locality): $86,846
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 241360031
Length of Service (Years): 3
Occupation Code (OPM): 0950
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Christa Shaffer holds the role of Paralegal Specialist at Department of Commerce based in Rockville, Maryland. In 2024, their total compensation was $116,231. Their pay grade is 12.

Concetta Butler

Paralegal Specialist/Department of Commerce

2024 total comp

$115,986

Sub-department: Patent and Trademark Office
Base pay: $115,731
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $255
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $115,986
Pay grade: 12
Work city: Hughesville
Work county: Charles
Work state: Maryland

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $115,731
Basic Pay (before locality): $86,846
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 240815017
Length of Service (Years): 30
Occupation Code (OPM): 0950
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Concetta Butler is a Paralegal Specialist at Department of Commerce based in Hughesville, Maryland. 2024 total compensation came to $115,986. They are classified at grade 12.

Ellen Yowell

Paralegal Specialist/Department of Commerce

2024 total comp

$115,731

Sub-department: Patent and Trademark Office
Base pay: $115,731
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $115,731
Pay grade: 12
Work city: Alexandria
Work county: Alexandria
Work state: Virginia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $115,731
Basic Pay (before locality): $86,846
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 510040510
Length of Service (Years): 12
Occupation Code (OPM): 0950
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

At Department of Commerce, Ellen Yowell serves as a Paralegal Specialist based in Alexandria, Virginia. Their 2024 pay totaled $115,731. They are classified at grade 12.