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

Job-title file

Paralegal Specialist

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

116 employees hold this title in Department of Homeland Security. Median total compensation for the role is $90,105, below the department median of $107,590.

Employees: 116
Total payroll: $11.1M
Role median: $90,105
Agency median: $107,590
Comparison: Below

What the records show

Role pay distribution

Pay distribution for this role

$0$142,185+

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

How total compensation varies among the 116 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 Homeland Security pays a median base salary of $90,675 for this role, 44% above that figure — about the 82nd percentile of local pay for the occupation.

Where Department of Homeland Security sits in the local pay range

10th

25th

Median

75th

90th

$44,740

$50,340

$62,890

$80,080

$101,500

Department of Homeland Security median · $90,675

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 Homeland Security’s median base salary for this role. Both figures are base pay only.

Computed over the 114 of 116 people in this role paid at least $25,000in base salary. The rest are part-year or part-time records, whose actual pay isn’t comparable to a full-time annual wage.

Median total compensation for this role at Department of Homeland Security is $90,105, 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 Homeland Security, the median of $90,105 ranks #44 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

Elaine Alampi

Paralegal Specialist/Department of Homeland Security

2024 total comp

$77,525

Sub-department: U.S. Coast Guard
Base pay: $77,525
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $77,525
Pay grade: 09
Work city: Falling Waters
Work county: Berkeley
Work state: West Virginia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $77,525
Basic Pay (before locality): $58,176
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 540864003
Length of Service (Years): 15
Occupation Code (OPM): 0950
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Elaine Alampi is a Paralegal Specialist at Department of Homeland Security based in Falling Waters, West Virginia. 2024 total compensation came to $77,525. They are classified at grade 09.

Tammie Ciolfi

Paralegal Specialist/Department of Homeland Security

2024 total comp

$77,525

Sub-department: U.S. Coast Guard
Base pay: $77,525
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $77,525
Pay grade: 09
Work city: Falling Waters
Work county: Berkeley
Work state: West Virginia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $77,525
Basic Pay (before locality): $58,176
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 540864003
Length of Service (Years): 15
Occupation Code (OPM): 0950
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

At Department of Homeland Security, Tammie Ciolfi serves as a Paralegal Specialist based in Falling Waters, West Virginia. Their 2024 pay totaled $77,525. They are classified at grade 09.

Jenine Gray

Paralegal Specialist/Department of Homeland Security

2024 total comp

$76,024

Sub-department: U.S. Coast Guard
Base pay: $76,024
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $76,024
Pay grade: 11
Work city: Norfolk
Work county: Norfolk
Work state: Virginia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $76,024
Basic Pay (before locality): $64,177
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 511760710
Length of Service (Years): 12
Occupation Code (OPM): 0950
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Jenine Gray holds the role of Paralegal Specialist at Department of Homeland Security based in Norfolk, Virginia. In 2024, their total compensation was $76,024. Their pay grade is 11.

Nicole Mulmore

Paralegal Specialist/Department of Homeland Security

2024 total comp

$75,956

Sub-department: U.S. Coast Guard
Base pay: $75,956
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $75,956
Pay grade: 09
Work city: New Orleans
Work county: Orleans
Work state: Louisiana

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $75,956
Basic Pay (before locality): $65,020
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 221690071
Length of Service (Years): 22
Occupation Code (OPM): 0950
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Nicole Mulmore is a Paralegal Specialist at Department of Homeland Security based in New Orleans, Louisiana. 2024 total compensation came to $75,956. They are classified at grade 09.

Leslie Carpenter

Paralegal Specialist/Department of Homeland Security

2024 total comp

$75,245

Sub-department: U.S. Coast Guard
Base pay: $75,245
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $75,245
Pay grade: 09
Work city: Falling Waters
Work county: Berkeley
Work state: West Virginia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $75,245
Basic Pay (before locality): $56,465
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 540864003
Length of Service (Years): 26
Occupation Code (OPM): 0950
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Leslie Carpenter works as a Paralegal Specialist for Department of Homeland Security based in Falling Waters, West Virginia. Leslie earned $75,245 in 2024. Their pay grade is 09.

Heather Pittsnogle

Paralegal Specialist/Department of Homeland Security

2024 total comp

$75,245

Sub-department: U.S. Coast Guard
Base pay: $75,245
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $75,245
Pay grade: 09
Work city: Falling Waters
Work county: Berkeley
Work state: West Virginia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $75,245
Basic Pay (before locality): $56,465
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 540864003
Length of Service (Years): 9
Occupation Code (OPM): 0950
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

At Department of Homeland Security, Heather Pittsnogle serves as a Paralegal Specialist based in Falling Waters, West Virginia. Their 2024 pay totaled $75,245. They are classified at grade 09.

Kim Wunderlich

Paralegal Specialist/Department of Homeland Security

2024 total comp

$75,245

Sub-department: Federal Emergency Management Agency
Base pay: $75,245
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $75,245
Pay grade: 09
Work city: Washington
Work county: District of Columbia
Work state: District of Columbia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $75,245
Basic Pay (before locality): $56,465
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 110010001
Length of Service (Years): 1
Occupation Code (OPM): 0950
Pay Plan (OPM): IC

At Department of Homeland Security, Kim Wunderlich serves as a Paralegal Specialist based in Washington, District of Columbia. Their 2024 pay totaled $75,245. They are classified at grade 09.

Kimberly Reid

Paralegal Specialist/Department of Homeland Security

2024 total comp

$75,245

Sub-department: U.S. Coast Guard
Base pay: $75,245
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $75,245
Pay grade: 09
Work city: Falling Waters
Work county: Berkeley
Work state: West Virginia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $75,245
Basic Pay (before locality): $56,465
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 540864003
Length of Service (Years): 16
Occupation Code (OPM): 0950
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

At Department of Homeland Security, Kimberly Reid serves as a Paralegal Specialist based in Falling Waters, West Virginia. Their 2024 pay totaled $75,245. They are classified at grade 09.

Mary Bell

Paralegal Specialist/Department of Homeland Security

2024 total comp

$75,245

Sub-department: U.S. Coast Guard
Base pay: $75,245
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $75,245
Pay grade: 09
Work city: Falling Waters
Work county: Berkeley
Work state: West Virginia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $75,245
Basic Pay (before locality): $56,465
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 540864003
Length of Service (Years): 21
Occupation Code (OPM): 0950
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

At Department of Homeland Security, Mary Bell serves as a Paralegal Specialist based in Falling Waters, West Virginia. Their 2024 pay totaled $75,245. They are classified at grade 09.

Janette Lewis

Paralegal Specialist/Department of Homeland Security

2024 total comp

$75,245

Sub-department: U.S. Coast Guard
Base pay: $75,245
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $75,245
Pay grade: 09
Work city: Falling Waters
Work county: Berkeley
Work state: West Virginia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $75,245
Basic Pay (before locality): $56,465
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 540864003
Length of Service (Years): 9
Occupation Code (OPM): 0950
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Janette Lewis works as a Paralegal Specialist for Department of Homeland Security based in Falling Waters, West Virginia. Janette earned $75,245 in 2024. Their pay grade is 09.

Rebecca Morlock

Paralegal Specialist/Department of Homeland Security

2024 total comp

$75,245

Sub-department: U.S. Coast Guard
Base pay: $75,245
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $75,245
Pay grade: 09
Work city: Falling Waters
Work county: Berkeley
Work state: West Virginia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $75,245
Basic Pay (before locality): $56,465
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 540864003
Length of Service (Years): 33
Occupation Code (OPM): 0950
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Rebecca Morlock holds the role of Paralegal Specialist at Department of Homeland Security based in Falling Waters, West Virginia. In 2024, their total compensation was $75,245. Their pay grade is 09.

Tamaka Washington

Paralegal Specialist/Department of Homeland Security

2024 total comp

$75,245

Sub-department: U.S. Coast Guard
Base pay: $75,245
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $75,245
Pay grade: 09
Work city: Falling Waters
Work county: Berkeley
Work state: West Virginia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $75,245
Basic Pay (before locality): $56,465
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 540864003
Length of Service (Years): 24
Occupation Code (OPM): 0950
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

At Department of Homeland Security, Tamaka Washington serves as a Paralegal Specialist based in Falling Waters, West Virginia. Their 2024 pay totaled $75,245. They are classified at grade 09.

Cynthia Barrett

Paralegal Specialist/Department of Homeland Security

2024 total comp

$75,245

Sub-department: U.S. Coast Guard
Base pay: $75,245
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $75,245
Pay grade: 09
Work city: Falling Waters
Work county: Berkeley
Work state: West Virginia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $75,245
Basic Pay (before locality): $56,465
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 540864003
Length of Service (Years): 16
Occupation Code (OPM): 0950
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Cynthia Barrett is a Paralegal Specialist at Department of Homeland Security based in Falling Waters, West Virginia. 2024 total compensation came to $75,245. They are classified at grade 09.

Elizabeth Kim

Paralegal Specialist/Department of Homeland Security

2024 total comp

$74,642

Sub-department: U.S. Coast Guard
Base pay: $74,642
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $74,642
Pay grade: 09
Work city: Alameda
Work county: Alameda
Work state: California

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $74,642
Basic Pay (before locality): $51,332
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 060010001
Length of Service (Years): 2
Occupation Code (OPM): 0950
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Elizabeth Kim is a Paralegal Specialist at Department of Homeland Security based in Alameda, California. 2024 total compensation came to $74,642. They are classified at grade 09.

Wendy Peters

Paralegal Specialist/Department of Homeland Security

2024 total comp

$73,086

Sub-department: U.S. Coast Guard
Base pay: $73,086
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $73,086
Pay grade: 09
Work city: Topeka
Work county: Shawnee
Work state: Kansas

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $73,086
Basic Pay (before locality): $61,598
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 205400177
Length of Service (Years): 13
Occupation Code (OPM): 0950
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

At Department of Homeland Security, Wendy Peters serves as a Paralegal Specialist based in Topeka, Kansas. Their 2024 pay totaled $73,086. They are classified at grade 09.

Jaunita Rawlings

Paralegal Specialist/Department of Homeland Security

2024 total comp

$72,965

Sub-department: DHS Headquarters
Base pay: $72,965
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $72,965
Pay grade: 09
Work city: Washington
Work county: District of Columbia
Work state: District of Columbia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $72,965
Basic Pay (before locality): $54,754
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 110010001
Length of Service (Years): 4
Occupation Code (OPM): 0950
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

At Department of Homeland Security, Jaunita Rawlings serves as a Paralegal Specialist based in Washington, District of Columbia. Their 2024 pay totaled $72,965. They are classified at grade 09.

Angela Saenz

Paralegal Specialist/Department of Homeland Security

2024 total comp

$72,965

Sub-department: U.S. Coast Guard
Base pay: $72,965
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $72,965
Pay grade: 09
Work city: Falling Waters
Work county: Berkeley
Work state: West Virginia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $72,965
Basic Pay (before locality): $54,754
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 540864003
Length of Service (Years): 18
Occupation Code (OPM): 0950
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Angela Saenz holds the role of Paralegal Specialist at Department of Homeland Security based in Falling Waters, West Virginia. In 2024, their total compensation was $72,965. Their pay grade is 09.