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

Jayme Pallette

Paralegal Specialist/Department of Homeland Security

2024 total comp

$92,073

Sub-department: U.S. Coast Guard
Base pay: $92,073
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $92,073
Pay grade: 11
Work city: Seattle
Work county: King
Work state: Washington

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $92,073
Basic Pay (before locality): $70,387
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 531960033
Length of Service (Years): 14
Occupation Code (OPM): 0950
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Jayme Pallette is a Paralegal Specialist at Department of Homeland Security based in Seattle, Washington. 2024 total compensation came to $92,073. They are classified at grade 11.

James Painter

Paralegal Specialist/Department of Homeland Security

2024 total comp

$91,039

Sub-department: U.S. Coast Guard
Base pay: $91,039
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $91,039
Pay grade: 11
Work city: Falling Waters
Work county: Berkeley
Work state: West Virginia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $91,039
Basic Pay (before locality): $68,317
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 540864003
Length of Service (Years): 17
Occupation Code (OPM): 0950
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

At Department of Homeland Security, James Painter serves as a Paralegal Specialist based in Falling Waters, West Virginia. Their 2024 pay totaled $91,039. They are classified at grade 11.

Brian Macdonald

Paralegal Specialist/Department of Homeland Security

2024 total comp

$90,310

Sub-department: U.S. Coast Guard
Base pay: $90,310
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $90,310
Pay grade: 11
Work city: Alameda
Work county: Alameda
Work state: California

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $90,310
Basic Pay (before locality): $62,107
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 060010001
Length of Service (Years): 6
Occupation Code (OPM): 0950
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Brian Macdonald is a Paralegal Specialist at Department of Homeland Security based in Alameda, California. 2024 total compensation came to $90,310. They are classified at grade 11.

Janice Emig

Paralegal Specialist/Department of Homeland Security

2024 total comp

$89,900

Sub-department: U.S. Coast Guard
Base pay: $89,900
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $89,900
Pay grade: 09
Work city: Houston
Work county: Harris
Work state: Texas

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $89,900
Basic Pay (before locality): $66,731
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 483280201
Length of Service (Years): 29
Occupation Code (OPM): 0950
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Janice Emig is a Paralegal Specialist at Department of Homeland Security based in Houston, Texas. 2024 total compensation came to $89,900. They are classified at grade 09.

Ericka Pollard

Paralegal Specialist/Department of Homeland Security

2024 total comp

$89,900

Sub-department: U.S. Coast Guard
Base pay: $89,900
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $89,900
Pay grade: 09
Work city: Galveston
Work county: Galveston
Work state: Texas

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $89,900
Basic Pay (before locality): $66,731
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 482570167
Length of Service (Years): 16
Occupation Code (OPM): 0950
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Ericka Pollard is a Paralegal Specialist at Department of Homeland Security based in Galveston, Texas. 2024 total compensation came to $89,900. They are classified at grade 09.

Robin Elliott

Paralegal Specialist/Department of Homeland Security

2024 total comp

$88,926

Sub-department: U.S. Coast Guard
Base pay: $88,926
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $88,926
Pay grade: 09
Work city: Falling Waters
Work county: Berkeley
Work state: West Virginia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $88,926
Basic Pay (before locality): $66,731
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 540864003
Length of Service (Years): 28
Occupation Code (OPM): 0950
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

At Department of Homeland Security, Robin Elliott serves as a Paralegal Specialist based in Falling Waters, West Virginia. Their 2024 pay totaled $88,926. They are classified at grade 09.

Katherine Schaefer

Paralegal Specialist/Department of Homeland Security

2024 total comp

$88,926

Sub-department: U.S. Coast Guard
Base pay: $88,926
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $88,926
Pay grade: 09
Work city: Falling Waters
Work county: Berkeley
Work state: West Virginia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $88,926
Basic Pay (before locality): $66,731
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 540864003
Length of Service (Years): 23
Occupation Code (OPM): 0950
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Katherine Schaefer works as a Paralegal Specialist for Department of Homeland Security based in Falling Waters, West Virginia. Katherine earned $88,926 in 2024. Their pay grade is 09.

Pamela Wachter

Paralegal Specialist/Department of Homeland Security

2024 total comp

$88,926

Sub-department: U.S. Coast Guard
Base pay: $88,926
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $88,926
Pay grade: 09
Work city: Falling Waters
Work county: Berkeley
Work state: West Virginia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $88,926
Basic Pay (before locality): $66,731
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 540864003
Length of Service (Years): 34
Occupation Code (OPM): 0950
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Pamela Wachter works as a Paralegal Specialist for Department of Homeland Security based in Falling Waters, West Virginia. Pamela earned $88,926 in 2024. Their pay grade is 09.

Barbara Dodson

Paralegal Specialist/Department of Homeland Security

2024 total comp

$86,646

Sub-department: U.S. Coast Guard
Base pay: $86,646
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $86,646
Pay grade: 09
Work city: Falling Waters
Work county: Berkeley
Work state: West Virginia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $86,646
Basic Pay (before locality): $65,020
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 540864003
Length of Service (Years): 19
Occupation Code (OPM): 0950
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

At Department of Homeland Security, Barbara Dodson serves as a Paralegal Specialist based in Falling Waters, West Virginia. Their 2024 pay totaled $86,646. They are classified at grade 09.

Lynn Stolipher

Paralegal Specialist/Department of Homeland Security

2024 total comp

$86,646

Sub-department: U.S. Coast Guard
Base pay: $86,646
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $86,646
Pay grade: 09
Work city: Falling Waters
Work county: Berkeley
Work state: West Virginia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $86,646
Basic Pay (before locality): $65,020
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 540864003
Length of Service (Years): 19
Occupation Code (OPM): 0950
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

At Department of Homeland Security, Lynn Stolipher serves as a Paralegal Specialist based in Falling Waters, West Virginia. Their 2024 pay totaled $86,646. They are classified at grade 09.

Wynester Askiew

Paralegal Specialist/Department of Homeland Security

2024 total comp

$85,833

Sub-department: U.S. Coast Guard
Base pay: $85,833
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $85,833
Pay grade: 11
Work city: Norfolk
Work county: Norfolk
Work state: Virginia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $85,833
Basic Pay (before locality): $72,457
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 511760710
Length of Service (Years): 34
Occupation Code (OPM): 0950
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

At Department of Homeland Security, Wynester Askiew serves as a Paralegal Specialist based in Norfolk, Virginia. Their 2024 pay totaled $85,833. They are classified at grade 11.

Rainero Navarro

Paralegal Specialist/Department of Homeland Security

2024 total comp

$85,833

Sub-department: U.S. Coast Guard
Base pay: $85,833
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $85,833
Pay grade: 11
Work city: Norfolk
Work county: Norfolk
Work state: Virginia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $85,833
Basic Pay (before locality): $72,457
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 511760710
Length of Service (Years): 15
Occupation Code (OPM): 0950
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Rainero Navarro works as a Paralegal Specialist for Department of Homeland Security based in Norfolk, Virginia. Rainero earned $85,833 in 2024. Their pay grade is 11.

Jennifer Barney

Paralegal Specialist/Department of Homeland Security

2024 total comp

$85,522

Sub-department: U.S. Coast Guard
Base pay: $85,522
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $85,522
Pay grade: 11
Work city: Falling Waters
Work county: Berkeley
Work state: West Virginia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $85,522
Basic Pay (before locality): $64,177
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 540864003
Length of Service (Years): 23
Occupation Code (OPM): 0950
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

At Department of Homeland Security, Jennifer Barney serves as a Paralegal Specialist based in Falling Waters, West Virginia. Their 2024 pay totaled $85,522. They are classified at grade 11.

Jennifer Garcete

Paralegal Specialist/Department of Homeland Security

2024 total comp

$85,522

Sub-department: Federal Emergency Management Agency
Base pay: $85,522
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $85,522
Pay grade: 11
Work city: Washington
Work county: District of Columbia
Work state: District of Columbia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $85,522
Basic Pay (before locality): $64,177
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, Jennifer Garcete serves as a Paralegal Specialist based in Washington, District of Columbia. Their 2024 pay totaled $85,522. They are classified at grade 11.

Michael Flowers

Paralegal Specialist/Department of Homeland Security

2024 total comp

$85,522

Sub-department: DHS Headquarters
Base pay: $85,522
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $85,522
Pay grade: 11
Work city: Washington
Work county: District of Columbia
Work state: District of Columbia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $85,522
Basic Pay (before locality): $64,177
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 110010001
Length of Service (Years): 1
Occupation Code (OPM): 0950
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Michael Flowers is a Paralegal Specialist at Department of Homeland Security based in Washington, District of Columbia. 2024 total compensation came to $85,522. They are classified at grade 11.

Lorenzo Felton

Paralegal Specialist/Department of Homeland Security

2024 total comp

$85,522

Sub-department: U.S. Coast Guard
Base pay: $85,522
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $85,522
Pay grade: 11
Work city: Washington
Work county: District of Columbia
Work state: District of Columbia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $85,522
Basic Pay (before locality): $64,177
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, Lorenzo Felton serves as a Paralegal Specialist based in Washington, District of Columbia. Their 2024 pay totaled $85,522. They are classified at grade 11.

Linnea Miller

Paralegal Specialist/Department of Homeland Security

2024 total comp

$85,522

Sub-department: Federal Emergency Management Agency
Base pay: $85,522
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $85,522
Pay grade: 11
Work city: Washington
Work county: District of Columbia
Work state: District of Columbia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $85,522
Basic Pay (before locality): $64,177
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 110010001
Length of Service (Years): 2
Occupation Code (OPM): 0950
Pay Plan (OPM): IC

Linnea Miller works as a Paralegal Specialist for Department of Homeland Security based in Washington, District of Columbia. Linnea earned $85,522 in 2024. Their pay grade is 11.