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

Job-title file

Paralegal Specialist

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

806 employees hold this title in Department of Justice. Median total compensation for the role is $85,522, below the department median of $153,354.

Employees: 806
Total payroll: $68.3M
Role median: $85,522
Agency median: $153,354
Comparison: Below

What the records show

Role pay distribution

Pay distribution for this role

$54,728$128,956+

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

How total compensation varies among the 806 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 Justice pays a median base salary of $85,379 for this role, 36% above that figure — about the 79th percentile of local pay for the occupation.

Where Department of Justice sits in the local pay range

10th

25th

Median

75th

90th

$44,740

$50,340

$62,890

$80,080

$101,500

Department of Justice median · $85,379

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

Median total compensation for this role at Department of Justice is $85,522, 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 Justice, the median of $85,522 ranks #46 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

Mary Avalos

Paralegal Specialist/Department of Justice

2024 total comp

$76,702

Sub-department: U.S. Trustee Program
Base pay: $76,702
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $76,702
Pay grade: 09
Work city: Riverside
Work county: Riverside
Work state: California

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $76,702
Basic Pay (before locality): $56,465
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 063070065
Length of Service (Years): 11
Occupation Code (OPM): 0950
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Mary Avalos holds the role of Paralegal Specialist at Department of Justice based in Riverside, California. In 2024, their total compensation was $76,702. Their pay grade is 09.

Adela Salgado

Paralegal Specialist/Department of Justice

2024 total comp

$76,702

Sub-department: U.S. Trustee Program
Base pay: $76,702
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $76,702
Pay grade: 09
Work city: Riverside
Work county: Riverside
Work state: California

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $76,702
Basic Pay (before locality): $56,465
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 063070065
Length of Service (Years): 3
Occupation Code (OPM): 0950
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Adela Salgado works as a Paralegal Specialist for Department of Justice based in Riverside, California. Adela earned $76,702 in 2024. Their pay grade is 09.

Christi Thompson

Paralegal Specialist/Department of Justice

2024 total comp

$76,003

Sub-department: U.S. Trustee Program
Base pay: $76,003
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $76,003
Pay grade: 09
Work city: Dallas
Work county: Dallas
Work state: Texas

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $76,003
Basic Pay (before locality): $59,887
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 481730113
Length of Service (Years): 35
Occupation Code (OPM): 0950
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Christi Thompson is a Paralegal Specialist at Department of Justice based in Dallas, Texas. 2024 total compensation came to $76,003. They are classified at grade 09.

Shannon Tingle

Paralegal Specialist/Department of Justice

2024 total comp

$75,715

Sub-department: U.S. Trustee Program
Base pay: $75,715
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $75,715
Pay grade: 11
Work city: Richmond
Work county: Richmond
Work state: Virginia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $75,715
Basic Pay (before locality): $62,107
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 512060760
Length of Service (Years): 0
Occupation Code (OPM): 0950
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

At Department of Justice, Shannon Tingle serves as a Paralegal Specialist based in Richmond, Virginia. Their 2024 pay totaled $75,715. They are classified at grade 11.

Michael Kester

Paralegal Specialist/Department of Justice

2024 total comp

$75,245

Sub-department: Offices, Boards and Divisions
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): GS

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

Luz Deloria

Paralegal Specialist/Department of Justice

2024 total comp

$75,245

Sub-department: Executive Office for Immigration Review
Base pay: $75,245
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $75,245
Pay grade: 09
Work city: Falls Church
Work county: Falls Church
Work state: Virginia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $75,245
Basic Pay (before locality): $56,465
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 510930610
Length of Service (Years): 2
Occupation Code (OPM): 0950
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

At Department of Justice, Luz Deloria serves as a Paralegal Specialist based in Falls Church, Virginia. Their 2024 pay totaled $75,245. They are classified at grade 09.

Lillian Tejada

Paralegal Specialist/Department of Justice

2024 total comp

$75,144

Sub-department: Offices, Boards and Divisions
Base pay: $75,144
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $75,144
Pay grade: 09
Work county: Kings
Work state: New York

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $75,144
Basic Pay (before locality): $54,754
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 360000047
Length of Service (Years): 2
Occupation Code (OPM): 0950
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Lillian Tejada works as a Paralegal Specialist for Department of Justice based in New York. Lillian earned $75,144 in 2024. Their pay grade is 09.

Maldonad Montalvo

Paralegal Specialist/Department of Justice

2024 total comp

$74,972

Sub-department: U.S. Trustee Program
Base pay: $74,972
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $74,972
Pay grade: 11
Work city: San Juan
Work state: No Data Reported

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $74,972
Basic Pay (before locality): $64,177
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: RQ0930000
Length of Service (Years): 3
Occupation Code (OPM): 0950
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Maldonad Montalvo works as a Paralegal Specialist for Department of Justice based in San Juan, No Data Reported. Maldonad earned $74,972 in 2024. Their pay grade is 11.

Jennifer Dunn

Paralegal Specialist/Department of Justice

2024 total comp

$74,972

Sub-department: U.S. Trustee Program
Base pay: $74,972
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $74,972
Pay grade: 11
Work city: Roanoke
Work county: Roanoke
Work state: Virginia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $74,972
Basic Pay (before locality): $64,177
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 512100770
Length of Service (Years): 3
Occupation Code (OPM): 0950
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Jennifer Dunn holds the role of Paralegal Specialist at Department of Justice based in Roanoke, Virginia. In 2024, their total compensation was $74,972. Their pay grade is 11.

Heidi Poda

Paralegal Specialist/Department of Justice

2024 total comp

$74,972

Sub-department: U.S. Trustee Program
Base pay: $74,972
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $74,972
Pay grade: 11
Work city: Roanoke
Work county: Roanoke
Work state: Virginia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $74,972
Basic Pay (before locality): $64,177
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 512100770
Length of Service (Years): 18
Occupation Code (OPM): 0950
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Heidi Poda holds the role of Paralegal Specialist at Department of Justice based in Roanoke, Virginia. In 2024, their total compensation was $74,972. Their pay grade is 11.

Leeandia Rodgers

Paralegal Specialist/Department of Justice

2024 total comp

$74,972

Sub-department: U.S. Trustee Program
Base pay: $74,972
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $74,972
Pay grade: 11
Work city: Memphis
Work county: Shelby
Work state: Tennessee

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $74,972
Basic Pay (before locality): $64,177
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 471620157
Length of Service (Years): 18
Occupation Code (OPM): 0950
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Leeandia Rodgers holds the role of Paralegal Specialist at Department of Justice based in Memphis, Tennessee. In 2024, their total compensation was $74,972. Their pay grade is 11.

Rachelle Hughes

Paralegal Specialist/Department of Justice

2024 total comp

$74,972

Sub-department: U.S. Trustee Program
Base pay: $74,972
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $74,972
Pay grade: 11
Work city: Salt Lake City
Work county: Salt Lake
Work state: Utah

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $74,972
Basic Pay (before locality): $64,177
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 491700035
Length of Service (Years): 18
Occupation Code (OPM): 0950
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Rachelle Hughes works as a Paralegal Specialist for Department of Justice based in Salt Lake City, Utah. Rachelle earned $74,972 in 2024. Their pay grade is 11.

Ali Hasan

Paralegal Specialist/Department of Justice

2024 total comp

$74,642

Sub-department: Offices, Boards and Divisions
Base pay: $74,642
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $74,642
Pay grade: 09
Work city: San Francisco
Work county: San Francisco
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: 063290075
Length of Service (Years): 1
Occupation Code (OPM): 0950
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

At Department of Justice, Ali Hasan serves as a Paralegal Specialist based in San Francisco, California. Their 2024 pay totaled $74,642. They are classified at grade 09.

Andrea Levan

Paralegal Specialist/Department of Justice

2024 total comp

$74,642

Sub-department: Offices, Boards and Divisions
Base pay: $74,642
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $74,642
Pay grade: 09
Work city: San Francisco
Work county: San Francisco
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: 063290075
Length of Service (Years): 1
Occupation Code (OPM): 0950
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

At Department of Justice, Andrea Levan serves as a Paralegal Specialist based in San Francisco, California. Their 2024 pay totaled $74,642. They are classified at grade 09.

Morgan Filgas

Paralegal Specialist/Department of Justice

2024 total comp

$74,642

Sub-department: Offices, Boards and Divisions
Base pay: $74,642
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $74,642
Pay grade: 09
Work city: San Francisco
Work county: San Francisco
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: 063290075
Length of Service (Years): 1
Occupation Code (OPM): 0950
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Morgan Filgas works as a Paralegal Specialist for Department of Justice based in San Francisco, California. Morgan earned $74,642 in 2024. Their pay grade is 09.

Lara Kosar

Paralegal Specialist/Department of Justice

2024 total comp

$74,642

Sub-department: Offices, Boards and Divisions
Base pay: $74,642
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $74,642
Pay grade: 09
Work city: San Francisco
Work county: San Francisco
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: 063290075
Length of Service (Years): 1
Occupation Code (OPM): 0950
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

At Department of Justice, Lara Kosar serves as a Paralegal Specialist based in San Francisco, California. Their 2024 pay totaled $74,642. They are classified at grade 09.

Esteban Mendoza

Paralegal Specialist/Department of Justice

2024 total comp

$74,642

Sub-department: Offices, Boards and Divisions
Base pay: $74,642
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $74,642
Pay grade: 09
Work city: San Francisco
Work county: San Francisco
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: 063290075
Length of Service (Years): 1
Occupation Code (OPM): 0950
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Esteban Mendoza holds the role of Paralegal Specialist at Department of Justice based in San Francisco, California. In 2024, their total compensation was $74,642. Their pay grade is 09.

Hanh Phan

Paralegal Specialist/Department of Justice

2024 total comp

$74,642

Sub-department: Offices, Boards and Divisions
Base pay: $74,642
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $74,642
Pay grade: 09
Work city: San Francisco
Work county: San Francisco
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: 063290075
Length of Service (Years): 1
Occupation Code (OPM): 0950
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

At Department of Justice, Hanh Phan serves as a Paralegal Specialist based in San Francisco, California. Their 2024 pay totaled $74,642. They are classified at grade 09.

Benjamin Salinger

Paralegal Specialist/Department of Justice

2024 total comp

$74,642

Sub-department: Offices, Boards and Divisions
Base pay: $74,642
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $74,642
Pay grade: 09
Work city: San Francisco
Work county: San Francisco
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: 063290075
Length of Service (Years): 1
Occupation Code (OPM): 0950
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Benjamin Salinger works as a Paralegal Specialist for Department of Justice based in San Francisco, California. Benjamin earned $74,642 in 2024. Their pay grade is 09.

Tracy Bryant

Paralegal Specialist/Department of Justice

2024 total comp

$74,517

Sub-department: U.S. Trustee Program
Base pay: $74,517
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $74,517
Pay grade: 09
Work city: Concord
Work county: Merrimack
Work state: New Hampshire

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $74,517
Basic Pay (before locality): $56,465
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 330070013
Length of Service (Years): 3
Occupation Code (OPM): 0950
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Tracy Bryant works as a Paralegal Specialist for Department of Justice based in Concord, New Hampshire. Tracy earned $74,517 in 2024. Their pay grade is 09.

Saronda Gillespie

Paralegal Specialist/Department of Justice

2024 total comp

$74,299

Sub-department: U.S. Trustee Program
Base pay: $74,299
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $74,299
Pay grade: 11
Work city: Saint Louis
Work county: Saint Louis
Work state: Missouri

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $74,299
Basic Pay (before locality): $62,107
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 297080510
Length of Service (Years): 0
Occupation Code (OPM): 0950
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Saronda Gillespie is a Paralegal Specialist at Department of Justice based in Saint Louis, Missouri. 2024 total compensation came to $74,299. They are classified at grade 11.

Christina Locondro

Paralegal Specialist/Department of Justice

2024 total comp

$73,969

Sub-department: U.S. Trustee Program
Base pay: $73,969
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $73,969
Pay grade: 11
Work city: Harrisburg
Work county: Dauphin
Work state: Pennsylvania

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $73,969
Basic Pay (before locality): $62,107
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 423500043
Length of Service (Years): 0
Occupation Code (OPM): 0950
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Christina Locondro holds the role of Paralegal Specialist at Department of Justice based in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. In 2024, their total compensation was $73,969. Their pay grade is 11.