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

Job-title file

Paralegal Specialist

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

93 employees hold this title in Department of Labor. Median total compensation for the role is $99,315, below the department median of $118,941.

Employees: 93
Total payroll: $9.1M
Role median: $99,315
Agency median: $118,941
Comparison: Below

What the records show

Role pay distribution

Pay distribution for this role

$56,363$128,956+

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

How total compensation varies among the 93 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 Labor pays a median base salary of $99,315 for this role, 58% above that figure — about the 88th percentile of local pay for the occupation.

Where Department of Labor sits in the local pay range

10th

25th

Median

75th

90th

$44,740

$50,340

$62,890

$80,080

$101,500

Department of Labor median · $99,315

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

Median total compensation for this role at Department of Labor is $99,315, 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 Labor, the median of $99,315 ranks #31 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

Export-Import Bank of the United States

$119,037 · 1

Fed Retirement Thrift Investment Board

$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 3

Stefanie Mcdonald

Paralegal Specialist/Department of Labor

2024 total comp

$77,513

Sub-department: Office of Secretary of Labor
Base pay: $77,513
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $77,513
Pay grade: 11
Work city: Pittsburgh
Work county: Allegheny
Work state: Pennsylvania

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $77,513
Basic Pay (before locality): $64,177
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 426600003
Length of Service (Years): 3
Occupation Code (OPM): 0950
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Stefanie Mcdonald holds the role of Paralegal Specialist at Department of Labor based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In 2024, their total compensation was $77,513. Their pay grade is 11.

Lorena Quiroz

Paralegal Specialist/Department of Labor

2024 total comp

$77,390

Sub-department: Office of Secretary of Labor
Base pay: $77,390
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $77,390
Pay grade: 11
Work city: El Paso
Work county: El Paso
Work state: Texas

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $77,390
Basic Pay (before locality): $66,247
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 482190141
Length of Service (Years): 4
Occupation Code (OPM): 0950
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Lorena Quiroz works as a Paralegal Specialist for Department of Labor based in El Paso, Texas. Lorena earned $77,390 in 2024. Their pay grade is 11.

Matthew Schmall

Paralegal Specialist/Department of Labor

2024 total comp

$77,274

Sub-department: Office of Secretary of Labor
Base pay: $77,274
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $77,274
Pay grade: 11
Work city: Invalid
Work county: Invalid
Work state: Invalid

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $77,274
Basic Pay (before locality): $62,107
Country: Invalid
Duty Station Code: *
Length of Service (Years): 1
Occupation Code (OPM): 0950
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

At Department of Labor, Matthew Schmall serves as a Paralegal Specialist based in Invalid, Invalid. Their 2024 pay totaled $77,274. They are classified at grade 11.

Matilda Terrell

Paralegal Specialist/Department of Labor

2024 total comp

$75,956

Sub-department: Office of Secretary of Labor
Base pay: $75,956
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $75,956
Pay grade: 09
Work city: Covington
Work county: Saint Tammany
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: 220510103
Length of Service (Years): 30
Occupation Code (OPM): 0950
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

At Department of Labor, Matilda Terrell serves as a Paralegal Specialist based in Covington, Louisiana. Their 2024 pay totaled $75,956. They are classified at grade 09.

Shannon Shedd

Paralegal Specialist/Department of Labor

2024 total comp

$74,972

Sub-department: Office of Secretary of Labor
Base pay: $74,972
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $74,972
Pay grade: 11
Work city: Covington
Work county: Saint Tammany
Work state: Louisiana

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $74,972
Basic Pay (before locality): $64,177
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 220510103
Length of Service (Years): 6
Occupation Code (OPM): 0950
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Shannon Shedd works as a Paralegal Specialist for Department of Labor based in Covington, Louisiana. Shannon earned $74,972 in 2024. Their pay grade is 11.

Amy Ouellette

Paralegal Specialist/Department of Labor

2024 total comp

$73,572

Sub-department: Office of Secretary of Labor
Base pay: $73,572
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $73,572
Pay grade: 11
Work city: Newport News
Work county: Newport News
Work state: Virginia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $73,572
Basic Pay (before locality): $62,107
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 511720700
Length of Service (Years): 1
Occupation Code (OPM): 0950
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Amy Ouellette is a Paralegal Specialist at Department of Labor based in Newport News, Virginia. 2024 total compensation came to $73,572. They are classified at grade 11.

Terri Fitts

Paralegal Specialist/Department of Labor

2024 total comp

$72,965

Sub-department: Office of Secretary of Labor
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): 13
Occupation Code (OPM): 0950
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

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

Marcia Rambert

Paralegal Specialist/Department of Labor

2024 total comp

$69,960

Sub-department: Office of the Solicitor
Base pay: $69,960
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $69,960
Pay grade: 09
Work city: Nashville
Work county: Davidson
Work state: Tennessee

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $69,960
Basic Pay (before locality): $59,887
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 471760037
Length of Service (Years): 16
Occupation Code (OPM): 0950
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Marcia Rambert works as a Paralegal Specialist for Department of Labor based in Nashville, Tennessee. Marcia earned $69,960 in 2024. Their pay grade is 09.

Brooklynn Mcclain

Paralegal Specialist/Department of Labor

2024 total comp

$68,893

Sub-department: Office of the Solicitor
Base pay: $68,893
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $68,893
Pay grade: 09
Work city: Cleveland
Work county: Cuyahoga
Work state: Ohio

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $68,893
Basic Pay (before locality): $56,465
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 391680035
Length of Service (Years): 21
Occupation Code (OPM): 0950
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Brooklynn Mcclain is a Paralegal Specialist at Department of Labor based in Cleveland, Ohio. 2024 total compensation came to $68,893. They are classified at grade 09.

Shaday Waters

Paralegal Specialist/Department of Labor

2024 total comp

$68,405

Sub-department: Office of Secretary of Labor
Base pay: $68,405
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $68,405
Pay grade: 09
Work city: Washington
Work county: District of Columbia
Work state: District of Columbia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $68,405
Basic Pay (before locality): $51,332
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 110010001
Length of Service (Years): 4
Occupation Code (OPM): 0950
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Shaday Waters is a Paralegal Specialist at Department of Labor based in Washington, District of Columbia. 2024 total compensation came to $68,405. They are classified at grade 09.

Ruiz Vidaurre

Paralegal Specialist/Department of Labor

2024 total comp

$67,743

Sub-department: Office of the Solicitor
Base pay: $67,743
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $67,743
Pay grade: 09
Work city: Boston
Work county: Suffolk
Work state: Massachusetts

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $67,743
Basic Pay (before locality): $51,332
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 250120025
Length of Service (Years): 0
Occupation Code (OPM): 0950
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

At Department of Labor, Ruiz Vidaurre serves as a Paralegal Specialist based in Boston, Massachusetts. Their 2024 pay totaled $67,743. They are classified at grade 09.

Amanda Kiel

Paralegal Specialist/Department of Labor

2024 total comp

$66,670

Sub-department: Office of the Solicitor
Base pay: $66,670
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $66,670
Pay grade: 09
Work city: Denver
Work county: Denver
Work state: Colorado

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $66,670
Basic Pay (before locality): $51,332
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 080600031
Length of Service (Years): 4
Occupation Code (OPM): 0950
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Amanda Kiel holds the role of Paralegal Specialist at Department of Labor based in Denver, Colorado. In 2024, their total compensation was $66,670. Their pay grade is 09.

John King

Paralegal Specialist/Department of Labor

2024 total comp

$56,363

Sub-department: Office of Secretary of Labor
Base pay: $55,924
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $439
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $56,363
Pay grade: 07
Work city: Washington
Work county: District of Columbia
Work state: District of Columbia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $55,924
Basic Pay (before locality): $41,966
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 110010001
Length of Service (Years): 0
Occupation Code (OPM): 0950
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

John King is a Paralegal Specialist at Department of Labor based in Washington, District of Columbia. 2024 total compensation came to $56,363. They are classified at grade 07.