U.S. Federal Government (non-Defense) / Social Security Administration / Paralegal Specialist

Job-title file

Paralegal Specialist

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

702 employees hold this title in Social Security Administration. Median total compensation for the role is $120,246, above the department median of $92,904.

Employees: 702
Total payroll: $85.8M
Role median: $120,246
Agency median: $92,904
Comparison: Above

What the records show

Role pay distribution

Pay distribution for this role

$65,962$181,181+

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

How total compensation varies among the 702 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. Social Security Administration pays a median base salary of $120,246 for this role, 91% above that figure — above the 90th percentile of local pay for the occupation.

Where Social Security Administration sits in the local pay range

10th

25th

Median

75th

90th

$44,740

$50,340

$62,890

$80,080

$101,500

Social Security Administration median · $120,246

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

Computed over the 701 of 702 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 Social Security Administration is $120,246, 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 Social Security Administration, the median of $120,246 ranks #8 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

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

Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation

$115,731 · 5

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 2

Karla Hodge

Paralegal Specialist/Social Security Administration

2024 total comp

$130,369

Sub-department: Social Security Administration
Base pay: $130,369
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $130,369
Pay grade: 12
Work city: Houston
Work county: Harris
Work state: Texas

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $130,369
Basic Pay (before locality): $96,770
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 483280201
Length of Service (Years): 36
Occupation Code (OPM): 0950
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Karla Hodge works as a Paralegal Specialist for Social Security Administration based in Houston, Texas. Karla earned $130,369 in 2024. Their pay grade is 12.

Lynn Lyons

Paralegal Specialist/Social Security Administration

2024 total comp

$130,369

Sub-department: Social Security Administration
Base pay: $130,369
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $130,369
Pay grade: 12
Work city: Houston
Work county: Harris
Work state: Texas

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $130,369
Basic Pay (before locality): $96,770
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 483280201
Length of Service (Years): 37
Occupation Code (OPM): 0950
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Lynn Lyons holds the role of Paralegal Specialist at Social Security Administration based in Houston, Texas. In 2024, their total compensation was $130,369. Their pay grade is 12.

Dionne Alexander

Paralegal Specialist/Social Security Administration

2024 total comp

$130,345

Sub-department: Social Security Administration
Base pay: $130,345
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $130,345
Pay grade: 14
Work city: Knoxville
Work county: Knox
Work state: Tennessee

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $130,345
Basic Pay (before locality): $111,578
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 471300093
Length of Service (Years): 12
Occupation Code (OPM): 0950
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Dionne Alexander is a Paralegal Specialist at Social Security Administration based in Knoxville, Tennessee. 2024 total compensation came to $130,345. They are classified at grade 14.

Lynne Rains

Paralegal Specialist/Social Security Administration

2024 total comp

$130,345

Sub-department: Social Security Administration
Base pay: $130,345
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $130,345
Pay grade: 14
Work city: Oklahoma City
Work county: Oklahoma
Work state: Oklahoma

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $130,345
Basic Pay (before locality): $111,578
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 403550109
Length of Service (Years): 22
Occupation Code (OPM): 0950
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Lynne Rains is a Paralegal Specialist at Social Security Administration based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 2024 total compensation came to $130,345. They are classified at grade 14.

Lydia Becker

Paralegal Specialist/Social Security Administration

2024 total comp

$130,030

Sub-department: Social Security Administration
Base pay: $130,030
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $130,030
Pay grade: 13
Work city: Harrisburg
Work county: Dauphin
Work state: Pennsylvania

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $130,030
Basic Pay (before locality): $109,177
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 423500043
Length of Service (Years): 29
Occupation Code (OPM): 0950
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

At Social Security Administration, Lydia Becker serves as a Paralegal Specialist based in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Their 2024 pay totaled $130,030. They are classified at grade 13.

Kin Ng

Paralegal Specialist/Social Security Administration

2024 total comp

$129,890

Sub-department: Social Security Administration
Base pay: $129,890
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $129,890
Pay grade: 12
Work city: Stockton
Work county: San Joaquin
Work state: California

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $129,890
Basic Pay (before locality): $89,327
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 063770077
Length of Service (Years): 14
Occupation Code (OPM): 0950
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

At Social Security Administration, Kin Ng serves as a Paralegal Specialist based in Stockton, California. Their 2024 pay totaled $129,890. They are classified at grade 12.

Edith Romero

Paralegal Specialist/Social Security Administration

2024 total comp

$129,833

Sub-department: Social Security Administration
Base pay: $129,833
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $129,833
Pay grade: 13
Work city: Tucson
Work county: Pima
Work state: Arizona

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $129,833
Basic Pay (before locality): $109,177
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 040530019
Length of Service (Years): 23
Occupation Code (OPM): 0950
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Edith Romero holds the role of Paralegal Specialist at Social Security Administration based in Tucson, Arizona. In 2024, their total compensation was $129,833. Their pay grade is 13.

Jacquelyn Rantin

Paralegal Specialist/Social Security Administration

2024 total comp

$129,759

Sub-department: Social Security Administration
Base pay: $129,759
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $129,759
Pay grade: 13
Work city: Baltimore
Work county: Baltimore
Work state: Maryland

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $129,759
Basic Pay (before locality): $97,373
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 240050510
Length of Service (Years): 27
Occupation Code (OPM): 0950
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

At Social Security Administration, Jacquelyn Rantin serves as a Paralegal Specialist based in Baltimore, Maryland. Their 2024 pay totaled $129,759. They are classified at grade 13.

Miramba Williams

Paralegal Specialist/Social Security Administration

2024 total comp

$129,759

Sub-department: Social Security Administration
Base pay: $129,759
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $129,759
Pay grade: 13
Work city: Washington
Work county: District of Columbia
Work state: District of Columbia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $129,759
Basic Pay (before locality): $97,373
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 110010001
Length of Service (Years): 22
Occupation Code (OPM): 0950
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Miramba Williams holds the role of Paralegal Specialist at Social Security Administration based in Washington, District of Columbia. In 2024, their total compensation was $129,759. Their pay grade is 13.

Mary Steffish

Paralegal Specialist/Social Security Administration

2024 total comp

$129,606

Sub-department: Social Security Administration
Base pay: $129,606
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $129,606
Pay grade: 13
Work city: Akron
Work county: Summit
Work state: Ohio

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $129,606
Basic Pay (before locality): $106,226
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 390070153
Length of Service (Years): 36
Occupation Code (OPM): 0950
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

At Social Security Administration, Mary Steffish serves as a Paralegal Specialist based in Akron, Ohio. Their 2024 pay totaled $129,606. They are classified at grade 13.

Olga Field

Paralegal Specialist/Social Security Administration

2024 total comp

$129,585

Sub-department: Social Security Administration
Base pay: $129,585
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $129,585
Pay grade: 13
Work city: New York - New York
Work county: New York
Work state: New York

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $129,585
Basic Pay (before locality): $94,422
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 364170061
Length of Service (Years): 15
Occupation Code (OPM): 0950
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Olga Field is a Paralegal Specialist at Social Security Administration based in New York - New York, New York. 2024 total compensation came to $129,585. They are classified at grade 13.

Demario Hayes

Paralegal Specialist/Social Security Administration

2024 total comp

$129,585

Sub-department: Social Security Administration
Base pay: $129,585
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $129,585
Pay grade: 13
Work city: New York - Bronx
Work county: Bronx
Work state: New York

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $129,585
Basic Pay (before locality): $94,422
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 364170005
Length of Service (Years): 13
Occupation Code (OPM): 0950
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Demario Hayes holds the role of Paralegal Specialist at Social Security Administration based in New York - Bronx, New York. In 2024, their total compensation was $129,585. Their pay grade is 13.

Daniel Ryan

Paralegal Specialist/Social Security Administration

2024 total comp

$129,585

Sub-department: Social Security Administration
Base pay: $129,585
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $129,585
Pay grade: 13
Work city: Jericho
Work county: Nassau
Work state: New York

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $129,585
Basic Pay (before locality): $94,422
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 362965059
Length of Service (Years): 18
Occupation Code (OPM): 0950
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Daniel Ryan holds the role of Paralegal Specialist at Social Security Administration based in Jericho, New York. In 2024, their total compensation was $129,585. Their pay grade is 13.

Margaret Corona

Paralegal Specialist/Social Security Administration

2024 total comp

$129,364

Sub-department: Social Security Administration
Base pay: $129,364
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $129,364
Pay grade: 13
Work city: San Antonio
Work county: Bexar
Work state: Texas

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $129,364
Basic Pay (before locality): $109,177
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 486090029
Length of Service (Years): 34
Occupation Code (OPM): 0950
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Margaret Corona is a Paralegal Specialist at Social Security Administration based in San Antonio, Texas. 2024 total compensation came to $129,364. They are classified at grade 13.