You've done the maths. Now get the insights.
Based on a £30,000 salary and £25,121 take-home, here's what most people miss
Based on a £30,000 salary and £25,121 take-home, here's what most people miss
Get My Insights →Paralegal Pay UK 2025/26
Paralegal is often a stepping stone to qualification as a solicitor or CILEx Fellow, and many paralegals work in this role while studying for professional qualifications. Hays' 2024 survey found median paralegal salary of £28,000 nationally, with significant variation by practice area: conveyancing, personal injury, and family law roles are the most common and the lowest paid, while litigation, corporate, and financial services paralegals in London can earn considerably more. The SQE route now enables paralegals to qualify as solicitors using qualifying legal work experience, removing the need for a traditional training contract.
Based on typical paralegal salaries, here is what you can expect to take home after income tax and National Insurance:
- Junior Paralegal: £19,361 take-home (£22,000 gross, outside London) / £23,681 take-home (£28,000 gross, London)
- Paralegal: £25,121 take-home (£30,000 gross, outside London) / £32,321 take-home (£40,000 gross, London)
- Senior Paralegal / Team Leader: £32,321 take-home (£40,000 gross, outside London) / £42,458 take-home (£55,000 gross, London)
Key facts about paralegal pay:
- Commercial litigation paralegals in London earn £35,000–£55,000; personal injury and conveyancing paralegals nationally earn £22,000–£32,000
- The SQE route allows qualifying with two years of qualifying legal work experience (QLWE); paralegal roles now count toward this
- CILEx qualification allows paralegals to become Chartered Legal Executives, with a salary step-up to £40,000–£65,000 at Fellow level
- In-house paralegal roles at banks and tech companies typically pay better than equivalent private practice roles
- Specialist paralegals (immigration, employment tribunal caseworker) can earn £35,000–£50,000 with advocacy rights
- Senior paralegals in some City firms approach trainee solicitor salary levels, typically £26,000–£35,000
Your taxes (2025/26)
| Year | Month | Week | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Income | £37,500 | £3,125 | £721 |
| Pension Contributions£375 Saved! | £1,875 | £156 | £36 |
| Employer Pension ContributionsPot Increased | £1,125 | £94 | £22 |
| Taxable Income | £35,625 | £2,969 | £685 |
| Personal allowance | £12,570 | - | - |
| National Insurance | £1,843 | £154 | £35 |
| Income Tax | £4,611 | £384 | £89 |
| Take Home Pay | £29,171 | £2,431 | £561 |
| Added to Pension | £3,000 | £250 | £58 |
| Opportunities Found | View My Opportunities → | ||
Paralegal Salary Breakdown UK 2025/26
The table below shows typical paralegal salaries across experience levels and regions, alongside estimated take-home pay after income tax and National Insurance. Click any salary figure to open it in the calculator.
How Paralegal Pay Works in the UK
- Commercial litigation paralegals in London earn £35,000–£55,000; personal injury and conveyancing paralegals nationally earn £22,000–£32,000
- The SQE route allows qualifying with two years of qualifying legal work experience (QLWE); paralegal roles now count toward this
- CILEx qualification allows paralegals to become Chartered Legal Executives, with a salary step-up to £40,000–£65,000 at Fellow level
- In-house paralegal roles at banks and tech companies typically pay better than equivalent private practice roles
- Specialist paralegals (immigration, employment tribunal caseworker) can earn £35,000–£50,000 with advocacy rights
- Senior paralegals in some City firms approach trainee solicitor salary levels, typically £26,000–£35,000
Income Tax and National Insurance in 2025/26
Like all UK workers, paralegals salaries are subject to income tax and National Insurance (NI) contributions. In the 2025/26 tax year:
- Up to £12,570: 0% (Personal Allowance)
- £12,571 to £50,270: 20% (Basic Rate)
- £50,271 to £125,140: 40% (Higher Rate)
- Above £125,140: 45% (Additional Rate)
Employee National Insurance contributions for 2025/26:
- 8% on earnings between £12,570 and £50,270
- 2% on earnings above £50,270
Use the calculator above to see your exact take-home pay after all deductions, including pension contributions and student loan repayments if applicable.
Related Pay Guides
- Solicitor Pay UK 2025/26
- Barrister Pay UK 2025/26
- Legal Executive Pay UK 2025/26
- HR Manager Pay UK 2025/26
- Business Analyst Pay UK 2025/26
Explore Your Finances
Model your expenses, project your wealth, and find your path to financial independence.
Your Monthly Outgoings
Projected Pension
Wealth & Financial Independence More Info
- In today's money, you'll have at least £21,600 / year (£1,800 / month) when you retire at 66 - just from your savings
- In real terms (where inflation is not removed), that's £38,340 / year (£3,195 / month)
- That means all your outgoings are covered without having to make any further contributions!
- All your expenses are covered for your retirement, but your wealth may start to decrease towards old age
Projected Wealth
- FI Target = Annual outgoings (£21,600) * Years needed for 4.00% SWR (25.00) = £540,000
- Invested annual pension = £3,000
- Invested annual surplus = £2,171
- Inflation of 2.5% / year
- Assumes New State Pension, payments increasing with inflation (2.5% / year)
- Assumes student loans last 30 years max
- Assumes a flex-drawdown pension for illustration purposes
- Assumes you draw down pension up to the higher rate bracket (£50,270), then draw down your S&S ISA
- Pension lump sums are not included