Paralegal in Texas

Requirements, salary data, licensing costs, and career ROI for TX. Updated with 2024 BLS OEWS wage data.

Median annual salary

$59,700

trending_down -2.1% vs. national

BLS OEWS 2024, Texas.

engineering

28,770

Jobs (TX)

monitoring Stable

+0.2%

10-yr job growth

payments

$605

Licensing fees

route How to become a paralegal in Texas

To become a Board Certified Paralegal in Texas, individuals must obtain voluntary certification through the Texas Board of Legal Specialization (TBLS). This advanced credential requires a minimum of five years of paralegal experience, with three of those years in Texas, and a significant portion of duties (at least 50%) dedicated to a chosen specialty area. Candidates must meet specific educational prerequisites, pass a 4-hour written examination, and complete 75 hours of continuing legal education every five years for renewal. Texas does not require a state license to work as a paralegal.

bar_chart Salary percentiles

10th percentile (entry) $37,850

25th percentile $46,180

50th (median) $59,700

75th percentile $74,650

90th (experienced) $96,530

Source: BLS OEWS 2024 for Texas. Metro-area wages may differ significantly from the state aggregate.

checklist Texas requirements

Licensing body	Texas Board of Legal Specialization (TBLS)
State license	Not required
Education	Varies by specialty. Requires a Baccalaureate or higher degree; OR successful completion of the NALA Certification examination; OR an ABA-approved paralegal program; OR a paralegal program with a minimum of 60 semester credit hours (at least 18 in substantive legal courses); OR a paralegal program with at least 18 semester credit hours of substantive legal courses plus 45 semester credit hours of general college curriculum courses; OR two additional years of paralegal experience for a total of 7 years.
Experience	5.0 hours
Exam	TBLS Board Certification Exam (by specialty area) ($355)
Application fee	$250
Renewal	Every 5.0 years
Continuing education	75.0 hours per cycle
Notes	Texas does not require a license to work as a paralegal. The Texas Board of Legal Specialization (TBLS) offers a voluntary, advanced 'Board Certified Paralegal' credential in eight specific areas of law for highly experienced paralegals. Applicants must have a minimum of 5 years of paralegal experience (3 years in Texas) and devote at least 50% of their paralegal duties to the specialty area. The exam is a 4-hour written examination. All fees are non-refundable and subject to change. There is also an annual fee of $200.00.

Source: Texas Board of Legal Specialization (TBLS)

work_outline Job outlook

10-year growth

+0.2%

Average

Annual openings

39,300

Nationwide per year

Total employment

376,200

Nationwide

neurology

AI & tech impact

error High exposure 1.29/1.00

Many tasks in this career are susceptible to AI automation. Long-term career planning should account for potential disruption.

hub

balance Is it worth it?

infoNo state license required — lower barrier but weaker signal
warningElevated AI disruption risk

psychology

Wondering if a paralegal career is the right fit?

See what the day actually looks like, who the role suits, and who should skip it — grounded in real practitioner sources.

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Frequently asked questions

What are the steps to becoming a paralegal in Texas? expand_more

Texas requires paralegals to complete the required education (Varies by specialty. Requires a Baccalaureate or higher degree; OR successful completion of the NALA Certification examination; OR an ABA-approved paralegal program; OR a paralegal program with a minimum of 60 semester credit hours (at least 18 in substantive legal courses); OR a paralegal program with at least 18 semester credit hours of substantive legal courses plus 45 semester credit hours of general college curriculum courses; OR two additional years of paralegal experience for a total of 7 years.), gain 5.0 hours of supervised experience, pass the TBLS Board Certification Exam (by specialty area), and submit your application ($250 fee).

Can I work as a paralegal in Texas without a license? expand_more

No state license is needed to work as a paralegal in Texas. Note: Texas does not require a license to work as a paralegal. The Texas Board of Legal Specialization (TBLS) offers a voluntary, advanced 'Board Certified Paralegal' credential in eight specific areas of law for highly experienced paralegals. Applicants must have a minimum of 5 years of paralegal experience (3 years in Texas) and devote at least 50% of their paralegal duties to the specialty area. The exam is a 4-hour written examination. All fees are non-refundable and subject to change. There is also an annual fee of $200.00.

What do paralegals earn in Texas? expand_more

The median paralegal salary in Texas is $59,700 per year. — within a few percent of the $61,010 national figure. New paralegals start around $37,850; seasoned professionals can reach $96,530.

How expensive is paralegal licensing in Texas? expand_more

Between exam fee ($355) and application fee ($250), expect to invest around varies in total to get started.

Does Texas require continuing education for paralegals? expand_more

Yes — paralegals in Texas must complete 75.0 CE hours every 5.0 years to stay licensed.