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Best Jobs in America
MONEY Magazine and Salary.com rate careers on salary and job prospects.
MONEY Magazine and Salary.com
Paralegal
Rank: 27 of 50
Top job in field: Patent Agent II
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GRADES: Stress: C   /   Flexibility: C   /   Creativity: D   /   Difficulty: A

Average pay: $61,204
  Salary Total compensation
(includes bonus)
75% in this career make more than: $50,850 $52,171
50% in this career make more than: $57,788 $59,524
25% in this career make more than: $66,860 $69,320
Top potential compensation (5% make more):   $119,472

10-year job growth: 29.75%
Total jobs 2004: 223,994
Forecast 2014: 290,627
Average annual growth (including new jobs and net replacement): 8,462

Career description
Assist lawyers by researching legal precedent, investigating facts, or preparing legal documents. Conduct research to support a legal proceeding, to formulate a defense, or to initiate legal action.

Top 10: Highest-paying careers
  Average salary
Chief Executives $254,643
Physician/Surgeon $247,536
Oral and maxillofacial surgeons $211,766
Lawyer $153,923
Sales manager $135,903
Financial services sales agents $130,385
Financial managers $128,910
Dentist $122,883
Financial advisor $122,462
Natural sciences managers $116,504

Quick Quiz
Do you deserve a raise? Before plucking up the nerve to go in and ask for a raise, know what your assets and vulnerabilities are.

1. If you left the company, how easy or hard would it be for the company to replace you?
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