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Legal Support Services at Tacoma Community College

Tacoma, WA · Public · Certificate

a compact campus enrolling 4,248 students in Tacoma, WA.

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $50,681 put Tacoma Community College's Legal Support Services program 37% above the national median of $36,991 — one of the higher-earning programs in this field.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 114.9x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Legal Support Services programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Legal Support Services's career paths, with 61% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 9% gap from the optimistic case.

At #4 of 127 nationally, this is a top-5% Legal Support Services program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

There are 2 registered apprenticeship pathways mapped to Legal Support Services, including Legal Secretary (median $54,140/yr). Apprenticeships offer an alternative route that combines paid work with structured training.

66 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
60
Low End
66
Score
69
High End
Earnings $50,681/yr (37% vs median)
AI-Proof Exposed (39% shielded)
Job Market Large (77,600 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$581K
3.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
118.1x
10-year earnings ÷ tuition
Viable Career Paths
6 of 6
Occupations with strong AI resilience

Projected 10-Year Earnings

Based on actual graduate salary data and Bureau of Labor Statistics growth projections.

Program Tuition (In-State)
$4,920
Out-of-state: $11,030

Top Career Paths

Top career paths for Legal Support Services graduates by median salary.

Career Path Median Salary Growth AI-ProofAI
Legal support workers, all other $68,760 -1.2% 100%
Court reporters and simultaneous captioners $67,310 -0.3% 4%
Paralegals and legal assistants $61,010 +0.2% 48%
Legal support workers, all other
$68,760
-1.2% growth 100% AI-proof
Court reporters and simultaneous captioners
$67,310
-0.3% growth 4% AI-proof
Paralegals and legal assistants
$61,010
+0.2% growth 48% AI-proof

View all 6 career paths with full salary data →

About Legal Support Services Careers

Your work will be at the heart of the legal process. As a paralegal, you’ll spend your days in a law office, drafting motions, organizing evidence for trial, and using research databases to find case-critical information. You might also work as a legal assistant, managing an attorney's busy calendar, electronically filing documents with the court, and serving as the primary point of contact for clients during stressful times.

Read the full Legal Support Services career guide →

Compare & Explore

Legal Support Services Overview

View all 127 schools offering Legal Support Services →

Legal Support Services at Other Schools

Inver Hills Community College ($49,694) Des Moines Area Community College ($49,137) North Hennepin Community College ($48,960) Loyola University Chicago ($48,819) North Hennepin Community College ($48,599) MTI College ($47,535) Palm Beach State College ($46,622) Austin Community College District ($46,216)

Other Majors at Tacoma Community College

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($82,447) Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions ($73,435) Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services ($58,382) Human Services, General ($41,008) Business/Commerce, General ($40,863) Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services ($32,779) Accounting and Related Services ($29,188) General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations ($26,283)

Explore the Degree Alternative

Compare Legal Support Services degree programs on DegreeOutlook →

Not sure if a trade program or four-year degree fits better? Compare both paths.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the TradeSchoolOutlook Score for Legal Support Services at Tacoma Community College?
At 66/100, Tacoma Community College's Legal Support Services program delivers middling returns. School cost and personal fit become important decision factors.
How vulnerable is Legal Support Services to AI automation?
With 61% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $530,236 in decade earnings vs $580,999 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
What makes Tacoma Community College's Legal Support Services program stand out?
The #4 ranking out of 127 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable, and the job market supports this trade.
Can I learn Legal Support Services through an apprenticeship instead?
Yes — 2 registered apprenticeship programs are mapped to Legal Support Services career paths, including Legal Secretary. Apprenticeships offer paid on-the-job training as an alternative or complement to certificate programs.
Is there demand for Legal Support Services workers?
The career paths mapped to Legal Support Services have roughly 77,600 combined annual openings nationally, making this a large job market. Trade careers in this field benefit from consistent replacement demand as workers retire.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →