Est. Earnings (1yr)
$40,429
Est. from national median (41 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$19,500
Est. from national median (15 programs)

Analysis

A first-year salary of roughly $40,400 puts this paralegal certificate in line with national norms but slightly below the Florida median of $42,182. Nearby programs at Hillsborough Community College and Rasmussen show similar outcomes, suggesting this field produces fairly consistent entry-level earnings across the state. The estimated $19,500 debt load—derived from comparable technical college programs—translates to a manageable 0.48 ratio, meaning graduates would owe less than half their first-year income.

What matters here is context: legal support roles in Florida's Panhandle likely pay less than those in Tampa or Miami, where many comparable programs are located. If your child plans to work in Northwest Florida, that $42,000 state median may overstate realistic local expectations. The debt figure seems reasonable for a certificate program at a technical college, though you'll want to confirm actual costs since this number is based on peer institutions rather than Radford Locklin's specific aid packages.

The practical calculation is straightforward. If your child can complete this credential efficiently and land steady work as a paralegal or legal assistant, the debt burden shouldn't be overwhelming. But given the narrow salary range across Florida programs, don't expect dramatically higher earnings from this credential compared to alternatives—the value depends largely on local job availability in Milton and surrounding areas.

Where Radford M Locklin Technical College Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all legal support services certificate's programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs in Florida

Legal Support Services certificate's programs at peer institutions in Florida (23 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
Radford M Locklin Technical CollegeMilton—$40,429*—$19,500*—
Hillsborough Community CollegeTampa$2,506$43,871*—$27,000*0.62
Rasmussen University-FloridaOcala$15,117$40,492*—$28,796*0.71
National Median—$40,429*—$20,834*0.52
* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with legal support services graduates

Court Reporters and Simultaneous Captioners

Use verbatim methods and equipment to capture, store, retrieve, and transcribe pretrial and trial proceedings or other information. Includes stenocaptioners who operate computerized stenographic captioning equipment to provide captions of live or prerecorded broadcasts for hearing-impaired viewers.

$67,310/yrJobs growth:Postsecondary nondegree award

Paralegals and Legal Assistants

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

$61,010/yrJobs growth:Associate's degree

Interpreters and Translators

Interpret oral or sign language, or translate written text from one language into another.

$59,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants

Perform secretarial duties using legal terminology, procedures, and documents. Prepare legal papers and correspondence, such as summonses, complaints, motions, and subpoenas. May also assist with legal research.

$47,460/yrJobs growth:High school diploma or equivalent

Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers

Search real estate records, examine titles, or summarize pertinent legal or insurance documents or details for a variety of purposes. May compile lists of mortgages, contracts, and other instruments pertaining to titles by searching public and private records for law firms, real estate agencies, or title insurance companies.

Legal Support Workers, All Other

All legal support workers not listed separately.

About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Radford M Locklin Technical College, approximately 16% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the national median of 41 similar programs. Actual outcomes may vary.