Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants pay in California

In California, the median pay for legal secretaries and administrative assistants is $30.22 an hour ($62,860 a year). About 27,470 people work in this job there.

$30.22Median hourly pay
$50,040–$80,650Middle half of workers, yearly
27,470People in this job in California

That is 13% higher than the U.S. median ($55,570). California ranks 8th of 50 states and territories for this job’s median pay.

Pay range for legal secretaries and administrative assistants in California

Earns more thanHourlyYearly
10% of workers$19.57$40,710
25% of workers$24.06$50,040
Half of workers (median)$30.22$62,860
75% of workers$38.78$80,650
90% of workers$51.24$106,580

Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants pay in California metro areas

Metro areaMedian yearly payPeople in this job
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara$87,270660
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont$79,4102,740
Santa Cruz-Watsonville$77,78050
Salinas$75,15080
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara$74,360160
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura$71,670590
Vallejo$64,85050
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim$62,62014,930
Santa Rosa-Petaluma$61,880220
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad$61,7803,420
Stockton-Lodi$60,100140
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles$59,97050
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom$59,4701,610
Napa$59,13030
Fresno$55,820450
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario$54,1001,130
Redding$50,02060
Bakersfield-Delano$49,750150
Visalia$47,750110

California unemployment rate: 5.1% (August 2026), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Education, experience and outlook for legal secretaries and administrative assistants

  • Typical education to start: High school diploma or equivalent (BLS)
  • Related work experience most have: 2 to 4 years (O*NET)
  • Training on the job: Moderate-term on-the-job training (BLS)
  • Job outlook: -5.2% over ten years, declining · about 18,100 openings a year (BLS)

Related jobs in California

JobMedian yearly pay
Office Clerks, General$48,460
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$55,400
Receptionists and Information Clerks$44,100
Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$89,000
Paralegals and Legal Assistants$77,390
Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs$63,520
Medical Records Specialists$61,810
Court, Municipal, and License Clerks$63,320

Other job titles for this job

Legal AdministratorConfidential SecretaryAccredited Legal SecretaryCertified Legal Secretary SpecialistLaw Firm AdministratorLaw Office AssistantLaw SecretaryLegal Administrative AssistantLegal Admin AssistantLegal AdminLegal CoordinatorLegal Executive Assistant

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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates. Figures are for wage and salary workers and do not include the self-employed. The median is the middle wage: half earn more, half earn less. Other job titles: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.