Paralegals and Legal Assistants pay in California
In California, the median pay for paralegals and legal assistants is $37.21 an hour ($77,390 a year). About 47,130 people work in this job there.
That is 23% higher than the U.S. median ($62,890). California ranks 5th of 51 states and territories for this job’s median pay.
Pay range for paralegals and legal assistants in California
| Earns more than | Hourly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 10% of workers | $24.26 | $50,460 |
| 25% of workers | $28.93 | $60,170 |
| Half of workers (median) | $37.21 | $77,390 |
| 75% of workers | $47.32 | $98,430 |
| 90% of workers | $57.49 | $119,580 |
Paralegals and Legal Assistants pay in California metro areas
| Metro area | Median yearly pay | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $99,250 | 2,030 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $84,030 | 7,630 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $80,930 | 360 |
| Vallejo | $79,280 | 160 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $78,550 | 2,590 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | $78,160 | 290 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $77,520 | 22,240 |
| Napa | $77,020 | 80 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $76,300 | 4,440 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | $75,200 | 280 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $74,780 | 520 |
| Stockton-Lodi | $70,520 | 290 |
| Hanford-Corcoran | $69,600 | 50 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville | $64,690 | 150 |
| Visalia | $64,380 | 120 |
| Salinas | $63,950 | 230 |
| Bakersfield-Delano | $63,420 | 300 |
| El Centro | $63,000 | 60 |
| Fresno | $62,450 | 920 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $61,460 | 2,460 |
| Merced | $61,320 | 90 |
| Yuba City | $60,650 | 40 |
| Redding | $59,620 | 120 |
| Modesto | $58,820 | 420 |
| Chico | $58,280 | 90 |
California unemployment rate: 5.1% (August 2026), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Education, experience and outlook for paralegals and legal assistants
- Typical education to start: Associate's degree (BLS)
- Related work experience most have: 2 to 4 years (O*NET)
- Job outlook: -0.3% over ten years, little or no change · about 40,800 openings a year (BLS)
Related jobs in California
Other job titles for this job
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Post a job freeFind jobsCheck pay for any jobSource: 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.