Paralegals and Legal Assistants pay in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad

In San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad (CA), the median pay for paralegals and legal assistants is $36.68 an hour ($76,300 a year). About 4,440 people work in this job there.

$36.68Median hourly pay
$59,410–$98,260Middle half of workers, yearly
4,440People in this job in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad (CA)

That is 21% higher than the U.S. median ($62,890). It is about the same as the California median ($77,390).

Pay range for paralegals and legal assistants in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad (CA)

Earns more thanHourlyYearly
10% of workers$23.18$48,210
25% of workers$28.56$59,410
Half of workers (median)$36.68$76,300
75% of workers$47.24$98,260
90% of workers$51.63$107,380

Paralegals and Legal Assistants pay in California metro areas

Metro areaMedian yearly payPeople in this job
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara$99,2502,030
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont$84,0307,630
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara$80,930360
Vallejo$79,280160
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom$78,5502,590
Santa Rosa-Petaluma$78,160290
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim$77,52022,240
Napa$77,02080
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad (this page)$76,3004,440
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles$75,200280
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura$74,780520
Stockton-Lodi$70,520290
Hanford-Corcoran$69,60050
Santa Cruz-Watsonville$64,690150
Visalia$64,380120
Salinas$63,950230
Bakersfield-Delano$63,420300
El Centro$63,00060
Fresno$62,450920
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario$61,4602,460
Merced$61,32090
Yuba City$60,65040
Redding$59,620120
Modesto$58,820420
Chico$58,28090

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 San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad (CA)

JobMedian yearly pay
Office Clerks, General$49,920
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$55,380
Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$84,540
Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants$61,780
Medical Records Specialists$61,480

Other job titles for this job

Law AssociateLegal ClerkCertified ParalegalPreparerContracts SpecialistCorporate Legal AssistantCorporate ParalegalEstate Planning ParalegalFamily Law ParalegalImmigration ParalegalIntellectual Property ParalegalLegal Aide

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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.