Paralegals and Legal Assistants pay in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara

In San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (CA), the median pay for paralegals and legal assistants is $47.72 an hour ($99,250 a year). About 2,030 people work in this job there.

$47.72Median hourly pay
$77,610–$119,120Middle half of workers, yearly
2,030People in this job in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (CA)

That is 58% higher than the U.S. median ($62,890). It is 28% higher than the California median ($77,390).

Pay range for paralegals and legal assistants in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (CA)

Earns more thanHourlyYearly
10% of workers$28.86$60,030
25% of workers$37.31$77,610
Half of workers (median)$47.72$99,250
75% of workers$57.27$119,120
90% of workers$75.70$157,450

Paralegals and Legal Assistants pay in California metro areas

Metro areaMedian yearly payPeople in this job
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (this page)$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$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 Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (CA)

JobMedian yearly pay
Office Clerks, General$58,840
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$62,940
Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$106,220
Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs$97,900

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.