California Median
$77,390
per year
Hourly Rate
$37.21
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
+23% vs US median
US median $62,890
State Rank
#5 of 51
47,130 employed here
How much do Paralegals and Legal Assistants make in California?
Paralegals and Legal Assistants in California take home a median of $77,390 annually — roughly $37.21 an hour — which runs 23% above the national median of $62,890.
Within California, entry-level pay starts around $50,460 while the top 10% make $119,580 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $60,170 and $98,430 a year.
Paralegals and Legal Assistants salary range in California
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $50,460 | $24.26 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $60,170 | $28.93 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $77,390 | $37.21 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $98,430 | $47.32 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $119,580 | $57.49 |
|
How California compares
California ranks 5th out of 51 states and territories for Paralegals and Legal Assistants pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Paralegals and Legal Assistants salary in other states
District of Columbia $89,750Washington $79,400Colorado $78,190Massachusetts $77,640Minnesota $75,570New Jersey $71,500Alaska $68,700New York $68,410Vermont $67,160Maryland $65,640Nevada $64,680Virginia $63,990Connecticut $63,820Illinois $63,670Pennsylvania $63,370Nebraska $63,250Utah $63,220Delaware $63,110Hawaii $62,840Maine $62,420Georgia $62,400Texas $62,310Michigan $62,170New Hampshire $62,040Arizona $61,630Oregon $61,490Missouri $61,410Florida $61,000Ohio $60,420Louisiana $60,250New Mexico $59,840Kentucky $59,830North Dakota $59,430West Virginia $59,000Tennessee $58,820Wisconsin $58,500South Dakota $58,320North Carolina $57,500Montana $57,290Indiana $57,030Rhode Island $56,250Kansas $55,000Iowa $54,550South Carolina $53,880Oklahoma $53,170Idaho $49,690Wyoming $49,490Arkansas $47,420Alabama $47,260Mississippi $46,180
Working as Paralegals and Legal Assistants in California
Nationally, about 393,000 people work as Paralegals and Legal Assistants in the United States. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
Considering a move? Compare California pay ($77,390) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much do Paralegals and Legal Assistants make in California?
The median Paralegals and Legal Assistants salary in California is $77,390 per year, or about $37.21 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $50,460 at the entry level to $119,580 for the top 10% of earners.
How does California pay compare to the national average?
California pays Paralegals and Legal Assistants about 23% more than the national median of $62,890. California ranks 5th out of 51 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is California a good state for Paralegals and Legal Assistants?
Yes on pay — California pays above the national median for this occupation, at $77,390 a year. About 47,130 Paralegals and Legal Assistants are employed in California. Weigh that against local housing and living costs before moving.
What are the highest-paying jobs in California?
The highest-paying occupations in California include Ophthalmologist, Except Pediatric ($400,150), Neurologist ($357,080), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($353,900), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Paralegals and Legal Assistants salary report
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.