Paralegals and Legal Assistants Salary in California
Paralegals and Legal Assistants in California earn a median of $77,390 a year, +23% compared with the U.S. median.
Updated October 2026 · Data: BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
- Median pay
- $77,390
- vs. U.S. median
- +23% ($62,890)
- Rank among states
- 5 of 51
- Jobs in the state
- 47,130
Pay range in California
The lowest-paid 10% earn under $50,460; the top 10% earn over $119,580. Nationally the range is $44,740 to $101,500.
States ranked near California
Similar jobs in California
- Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants$62,860 median in California
- Judicial Law Clerks$79,030 median in California
- Correspondence Clerks$53,640 median in California
- Insurance Claims and Policy Processing Clerks$56,800 median in California
- Private Detectives and Investigators$61,250 median in California
- Intelligence Analysts$124,840 median in California (broader BLS group)
Paralegals and Legal Assistants pay in California
How much do paralegals and legal assistants make in California?
The median is $77,390 a year. The lowest-paid 10% earn under $50,460 and the top 10% earn over $119,580. BLS OEWS May 2025.
Is California a good state for paralegals and legal assistants?
On pay alone it ranks 5 of 51 (+23% vs. the national median of $62,890). Living costs are not included.