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Paralegal salary in California

Updated October 30, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Published by Humblebee.

$77,390median pay per year in California, or $37.21 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $50,460lowest 10% earn less
  2. $60,17025th percentile
  3. $77,390median
  4. $98,43075th percentile
  5. $119,580top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[2]US median for this job, $62,890[3]

The median pay for paralegals in California was $77,390 a year in May 2025[1]. That was $14,500 higher than the US median[6].

Jobs in CA
47,130[4]
Rank by median pay
5 of 51[5]
Compared with US median
+23.1%[6]

How much do paralegals make in California?

Half of paralegals in California earned more than $77,390 a year, or $37.21 an hour, and half earned less[1]. The average was $81,320 a year[7]. Across the US, the median for paralegals was $62,890[3]. California had the 5th highest median among the 50 states and DC[5]. Paralegals in the state also earned $19,150 more at the median than all jobs in California, where the median was $58,240[8][9].

The lowest-paid 10% of paralegals in California earned less than $50,460 a year[2]. The top 10% earned more than $119,580[2]. The middle half of workers fell between $60,170 and $98,430[2]. About 47,130 people worked as paralegals in the state[4].

Pay differs by metro area. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara had the highest median of the 25 metro areas with a published figure, at $99,250[10]. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont came in at $84,030, and Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim at $77,520[11]. OEWS counts wage and salary workers only. It leaves out the self-employed, and its wages do not include bonuses or the cost of benefits like health insurance[12].

California vs US pay

Pay for paralegals in California next to the national figures[1][3].

CAUS
Median per year$77,390[1]$62,890[3]
Median per hour$37.21[1]$30.24[3]
Lowest 10% earn less than$50,460[2]$44,740[13]
Top 10% earn more than$119,580[2]$101,500[13]
Jobs47,130[4]392,880[3]

Pay by metro area in California

Metro areas in California with the most jobs for paralegals, and the median pay in each[11].

Metro areaMedian per yearJobs
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA[11]$77,52022,240
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$84,0307,630
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$76,3004,440
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$78,5502,590
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA$61,4602,460
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$99,2502,030
Fresno, CA$62,450920
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA$74,780520

Pay in nearby states

Median pay for paralegals in the states that border California, highest first[14].

StateMedian per yearJobs
Nevada[14]$64,6803,620
Arizona$61,6307,890
Oregon$61,4904,870

Median pay for paralegals in every state

Job outlook and training

Across the US, jobs for paralegals are projected to decline 0.3% from 2025 to 2035[15]. BLS does not publish this projection by state. The typical education for entry is: associate's degree[16].

How to become one: steps, training and duties

Frequently asked questions

How much does a paralegal make in California?
The median wage for paralegals in California was $77,390 a year in May 2025, and the average was $81,320[1][7].
How much does a paralegal make an hour in California?
The median hourly wage was $37.21[1]. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $24.26 an hour, and the top 10% earned more than $57.49[17][2].
Which city in California pays paralegals the most?
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara had the highest median among the metro areas with a published figure, at $99,250 a year[10].
Is California a good state for paralegals?
California had the 5th highest median annual wage for paralegals among the 50 states and DC[5]. Its median was $14,500 higher than the US median[6].
What do you need to become a paralegal in California?
This is a US figure, not a California one. Across the US, the typical education for entry is an associate's degree, with no related work experience or on-the-job training listed[16].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Paralegals and Legal Assistants in California was $77,390 per year and $37.21 per hour. Half of these workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Paralegals and Legal Assistants in California: 10th percentile $50,460, 25th percentile $60,170, 75th percentile $98,430, 90th percentile $119,580. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less, the 90th means 10% earned more. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  3. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Paralegals and Legal Assistants in the US as a whole was $62,890 per year and $30.24 per hour, with about 392,880 jobs nationwide. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 47,130 people worked as Paralegals and Legal Assistants in California (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: California had the 5th highest median annual wage for Paralegals and Legal Assistants out of the 50 states and DC with a published median. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Paralegals and Legal Assistants in California ($77,390) was $14,500 (23.1%) higher than the US median ($62,890). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Paralegals and Legal Assistants in California was $81,320 per year and $39.09 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Paralegals and Legal Assistants in California was $19,150 higher than the median for all occupations in the state ($58,240). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in California was $58,240. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS, May 2025: of the 25 metro areas in or partly in California with a published median for Paralegals and Legal Assistants, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA had the highest median annual wage, $99,250. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. Metro areas with the most jobs in this occupation, with median annual wage, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Paralegals and Legal Assistants in the US: 10th percentile $44,740, 25th percentile $50,340, 75th percentile $80,080, 90th percentile $101,500. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, median annual wage for Paralegals and Legal Assistants in states that border California (highest first): Nevada $64,680; Arizona $61,630; Oregon $61,490. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS Employment Projections (US, not by state): employment of Paralegals and Legal Assistants is projected to decline 0.3% nationwide from 2025 to 2035, with about 40,800 openings a year on average. All occupations are projected to grow 3.5%. BLS Employment Projections
  16. BLS Employment Projections (US, not by state), typical path into Paralegals and Legal Assistants: education needed for entry: Associate's degree; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: None. BLS Employment Projections
  17. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Paralegals and Legal Assistants in California: 10th percentile $24.26, 25th percentile $28.93, 75th percentile $47.32, 90th percentile $57.49. BLS OEWS, May 2025

State figures cover only California. Job outlook and entry requirements are national (US) figures: BLS does not publish them by state in our sources. Figures labelled “CareerFacts calculation” are simple differences between the BLS numbers shown.