SOC 23-2011 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Paralegals and Legal Assistants — San Diego
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA · 10 metro areas compared
The median wage for Paralegals and Legal Assistants in San Diego, CA is $76,300 per year, 21.3% above the national median of $62,890.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Paralegals and Legal Assistants in San Diego, CA is $76,300 per year, 21.3% above the national median of $62,890. Pay ranges from under $48,210 at the tenth percentile to more than $107,380 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $59,410 to $98,260.
Employment stands at 4,440, or 2.9 jobs per thousand held locally. San Jose leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $99,250. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 295th of 671 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $48,210 | −23.3% |
| 25th | $59,410 | −5.5% |
| Median (50th) | $76,300 | +21.3% |
| 75th | $98,260 | +56.2% |
| 90th | $107,380 | +70.7% |
| Mean | $78,860 | +25.4% |
Other metro areas in California
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose | $99,250 | 2,030 | |
| 2 | San Francisco | $84,030 | 7,630 | |
| 3 | Santa Maria | $80,930 | 360 | |
| 4 | Vallejo | $79,280 | 160 | |
| 5 | Sacramento | $78,550 | 2,590 | |
| 6 | Santa Rosa | $78,160 | 290 | |
| 7 | Los Angeles | $77,520 | 22,240 | |
| 8 | Napa | $77,020 | 80 | |
| 9 | San Luis Obispo | $75,200 | 280 | |
| 10 | Oxnard | $74,780 | 520 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in San Diego run 10.7% above the national average, so the median of $76,300 buys what $68,925 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 9.6% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$76,300as reported by BLSLocal price level
110.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$68,925US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $76,300 a year, 21.3% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $48,210 to $107,380 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 4,440 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is San Jose, at $99,250.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Paralegals and Legal Assistants in San Diego, CA?
The median annual wage is $76,300, or $36.68 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $62,890, so pay in San Diego, CA is 21.3% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in San Diego, CA earns more than $107,380 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $48,210 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in San Jose, at $99,250 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 4,440 jobs in this occupation in San Diego, CA. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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