Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants Salary in San Diego, CA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA

Median annual salary $60,180 +11.2% vs national
Median hourly $28.93
10th percentile $37,580
90th percentile $94,500
Employed locally 2,690
National median $54,140

Compare Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants salary & buying power

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Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants
in
San Diego, CA
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $37,580
    25th
    $44,700
    50th (median)
    $60,180
    75th
    $72,120
    90th
    $94,500

    San Diego economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.30% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $102,285 2023 • Census ACS
    Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants salary vs area income 59% Median Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants salary is 41% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $106,130
    District of Columbia $101,170
    Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $88,600
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $81,210
    Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA $77,780
    Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT $75,620

    Nearby metros — Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $106,130
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $81,210
    Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA $77,780
    Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA $66,570
    Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $62,630
    Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA $62,480

    Related occupations in San Diego, CA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Office Clerks, General $48,970
    Customer Service Representatives $46,940
    Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive $53,040
    First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers $72,380
    Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks $56,730
    Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants $50,450

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants make per hour in San Diego?

    The median hourly wage for Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants in San Diego, CA is $28.93, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $50.39 or more per hour.

    Is San Diego above or below average for Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants salaries?

    The median Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants salary in San Diego, CA is 11.2% above the national median of $54,140. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants in San Diego?

    Entry-level Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants (10th percentile) earn around $37,580 per year in San Diego, CA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $44,700.