Paralegals and Legal Assistants Salary in Riverside, CA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA

Median annual salary $58,440 -4.2% vs national
Median hourly $28.09
10th percentile $47,160
90th percentile $87,030
Employed locally 2,630
National median $61,010

Compare Paralegals and Legal Assistants salary & buying power

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Paralegals and Legal Assistants
in
Riverside, CA
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $47,160
    25th
    $49,380
    50th (median)
    $58,440
    75th
    $75,030
    90th
    $87,030

    Riverside economic context

    Unemployment rate 5.20% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $86,031 2023 • Census ACS
    Paralegals and Legal Assistants salary vs area income 68% Median Paralegals and Legal Assistants salary is 32% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Paralegals and Legal Assistants

    Metro areaMedian salary
    District of Columbia $99,300
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $97,740
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $85,230
    Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $84,950
    Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $80,550
    Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO $79,240

    Nearby metros — Paralegals and Legal Assistants salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $97,740
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $85,230
    Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA $77,990
    San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA $77,550
    Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $77,470
    Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $77,170

    Related occupations in Riverside, CA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Judicial Law Clerks $76,410
    Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers $76,120
    Legal Support Workers, All Other $75,750
    Arbitrators, Mediators, and Conciliators $105,780

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Paralegals and Legal Assistants make per hour in Riverside?

    The median hourly wage for Paralegals and Legal Assistants in Riverside, CA is $28.09, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $45.06 or more per hour.

    Is Riverside above or below average for Paralegals and Legal Assistants salaries?

    The median Paralegals and Legal Assistants salary in Riverside, CA is 4.2% below the national median of $61,010. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Paralegals and Legal Assistants in Riverside?

    Entry-level Paralegals and Legal Assistants (10th percentile) earn around $47,160 per year in Riverside, CA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $49,380.