Paralegals and Legal Assistants Salary in San Diego, CA

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

Median annual salary $77,550 +27.1% vs national
Median hourly $37.28
10th percentile $44,980
90th percentile $107,410
Employed locally 3,690
National median $61,010

Compare Paralegals and Legal Assistants salary & buying power

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Paralegals and Legal Assistants
in
San Diego, CA
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $44,980
    25th
    $52,660
    50th (median)
    $77,550
    75th
    $97,040
    90th
    $107,410

    San Diego economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.30% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $102,285 2023 • Census ACS
    Paralegals and Legal Assistants salary vs area income 76% Median Paralegals and Legal Assistants salary is 24% 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
    Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $77,470
    Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $77,170
    Napa, CA $76,350

    Related occupations in San Diego, CA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Lawyers $165,000
    Legal Support Workers, All Other $84,730
    Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers $74,990
    Arbitrators, Mediators, and Conciliators $100,560

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Paralegals and Legal Assistants in San Diego, CA is $37.28, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $51.63 or more per hour.

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

    The median Paralegals and Legal Assistants salary in San Diego, CA is 27.1% above 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 San Diego?

    Entry-level Paralegals and Legal Assistants (10th percentile) earn around $44,980 per year in San Diego, CA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $52,660.