Paralegals and Legal Assistants Salary in San Francisco, CA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA

Median annual salary $85,230 +39.7% vs national
Median hourly $40.98
10th percentile $56,980
90th percentile $126,190
Employed locally 7,670
National median $61,010

Compare Paralegals and Legal Assistants salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how San Francisco, CA stacks up on salary and cost of living.

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Paralegals and Legal Assistants
in
San Francisco, CA
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $56,980
    25th
    $65,640
    50th (median)
    $85,230
    75th
    $101,940
    90th
    $126,190

    San Francisco economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.20% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $133,780 2023 • Census ACS
    Paralegals and Legal Assistants salary vs area income 64% Median Paralegals and Legal Assistants salary is 36% 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
    Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $84,950
    Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $80,550
    Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO $79,240
    Midland, MI $78,120

    Nearby metros — Paralegals and Legal Assistants salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $97,740
    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
    Napa, CA $76,350

    Related occupations in San Francisco, CA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Lawyers $215,090
    Legal Support Workers, All Other $87,840
    Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers $73,110
    Arbitrators, Mediators, and Conciliators $108,350
    Judicial Law Clerks $86,090

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Paralegals and Legal Assistants in San Francisco, CA is $40.98, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $63.37 or more per hour.

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

    The median Paralegals and Legal Assistants salary in San Francisco, CA is 39.7% 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 Francisco?

    Entry-level Paralegals and Legal Assistants (10th percentile) earn around $56,980 per year in San Francisco, CA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $65,640.