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Paralegals and Legal Assistants average salary by city in California
- San Jose$103,080
- San Francisco$92,830
- Sacramento$81,560
- Santa Maria$79,840
- Los Angeles$79,550
- San Diego$78,860
- Santa Rosa$77,820
- Vallejo$77,730
- Napa$77,240
- Oxnard$74,270
- Salinas$74,060
- Stockton$72,780
- San Luis Obispo$72,760
- Santa Cruz$71,410
- El Centro$70,800
- Hanford$70,730
- Bakersfield$69,330
- Yuba City$67,660
- Fresno$67,320
- Riverside$66,910
- Visalia$65,220
- Redding$64,470
- Modesto$64,150
- Merced$62,440
- Chico$61,530
Pay, take-home pay and cost of living
| City | Average | Median | 25th pct. | Take-home* | Cost of living |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose | $103,080 | $99,250 | $77,610 | $75,852 | 110 |
| San Francisco | $92,830 | $84,030 | $74,050 | $69,595 | 116 |
| Sacramento | $81,560 | $78,550 | $61,740 | $62,714 | 107 |
| Santa Maria | $79,840 | $80,930 | $62,500 | $61,664 | 109 |
| Los Angeles | $79,550 | $77,520 | $59,690 | $61,487 | 114 |
| San Diego | $78,860 | $76,300 | $59,410 | $61,066 | 112 |
| Santa Rosa | $77,820 | $78,160 | $60,600 | $60,423 | 108 |
| Vallejo | $77,730 | $79,280 | $62,050 | $60,367 | 108 |
| Napa | $77,240 | $77,020 | $61,720 | $60,062 | 113 |
| Oxnard | $74,270 | $74,780 | $58,890 | $58,210 | 111 |
| Salinas | $74,060 | $63,950 | $59,800 | $58,079 | 109 |
| Stockton | $72,780 | $70,520 | $60,550 | $57,281 | 105 |
| San Luis Obispo | $72,760 | $75,200 | $60,740 | $57,268 | 109 |
| Santa Cruz | $71,410 | $64,690 | $60,730 | $56,427 | 110 |
| El Centro | $70,800 | $63,000 | $50,060 | $56,046 | 95 |
| Hanford | $70,730 | $69,600 | $49,570 | $56,003 | 102 |
| Bakersfield | $69,330 | $63,420 | $57,820 | $55,130 | 101 |
| Yuba City | $67,660 | $60,650 | $49,720 | $54,088 | 104 |
| Fresno | $67,320 | $62,450 | $50,290 | $53,876 | 102 |
| Riverside | $66,910 | $61,460 | $52,150 | $53,621 | 106 |
| Visalia | $65,220 | $64,380 | $53,640 | $52,439 | 100 |
| Redding | $64,470 | $59,620 | $49,900 | $51,896 | 101 |
| Modesto | $64,150 | $58,820 | $54,590 | $51,665 | 104 |
| Merced | $62,440 | $61,320 | $47,670 | $50,412 | 98 |
| Chico | $61,530 | $58,280 | $47,720 | $49,735 | 101 |
*Average salary after federal and state taxes for a single filer; California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included. Cost of living: BEA price parity, U.S. = 100.
Paralegals and Legal Assistants salary in other states
More about pay in California
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 23-2011.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
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