Paralegals and Legal Assistants in California. BLS OES + DOL OFLC + reader-reported submissions. How this is built →
Salary distribution
Where California paralegals and legal assistants fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $60,170 and $98,430, with a median of $77,390.
Paralegals and Legal Assistants in California: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 62 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $69,000. Every figure below is an actual offered salary an employer attested to under federal law.
By DOL wage level
DOL classifies every offer into one of four wage levels based on the role's experience and skill requirements.
| Level | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|
| Level I — entry | 28 | $62,046 |
| Level II — qualified | 16 | $77,376 |
| Level III — experienced | 9 | $78,603 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 8 | $136,111 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Paralegals and Legal Assistants in California. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAC ATTORNEYS LLP | Paralegal | 5 | $66,560 |
| CHUGH, LLP | PARALEGAL | 4 | $70,000 |
| Taki Law Offices, A Professional Corporation | Law Clerk | 3 | $49,005 |
| CSM Law Office | Immigration paralegal | 2 | $69,711 |
| Fish & Richardson P.C. | Technology Specialist | 2 | $77,376 |
| Kostiv & Associates P.C. | Legal Analyst | 2 | $78,603 |
| LAW ADVOCATE GROUP LLP | LEGAL ANALYST | 2 | $78,603 |
| Pathway Law Firm, PC | Chief Settlement Officer | 2 | $150,000 |
| Scott Warmuth A Professional Corporation | Legal Assistant | 2 | $54,683 |
| Shegerian & Associates APC | Post Bar Law Clerk | 2 | $90,000 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Post Bar Law Clerk at Shegerian & Associates APC$90,000Los AngelesWage Level IVDecided Mar 17, 2026I-200-26069-692688
- Paralegal at PACIFIC JUSTICE INSTITUTE$62,000Santa AnaWage Level IIDecided Mar 10, 2026I-200-26062-677598
- Law Clerk at Taki Law Offices, A Professional Corporation$49,005Newport BeachWage Level IDecided Feb 6, 2026I-200-26030-609229
- Law Clerk II at Strategic Legal Practices, APC.$80,000Los AngelesWage Level IIIDecided Feb 3, 2026I-200-26027-594063
- Law Clerk at Taki Law Offices, A Professional Corporation$49,005Newport BeachWage Level IDecided Feb 2, 2026I-200-26027-591953
- PARALEGAL SPECIALIST at CHUGH, LLP$72,000SANTA CLARAWage Level IDecided Feb 2, 2026I-200-26026-590747
- LAW ASSOCIATE at CHUGH, LLP$72,000SANTA CLARAWage Level IDecided Jan 8, 2026I-200-25365-520008
- Paralegal at Alma Legal Services PC$95,000Palo AltoWage Level IIDecided Jan 2, 2026I-200-25358-509053
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification. Disclosed wages reflect what employers attested to pay; actual paid wages may differ. Only certified filings are shown — denied and withdrawn cases are excluded.
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Paralegals and Legal Assistants pay by experience level in California
Each band reflects DOL Wage Levels I-IV mapped onto a four-step ladder. Click a level to see the disclosed-wage range for that segment.
Paralegals and Legal Assistants specialties in California
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 42 certified offers. The most common variant is Paralegal at a median of $65,894.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paralegal | SAC ATTORNEYS LLP | 17 | $65,894 |
| Law Clerk | Taki Law Offices, A Professional Corporation | 12 | $77,500 |
| Legal Assistant | Scott Warmuth A Professional Corporation | 7 | $56,160 |
| Immigration paralegal | CSM Law Office | 3 | $62,046 |
| Legal Analyst | Kostiv & Associates P.C. | 3 | $78,603 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Paralegals and Legal Assistants in California, by industry
Median offered wage across 61 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Professional services leads with a median of $71,000.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional services | SAC ATTORNEYS LLP | 58 | $71,000 |
| Nonprofit and civic | PACIFIC JUSTICE INSTITUTE | 1 | $62,000 |
| Retail and wholesale | ZI BEAUTY INC | 1 | $54,000 |
| Technology and software | Nokia of America Corporation | 1 | $192,204 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in California over the past 3 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2025 dollars.
Typical entry
Education
Associate's degree
Experience
None
On-the-job training
None
Top skills (O*NET)
- 4.1 / 5
Written Comprehension
Ability
- 4.1 / 5
Administrative
Knowledge
- 4.1 / 5
English Language
Knowledge
- 4.0 / 5
Oral Expression
Ability
- 4.0 / 5
Oral Comprehension
Ability
- 4.0 / 5
Reading Comprehension
Basic skill
- 4.0 / 5
Written Expression
Ability
- 3.9 / 5
Law and Government
Knowledge
Common tasks (O*NET)
- 01
Prepare affidavits or other documents, such as legal correspondence, and organize and maintain documents in paper or electronic filing system.
- 02
Prepare legal documents, including briefs, pleadings, appeals, wills, contracts, and real estate closing statements.
- 03
Prepare for trial by performing tasks such as organizing exhibits.
- 04
Investigate facts and law of cases and search pertinent sources, such as public records and internet sources, to determine causes of action and to prepare cases.
- 05
Meet with clients and other professionals to discuss details of case.
- 06
File pleadings with court clerk.
- 07
Gather and analyze research data, such as statutes, decisions, and legal articles, codes, and documents.
- 08
Direct and coordinate law office activity, including delivery of subpoenas.
10-year outlook
Growth 2024 → 2034
+0.2%
Projected annual openings
—
BLS outlook
Slower than average
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034 cycle.
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Explore coursesTop metros in California
Metro-level salary data for paralegals and legal assistants in major California metropolitan areas.
- San Jose$99,250
- San Francisco$84,030
- Sacramento$78,550
- Los Angeles$77,520
- San Diego$76,300
- Riverside$61,460
Compare Paralegals and Legal Assistants pay across nearby states
Considering a move? Compare California with another state
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Paralegals and Legal Assistants in California?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Paralegals and Legal Assistants in California is $77,390.
- How does California compare to the national median for Paralegals and Legal Assistants?
- The California median is +18.4% versus the BLS national figure of $65,349.
- What is the salary range for Paralegals and Legal Assistants in California?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $50,460 and the 90th-percentile at $119,580, which captures most full-time workers in the role.
- Is Paralegals and Legal Assistants a growing field?
- BLS Employment Projections show employment growing by 0.2% over the projection cycle. See the 10-year outlook section above for details.
- What education is required for Paralegals and Legal Assistants?
- BLS lists the typical entry-level education as Associate's degree. Many employers also weigh prior experience and credentials.
Information on this page is for general educational purposes only. It is not career, financial, or tax advice. Wage data reflects BLS estimates for the reference year shown and may not match individual offers, employer-specific ranges, or current market conditions. Confirm with a licensed professional before making career or compensation decisions.