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 $57,040 and $95,910, with a median of $72,960.
Paralegals and Legal Assistants in California: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 53 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $68,000. 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 | 22 | $62,046 |
| Level II — qualified | 11 | $77,376 |
| Level III — experienced | 8 | $78,603 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 5 | $122,221 |
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 |
| Fish & Richardson P.C. | Technology Specialist | 3 | $77,376 |
| CHUGH, LLP | PARALEGAL | 2 | $66,760 |
| Kostiv & Associates P.C. | Legal Analyst | 2 | $78,603 |
| LAW ADVOCATE GROUP LLP | LEGAL ANALYST | 2 | $78,603 |
| Scott Warmuth A Professional Corporation | Legal Assistant | 2 | $54,683 |
| CSM Law Office | Immigration paralegal | 2 | $69,711 |
| Huang United Law Corp | Immigration Law Specialist | 1 | $62,400 |
| Pathway Law Firm, PC | Demand Writer, Settlement Negotiator | 1 | $150,000 |
| Charles C.H. Wu & Associates, A Professional Corporation | Legal Assistant | 1 | $61,027 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Immigration Law Specialist at Huang United Law Corp$62,400Diamond BarDecided Dec 24, 2025I-200-25352-492556
- Demand Writer, Settlement Negotiator at Pathway Law Firm, PC$150,000Beverly HillsDecided Dec 23, 2025I-203-25350-488003
- Legal Assistant at Charles C.H. Wu & Associates, A Professional Corporation$61,027IrvineDecided Dec 4, 2025I-200-25331-442193
- Law Clerk at Law Offices of Sabrina Li P.C$75,000Santa AnaDecided Dec 1, 2025I-200-25325-430114
- PARALEGAL at CHUGH, LLP$65,520SANTA CLARADecided Nov 26, 2025I-200-25323-422394
- Post Bar Law Clerk at Shegerian & Associates APC$90,000Los AngelesDecided Nov 14, 2025I-200-25309-373949
- Paralegal at TEZ Law P.C.$49,005West CovinaWage Level IDecided Jul 24, 2025I-200-25198-183688
- Emp. & Civ. Litigation Paralegal III, Gender/Social Justice at Open Door Legal$93,426San FranciscoDecided Jul 18, 2025I-200-25193-170749
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.
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 39 certified offers. The most common variant is Paralegal at a median of $65,894.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paralegal | SAC ATTORNEYS LLP | 15 | $65,894 |
| Law Clerk | Law Offices of Sabrina Li P.C | 8 | $94,100 |
| Legal Assistant | Scott Warmuth A Professional Corporation | 7 | $56,160 |
| Legal Analyst | Kostiv & Associates P.C. | 3 | $78,603 |
| Immigration paralegal | CSM Law Office | 3 | $62,046 |
| Technology Specialist | Fish & Richardson P.C. | 3 | $77,376 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Paralegals and Legal Assistants in California, by industry
Median offered wage across 52 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Professional services leads with a median of $69,000.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional services | SAC ATTORNEYS LLP | 50 | $69,000 |
| 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 2 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2024 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$97,740
- San Francisco$85,230
- San Diego$77,550
- Sacramento$77,170
- Los Angeles$63,110
- Riverside$58,440
Compare Paralegals and Legal Assistants pay across nearby states
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 $72,960.
- How does California compare to the national median for Paralegals and Legal Assistants?
- The California median is +17.3% versus the BLS national figure of $62,188.
- What is the salary range for Paralegals and Legal Assistants in California?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $48,000 and the 90th-percentile at $105,350, 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.