How much does a paralegal and legal assistant make in San Diego?
Median yearly pay for paralegal and legal assistants in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area. That is $36.68 an hour or $6,358 a month.
- Hourly
- $36.68
- Vs. national median
- +21%
- Rank among cities
- 14 of 376
- Jobs in the area
- 4,440
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $48,210 | $23.18 | |
| 25th | $59,410 | $28.56 | |
| Median | $76,300 | $36.68 | |
| 75th | $98,260 | $47.24 | |
| 90th | $107,400 | $51.63 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for paralegal and legal assistants.
| San Jose, CA | $99,250 |
| San Francisco, CA | $84,030 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $80,930 |
| Vallejo, CA | $79,280 |
| Sacramento, CA | $78,550 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $78,160 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $77,520 |
| Napa, CA | $77,020 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $75,200 |
| Oxnard, CA | $74,780 |
| Stockton, CA | $70,520 |
| Hanford, CA | $69,600 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $64,690 |
| Visalia, CA | $64,380 |
| Salinas, CA | $63,950 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $63,420 |
| El Centro, CA | $63,000 |
| Fresno, CA | $62,450 |
| Riverside, CA | $61,460 |
| Merced, CA | $61,320 |
| Redding, CA | $59,620 |
| Modesto, CA | $58,820 |
| Chico, CA | $58,280 |
Related jobs in San Diego
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Lawyer | $178,200 |
| Legal Support Worker | $89,920 |
| Arbitrator | $84,460 |
| Title Examiner | $68,140 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a paralegal and legal assistant make an hour in San Diego?
The median hourly pay in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $36.68 ($76,300 a year).
Do paralegal and legal assistants make more in San Diego than the national average?
Yes: $76,300 against $62,890 nationally, 21% more.
How does San Diego compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $77,390, so San Diego pays 1% less.
Where does San Diego rank for paralegal and legal assistant pay?
14 of 376 metro areas with data.
How much does a paralegal and legal assistant make starting out in San Diego?
The lowest-paid 10% make $48,210 or less a year; the top 10% make $107,400 or more.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.