Paralegals and Legal Assistants in California
Get the information you need to know about working as a Paralegal or Legal Assistant.
You’re in luck! Jobs for Paralegals and Legal Assistants in California are projected to grow and these jobs tend to pay higher than average.
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Projected employment for Paralegals and Legal Assistants in California is growing faster than average.
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Paralegals and Legal Assistants in California earn higher salaries than the typical U.S. wage earner.
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How Many Paralegals and Legal Assistants Work in California?
In 2018, there were 33,390 Paralegals and Legal Assistants working in the state.
There were 30,790 Paralegals and Legal Assistants employed in this state in 2017.
That’s growth of 2,600 jobs between 2017 and 2018.
The typical state has 4,060 Paralegals and Legal Assistants working in it, which means California has more Paralegals and Legal Assistants than average.
Job Projections for California
Jobs for Paralegals and Legal Assistants in this state are growing at a rate of 18.0% which is faster than the nationwide estimated projection of 14.6%.
California Annual Job Openings
The BLS estimates 3,790 annual job openings, and a total of 35,400 jobs for California Paralegals and Legal Assistants in 2026.
Nationwide, the prediction is 34,700 annual jobs and 327,400 total jobs in 2026.
What do Paralegals and Legal Assistants Make in California?
In 2018 wages for Paralegals and Legal Assistants ranged from $32,220 to $97,630 with $57,290 being the median annual salary.
Broken down to an hourly rate, workers in this field made anywhere from $15.49 to $46.94. The median hourly rate was $27.55.
Workers in this field were paid a median of $27.55 an hour in 2017.
Wages between 2017 and 2018 did not increase or decrease.
The median salary in California is higher than the nationwide median salary.
Top California Metros for Paralegals and Legal Assistants
The table below shows some of the metros in this state with the most Paralegals and Legal Assistants.
| Metro | Number Employed | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 15,960 | $50,520 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA | 5,540 | $64,940 |
| San Diego-Carlsbad, CA | 2,840 | $67,950 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 1,880 | $87,950 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 1,740 | $57,500 |
| Sacramento–Roseville–Arden-Arcade, CA | 1,660 | $60,160 |
| Fresno, CA | 660 | $49,640 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | 340 | $70,890 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | 300 | $54,370 |
| Bakersfield, CA | 290 | $45,740 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | 260 | $49,020 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | 210 | $65,680 |
| Modesto, CA | 190 | $43,050 |
| Salinas, CA | 190 | $54,890 |
| Chico, CA | 190 | $44,210 |
| Visalia-Porterville, CA | 140 | $40,530 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande, CA | 100 | $50,530 |
| Merced, CA | 80 | $54,050 |
| Vallejo-Fairfield, CA | 70 | $52,620 |
| El Centro, CA | 70 | $41,370 |
| Yuba City, CA | 50 | $53,140 |
| Napa, CA | 50 | $71,540 |
Top States for Paralegals and Legal Assistants Employment
The table below shows the states where most Paralegals and Legal Assistants work.
| State | Number Employed | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| California | 33,390 | $57,290 |
| Florida | 30,230 | $47,550 |
| New York | 25,500 | $54,400 |
| Texas | 24,290 | $52,220 |
| Illinois | 13,540 | $54,600 |
| Pennsylvania | 12,440 | $49,710 |
| North Carolina | 10,160 | $43,530 |
| Virginia | 9,960 | $47,810 |
| Ohio | 9,150 | $45,320 |
| Georgia | 9,140 | $51,180 |
| New Jersey | 8,120 | $55,770 |
| Massachusetts | 7,330 | $56,660 |
| Arizona | 7,280 | $46,520 |
| Maryland | 7,060 | $53,530 |
| Washington | 6,220 | $57,670 |
| Michigan | 6,110 | $47,420 |
| South Carolina | 6,060 | $41,850 |
| District of Columbia | 5,330 | $80,030 |
| Colorado | 5,250 | $56,710 |
| Minnesota | 4,890 | $54,810 |
Below are the states where Paralegals and Legal Assistants get paid the most:
| State | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $80,030 |
| Connecticut | $60,240 |
| Alaska | $58,170 |
| Washington | $57,670 |
| California | $57,290 |
| Nevada | $57,120 |
| Colorado | $56,710 |
| Massachusetts | $56,660 |
| New Jersey | $55,770 |
| Minnesota | $54,810 |
References
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
- College Factual
- National Center for Education Statistics
- O*NET Online
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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