Paralegal salary and cost of hiring in California
The median paralegal in California earned $77,390 a year in May 2025[1], 23.1% above the US median of $62,890. That puts California at #5 of 51 states for this job.
BLS occupation 23-2011. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-16.
Salary range
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | $50,460 | $77,390 | $119,580 | |
| United States | $44,740 | $62,890 | $101,500 |
The middle half of paralegals in California earns $60,170–$98,430; the top tenth earns $119,580 or more, 2.4 times the bottom tenth.
What a hire really costs
Benefits and payroll taxes are 30.0% of total compensation in US private industry[2]. At the California median that makes about $110,557 a year before recruiting, equipment and office space. Benefit levels vary by employer, so treat this as an estimate.
We place executive assistants, customer support and e-commerce staff today; for paralegals we answer within one business day whether we can help. Enter the monthly pay you have in mind to compare it with a local hire. The fee field shows our standard fee[3]; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool[4].
Pay by metro area in California
| Area | Median | 75th percentile | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $119,120 | 2,030 | |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $103,060 | 7,630 | |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $91,070 | 360 | |
| Vallejo, CA | $90,070 | 160 | |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $97,910 | 2,590 | |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $93,790 | 290 | |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $98,440 | 22,240 | |
| Napa, CA | $94,730 | 80 | |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $98,260 | 4,440 | |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $76,930 | 280 | |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $83,410 | 520 | |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $88,790 | 290 | |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $83,280 | 50 | |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $81,880 | 150 | |
| Visalia, CA | $75,420 | 120 | |
| Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $82,100 | 90 | |
| Salinas, CA | $91,180 | 230 | |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $78,970 | 300 | |
| El Centro, CA | $79,810 | 60 | |
| North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $64,280 | 80 | |
| Fresno, CA | $77,330 | 920 | |
| North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $72,260 | 120 | |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $76,640 | 2,460 | |
| Merced, CA | $75,060 | 90 | |
| Yuba City, CA | $78,170 | 40 | |
| Redding, CA | $75,410 | 120 | |
| Modesto, CA | $75,570 | 420 | |
| Chico, CA | $75,260 | 90 |
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA pays the most ($99,250) and Chico, CA the least ($58,280): $40,970 a year apart for the same job.
What a paralegal does
A paralegal supports lawyers with research, document drafting, filing and case management, under the supervision of a licensed attorney.
Neighbours in the ranking
| State | Median | vs California |
|---|---|---|
| Colorado | +1.0% | |
| Massachusetts | +0.3% | |
| California | +0.0% | |
| Minnesota | -2.4% | |
| New Jersey | -7.6% |
Questions
How much does a paralegal earn in California?
The median was $77,390 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey; the middle half earned $60,170 to $98,430.
What does it cost to employ a paralegal in California?
About $110,557 a year at the median wage once benefits are added, using the 30% benefits share of US private industry (June 2026).
Where in California do paralegals earn the most?
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA, with a median of $99,250 a year.
Sources
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 23-2011: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes232011.htm
- BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, private industry, June 2026: https://www.bls.gov/news.release/ecec.nr0.htm
- Silkstaff pricing: https://silkstaff.com/#pricing
- Deel pricing, contractor management: https://www.deel.com/pricing/
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Data checked 2026-10-16.