Cost of hiring a paralegal in Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA
For this job Los Angeles-Long Beach sits right at the California figure, with a median of $77,520 a year[1]. That is about level with the California statewide median of $77,390, and 23.3% above the US median of $62,890. Only 10 of 506 US areas pay more for this job. It is the largest market for the job in California: about 22,240 people, 47% of the California total.
BLS occupation 23-2011, area Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Los Angeles-Long Beach against California and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA | $51,200 | $77,520 | $112,160 | |
| California | $50,460 | $77,390 | $119,580 | |
| United States | $44,740 | $62,890 | $101,500 |
Paralegals at the 90th percentile earn $112,160, 2.2 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 2.3. The middle half of paralegals in Los Angeles-Long Beach earns $59,690–$98,440.
What to budget for a paralegal here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $51,200 | $4,267 | $24.62 | $73,143 |
| 25th percentile | $59,690 | $4,974 | $28.70 | $85,271 |
| Median | $77,520 | $6,460 | $37.27 | $110,743 |
| 75th percentile | $98,440 | $8,203 | $47.33 | $140,629 |
| 90th percentile | $112,160 | $9,347 | $53.92 | $160,229 |
An offer at the 75th percentile instead of the median adds $20,920 a year in pay and about $29,886 in employer cost. Going down to the 25th percentile saves $17,830 in pay. These percentiles describe what people in the job earn locally, not experience levels, so place your offer by the tasks and seniority you need.
What a hire really costs in Los Angeles-Long Beach
Pay is only part of it. Benefits and payroll taxes are 30.0% of total compensation in US private industry[2], which adds about $33,223 to the $77,520 median and brings it to $110,743 a year. Recruiting, equipment and office space come on top. 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].
Other roles in Los Angeles-Long Beach
Of the 17 roles we track in Los Angeles-Long Beach, this one ranks #8 by median pay. Project Coordinator is the highest at $108,310 and Virtual Receptionist the lowest at $43,280.
| Role | Median | vs paralegal | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | +39.7% | 38,540 | |
| Accountant | +21.7% | 70,640 | |
| Marketing Specialist | +7.1% | 39,390 | |
| Executive Assistant | +6.9% | 20,850 | |
| Recruiter | +3.5% | 36,850 | |
| Sales Development Representative | +2.5% | 50,470 | |
| Office Manager | +0.0% | 54,340 | |
| Paralegal | this role | 22,240 | |
| Payroll Specialist | -16.1% | 6,600 | |
| Bookkeeper | -24.4% | 53,910 | |
| HR Assistant | -25.7% | 3,890 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -30.9% | 58,800 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -33.7% | 40,380 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -37.0% | 66,590 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | -39.3% | 5,900 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | -39.9% | 5,740 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -44.2% | 35,000 |
Other areas in California
Across the 28 areas of California with data for this job, the median runs from $58,280 in Chico to $99,250 in San Jose-Sunnyvale, a gap of $40,970 a year.
| Area | Median | vs Los Angeles-Long Beach | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vallejo, CA | +2.3% | 160 | |
| Sacramento-Roseville, CA | +1.3% | 2,590 | |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | +0.8% | 290 | |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA | this area | 22,240 | |
| Napa, CA | -0.6% | 80 | |
| San Diego-Chula Vista, CA | -1.6% | 4,440 | |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | -3.0% | 280 |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a paralegal in Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA?
About $110,743 a year at the median, or $9,229 a month: $77,520 in pay plus benefits and payroll taxes at the 30% share of total compensation in US private industry (June 2026). Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for paralegals in Los Angeles-Long Beach?
The median was $77,520 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $51,200, the 90th $112,160, and the middle half earned $59,690 to $98,440.
Is Los Angeles-Long Beach cheaper than the rest of California for paralegals?
About the same: a median of $77,520 against $77,390 statewide. San Jose-Sunnyvale pays the most ($99,250) and Chico the least ($58,280).
How many paralegals work in Los Angeles-Long Beach?
BLS counts about 22,240 in the May 2025 survey. That is 47% of the California total of 47,130.
Does a paralegal cost more than a payroll specialist in Los Angeles-Long Beach?
Yes: $12,480 a year more at the median. The medians are $77,520 and $65,040.
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. Last updated 2026-11-06.