California remains among the top players in the nation in terms of earning power and professional opportunities for paralegals. With a diverse economy ranging from IT and high tech to agriculture and tourism, corporate paralegals here find more opportunities with corporate legal departments and the law firms that serve them than almost anywhere else in the county.
Paralegal Job Market Trends in California
California ranks first in the nation as the state that’s home to the largest number of paralegals at 33,490 professionals. It also ranks as the third-best state for offering the highest average paralegal salary at $78,540 as of May 2024.
California stands out for opportunities in this profession. In fact, the average salary for paralegals in California is over $12,000 higher than the national average. Of course, some of this difference in pay is due to a higher cost of living in California; however, the sheer number of industries that demand the services of qualified and competent paralegals also influences the pay of these legal support professionals in California.
Even more impressive, paralegals with significant experience and those with a skillset and credentials in a specific area of law can easily climb the career ladder. The top 10% of paralegals in California earned $105,350 and up, or $50.65 per hour, as of May 2024.
Average Paralegal Salary in California by City
San Jose is the only metro area in the nation to offer an average paralegal salary that’s in the six-figure range. While the salaries of California’s paralegals vary greatly depending on their location, four of the state’s major metropolitan areas were among the top 10 metropolitan areas in the nation for offering the highest average paralegal salaries as of 2024:
#1 – San Jose
#2 – San Francisco
#8 – San Diego
#9 – Sacramento
Salaries for paralegals the San Jose, San Francisco, San Diego, Sacramento, Los Angeles, and El Centro metro areas all exceeded $100,000 for the top 10% of earners. These metropolitan areas derive much of their economic strength from industries that range from IT in the San Jose area to the agricultural and viticulture industry in Napa— all industry sectors where normal business activity routinely intersects with the law.
Bakersfield:
- Average – $64,710 ($31.11 hourly)
- Top 10% – $95,280 ($45.81 hourly)
Chico:
- Average – $51,010 ($24.52 hourly)
- Top 10% – $62,560 ($30.08 hourly)
Chula Vista:
- Average – $76,970 ($37.01 hourly)
- Top 10% – $107,410 ($51.64 hourly)
El Centro:
- Average – $67,970 ($32.68 hourly)
- Top 10% – $101,110 ($48.61 hourly)
Fresno:
- Average – $64,940 ($31.22 hourly)
- Top 10% – $93,510 ($44.96 hourly)
Hanford:
- Average – $63,140 ($30.36 hourly)
- Top 10% – $90,940 ($43.72 hourly)
Los Angeles:
- Average – $73,160 ($35.17 hourly)
- Top 10% – $100,250 ($48.20 hourly)
Merced:
- Average – $57,600 ($27.69 hourly)
- Top 10% – $75,100 ($36.11 hourly)
Modesto:
- Average – $64,930 ($31.22 hourly)
- Top 10% – $85,270 ($41.00 hourly)
Napa:
- Average – $74,020 ($35.59 hourly)
- Top 10% – $99,670 ($47.92 hourly)
Oxnard:
- Average – $73,630 ($35.40 hourly)
- Top 10% – $96,120 ($46.21 hourly)
Redding:
- Average – $61,310 ($29.48 hourly)
- Top 10% – $76,030 ($36.55 hourly)
Riverside:
- Average – $64,500 ($31.01 hourly)
- Top 10% – $87,030 ($41.84 hourly)
Sacramento:
- Average – $76,540 ($36.80 hourly)
- Top 10% – $100,210 ($48.18 hourly)
Salinas:
- Average – $70,590 ($33.94 hourly)
- Top 10% – $99,550 ($47.86 hourly)
San Francisco:
- Average – $91,000 ($43.75 hourly)
- Top 10% – $126,190 ($60.67 hourly)
San Jose:
- Average – $101,760 ($48.92 hourly)
- Top 10% – $150,120 ($72.17 hourly)
San Luis Obispo:
- Average – $68,590 ($32.98 hourly)
- Top 10% – $89,440 ($43.00 hourly)
Santa Barbara:
- Average – $72,730 ($34.97 hourly)
- Top 10% – $96,950 ($46.61 hourly)
Santa Cruz:
- Average – $68,650 ($33.00 hourly)
- Top 10% – $95,250 ($45.80 hourly)
Santa Rosa:
- Average – $71,770 ($34.51 hourly)
- Top 10% – $98,160 ($47.19 hourly)
Stockton:
- Average – $64,420 ($30.97 hourly)
- Top 10% – $92,270 ($44.36 hourly)
Vallejo:
- Average – $73,120 ($35.16 hourly)
- Top 10% – $97,410 ($46.83 hourly)
Visalia:
- Average – $57,560 ($27.67 hourly)
- Top 10% – $74,190 ($35.67 hourly)
May 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics salary, growth, and job market trends for paralegals and legal assistants. Figures represent state data, not school specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed April 2025.