Legal Secretary and Administrative Assistant Salary in San Francisco, CA
Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area earn a median $79,410 a year — 43% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $60,507 take-home, or $5,042 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median legal secretary and administrative assistant salary in San Francisco, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$8,640
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,923
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,151
- California income tax$3,156
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,032
- Take-home pay$60,507
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 9.30% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Legal Secretary and Administrative Assistant pay by experience in San Francisco, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $55,270 | $26.57 | $44,505 | $3,709 |
| 25th percentile | $62,120 | $29.87 | $49,509 | $4,126 |
| Median (50th) | $79,410 | $38.18 | $60,507 | $5,042 |
| 75th percentile | $104,290 | $50.14 | $75,373 | $6,281 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $123,850 | $59.54 | $87,019 | $7,252 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $79,410 buys in San Francisco, CA
Prices in San Francisco, CA are 15.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.95× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median legal secretary and administrative assistant's $60,507 take-home pay has the buying power of $52,336 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Legal Secretary and Administrative Assistant jobs are about as common in San Francisco, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.15).
Best-paying cities for legal secretaries and administrative assistants, adjusted for cost of living
San Francisco, CA ranks #2 of 13 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington, DC | $77,220 | $59,559 | $54,700 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $79,410 | $60,507 | $52,336 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $75,920 | $58,737 | $52,181 |
| 4 | Seattle, WA | $62,000 | $51,997 | $46,788 |
| 5 | Boston, MA | $62,690 | $49,637 | $45,847 |
| 6 | Chicago, IL | $59,490 | $47,180 | $45,543 |
| 7 | Philadelphia, PA | $56,480 | $45,828 | $44,686 |
| 8 | San Diego, CA | $61,780 | $49,261 | $44,027 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 13 metros →
About the job: legal secretaries and administrative assistants
Perform secretarial duties using legal terminology, procedures, and documents. Prepare legal papers and correspondence, such as summonses, complaints, motions, and subpoenas. May also assist with legal research.
- Typical education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- -5.2% (declining)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Legal Secretary and Administrative Assistant salaries elsewhere in California
- San Diego, CA — $61,780
- Los Angeles, CA — $62,620
Frequently asked questions
How much does a legal secretary and administrative assistant make in San Francisco, CA?
The median legal secretary and administrative assistant salary in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area is $79,410 a year, or about $38.18 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $62,120 and $104,290.
What is a legal secretary and administrative assistant’s take-home pay in San Francisco, CA?
On the median $79,410 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $60,507 a year ($5,042 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $4,188 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Francisco, CA a good place to work as a legal secretary and administrative assistant?
Pay here is 43% above the national median of $55,570. Local prices are 15.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $52,336 would in a typical U.S. city. San Francisco, CA ranks #2 of 13 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a legal secretary and administrative assistant afford rent in San Francisco, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Francisco, CA is $2,620 a month ($3,187 for two bedrooms) — 52% of a median legal secretary and administrative assistant’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in San Francisco, CA
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