Paralegal and Legal Assistant Salary in San Diego, CA
Paralegals and Legal Assistants in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn a median $76,300 a year — 21% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $58,623 take-home, or $4,885 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median paralegal and legal assistant salary in San Diego, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$7,956
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,731
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,106
- California income tax$2,892
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$992
- Take-home pay$58,623
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 8.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Paralegal and Legal Assistant pay by experience in San Diego, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $48,210 | $23.18 | $39,348 | $3,279 |
| 25th percentile | $59,410 | $28.56 | $47,530 | $3,961 |
| Median (50th) | $76,300 | $36.68 | $58,623 | $4,885 |
| 75th percentile | $98,260 | $47.24 | $71,770 | $5,981 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $107,380 | $51.63 | $77,219 | $6,435 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $76,300 buys in San Diego, CA
Prices in San Diego, CA are 11.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.79× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median paralegal and legal assistant's $58,623 take-home pay has the buying power of $52,395 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Paralegal and Legal Assistant jobs are about as common in San Diego, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.14).
Best-paying cities for paralegals and legal assistants, adjusted for cost of living
San Diego, CA ranks #20 of 36 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $92,900 | $74,185 | $66,753 |
| 2 | Denver, CO | $80,500 | $62,628 | $59,205 |
| 3 | Washington, DC | $81,590 | $62,262 | $57,182 |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $79,850 | $61,232 | $56,557 |
| 5 | Sacramento, CA | $78,550 | $59,993 | $56,242 |
| 6 | Minneapolis, MN | $76,220 | $58,791 | $56,087 |
| 7 | Las Vegas, NV | $66,720 | $55,768 | $55,648 |
| 8 | Kansas City, MO | $63,880 | $51,443 | $55,588 |
| 20 | San Diego, CA | $76,300 | $58,623 | $52,395 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 36 metros →
About the job: paralegals and legal assistants
Assist lawyers by investigating facts, preparing legal documents, or researching legal precedent. Conduct research to support a legal proceeding, to formulate a defense, or to initiate legal action.
- Typical education
- Associate's degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- -0.3% (slower than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Paralegal and Legal Assistant salaries elsewhere in California
- Sacramento, CA — $78,550
- San Francisco, CA — $84,030
- Los Angeles, CA — $77,520
- Riverside, CA — $61,460
Frequently asked questions
How much does a paralegal and legal assistant make in San Diego, CA?
The median paralegal and legal assistant salary in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $76,300 a year, or about $36.68 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $59,410 and $98,260.
What is a paralegal and legal assistant’s take-home pay in San Diego, CA?
On the median $76,300 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $58,623 a year ($4,885 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,884 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Diego, CA a good place to work as a paralegal and legal assistant?
Pay here is 21% above the national median of $62,890. Local prices are 11.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $52,395 would in a typical U.S. city. San Diego, CA ranks #20 of 36 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a paralegal and legal assistant afford rent in San Diego, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Diego, CA is $2,459 a month ($3,001 for two bedrooms) — 50% of a median paralegal and legal assistant’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in San Diego, CA
- Lawyer — $178,220