Legal Secretary and Administrative Assistant Salary in Los Angeles, CA
Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area earn a median $62,620 a year — 13% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $49,874 take-home, or $4,156 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median legal secretary and administrative assistant salary in Los Angeles, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,334
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,882
- Medicare (1.45%)$908
- California income tax$1,807
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$814
- Take-home pay$49,874
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 6.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Legal Secretary and Administrative Assistant pay by experience in Los Angeles, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,490 | $17.54 | $30,576 | $2,548 |
| 25th percentile | $48,670 | $23.40 | $39,684 | $3,307 |
| Median (50th) | $62,620 | $30.11 | $49,874 | $4,156 |
| 75th percentile | $80,660 | $38.78 | $61,254 | $5,104 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $108,310 | $52.07 | $77,775 | $6,481 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $62,620 buys in Los Angeles, CA
Prices in Los Angeles, CA are 13.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.70× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median legal secretary and administrative assistant's $49,874 take-home pay has the buying power of $43,917 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Los Angeles, CA has 2.4× the national concentration of legal secretary and administrative assistant jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for legal secretaries and administrative assistants, adjusted for cost of living
Los Angeles, CA ranks #9 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 |
| 9 | Los Angeles, CA | $62,620 | $49,874 | $43,917 |
*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 Francisco, CA — $79,410
- San Diego, CA — $61,780
Frequently asked questions
How much does a legal secretary and administrative assistant make in Los Angeles, CA?
The median legal secretary and administrative assistant salary in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area is $62,620 a year, or about $30.11 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $48,670 and $80,660.
What is a legal secretary and administrative assistant’s take-home pay in Los Angeles, CA?
On the median $62,620 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $49,874 a year ($4,156 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,621 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Los Angeles, CA a good place to work as a legal secretary and administrative assistant?
Pay here is 13% above the national median of $55,570. Local prices are 13.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $43,917 would in a typical U.S. city. Los Angeles, CA ranks #9 of 13 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a legal secretary and administrative assistant afford rent in Los Angeles, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Los Angeles, CA is $2,245 a month ($2,755 for two bedrooms) — 54% of a median legal secretary and administrative assistant’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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