Legal Secretary and Administrative Assistant Salary in San Diego, CA
Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn a median $61,780 a year — 11% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $49,261 take-home, or $4,105 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median legal secretary and administrative assistant salary in San Diego, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,234
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,830
- Medicare (1.45%)$896
- California income tax$1,756
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$803
- Take-home pay$49,261
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 San Diego, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $39,530 | $19.00 | $32,858 | $2,738 |
| 25th percentile | $56,430 | $27.13 | $45,353 | $3,779 |
| Median (50th) | $61,780 | $29.70 | $49,261 | $4,105 |
| 75th percentile | $79,110 | $38.03 | $60,328 | $5,027 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $104,800 | $50.38 | $75,678 | $6,306 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $61,780 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 legal secretary and administrative assistant's $49,261 take-home pay has the buying power of $44,027 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
San Diego, CA has 2.2× 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
San Diego, CA ranks #8 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 Francisco, CA — $79,410
- Los Angeles, CA — $62,620
Frequently asked questions
How much does a legal secretary and administrative assistant make in San Diego, CA?
The median legal secretary and administrative assistant salary in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $61,780 a year, or about $29.70 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $56,430 and $79,110.
What is a legal secretary and administrative assistant’s take-home pay in San Diego, CA?
On the median $61,780 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $49,261 a year ($4,105 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,559 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Diego, CA a good place to work as a legal secretary and administrative assistant?
Pay here is 11% above the national median of $55,570. Local prices are 11.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $44,027 would in a typical U.S. city. San Diego, CA ranks #8 of 13 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a legal secretary and administrative 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) — 60% 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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