Wage data
Paralegals and Legal Assistants Salary in San Diego
The median Paralegals and Legal Assistants salary in San Diego is $76,300 per year, with most earning between $59,410 and $98,260 (the 25th–75th percentile).
San Diego wage percentiles
| Percentile | Annual wage |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $48,210 |
| 25th percentile | $59,410 |
| Median (50th) | $76,300 |
| 75th percentile | $98,260 |
| 90th percentile | $107,380 |
How San Diego compares to the national average
The San Diego median ($76,300) runs 21% above the national median of $62,890.
| San Diego median | $76,300 |
| National median | $62,890 |
Pay by experience level
Pay within an occupation varies by experience. In the government data for Paralegals and Legal Assistants in San Diego:
- Entry-level Paralegals and Legal Assistants in San Diego (0–2 years) typically sit in the 10th–25th percentile — roughly $48,210 to $59,410.
- Early-career Paralegals and Legal Assistants in San Diego (3–5 years) typically sit in the 25th–50th percentile — roughly $59,410 to $76,300.
- Mid-career Paralegals and Legal Assistants in San Diego (6–10 years) typically sit in the 50th–75th percentile — roughly $76,300 to $98,260.
- Senior Paralegals and Legal Assistants in San Diego (11+ years) typically sit in the 75th–90th percentile — roughly $98,260 to $107,380.
About the role
Key skills: Writing, Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Speaking, Critical Thinking, Active Learning.
In-demand tools: Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Word, Orion Law Management Systems Orion.
Typical education: Bachelor's Degree (37%), Associate's Degree (20%), High School Diploma (19%), Doctoral Degree (10%).
Related occupations: Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers, Court Reporters and Simultaneous Captioners, Court, Municipal, and License Clerks, Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median Paralegals and Legal Assistants salary in San Diego?
The median Paralegals and Legal Assistants salary in San Diego is $76,300 per year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025). Most earn between $59,410 and $98,260 — the 25th to 75th percentile.
What do the top 10% of Paralegals and Legal Assistants earn in San Diego?
The 90th percentile Paralegals and Legal Assistants wage in San Diego is $107,380 per year — the top 10% of the published distribution earn at or above that figure.
How does Paralegals and Legal Assistants pay in San Diego compare to the national average?
The San Diego median ($76,300) runs 21% above the national median of $62,890. All figures are from the federal wage survey (OEWS May 2025).
How do I know if a Paralegals and Legal Assistants salary offer in San Diego is competitive?
Compare the offer against these percentiles: an offer near the median is at market for a typical hire, while your experience level shifts the band you should be judged against. The free counter calculator places a specific number in this distribution, and the full analysis adds live market data and the exact range to counter with.
Have an offer in hand? See exactly where it stands against this data — with your experience level, live market ranges, and the specific range to counter with.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Estimates are market-informed, not guarantees. How we read this data.
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