Wage data
Paralegals and Legal Assistants Salary in San Jose
The median Paralegals and Legal Assistants salary in San Jose is $99,250 per year, with most earning between $77,610 and $119,120 (the 25th–75th percentile).
San Jose wage percentiles
| Percentile | Annual wage |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $60,030 |
| 25th percentile | $77,610 |
| Median (50th) | $99,250 |
| 75th percentile | $119,120 |
| 90th percentile | $157,450 |
How San Jose compares to the national average
The San Jose median ($99,250) runs 58% above the national median of $62,890.
| San Jose median | $99,250 |
| 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 Jose:
- Entry-level Paralegals and Legal Assistants in San Jose (0–2 years) typically sit in the 10th–25th percentile — roughly $60,030 to $77,610.
- Early-career Paralegals and Legal Assistants in San Jose (3–5 years) typically sit in the 25th–50th percentile — roughly $77,610 to $99,250.
- Mid-career Paralegals and Legal Assistants in San Jose (6–10 years) typically sit in the 50th–75th percentile — roughly $99,250 to $119,120.
- Senior Paralegals and Legal Assistants in San Jose (11+ years) typically sit in the 75th–90th percentile — roughly $119,120 to $157,450.
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 Jose?
The median Paralegals and Legal Assistants salary in San Jose is $99,250 per year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025). Most earn between $77,610 and $119,120 — the 25th to 75th percentile.
What do the top 10% of Paralegals and Legal Assistants earn in San Jose?
The 90th percentile Paralegals and Legal Assistants wage in San Jose is $157,450 per year — the top 10% of the published distribution earn at or above that figure.
How does Paralegals and Legal Assistants pay in San Jose compare to the national average?
The San Jose median ($99,250) runs 58% 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 Jose 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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