Paralegal salary in California
The median paralegal in California earns $77,390 a year, or $37.21 an hour, in the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ May 2025 survey. That is 23% above the national median of $62,890, and 5th of the 54 states and territories BLS publishes.
The middle half of California’s 47,130 paralegals earn between $60,170 and $98,430. The highest paying metro area in the state is San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA, at $99,250.
Liaison does the routine half of a paralegal’s job for 7% of what one costs in California. See how.
Paralegal salary by city in California
Every metro area in California where BLS publishes a median for paralegals, highest first. A metro that crosses a state line appears under each of its states.
| Metro area | Median annual | Median hourly | Middle half earns | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $99,250 | $47.72 | $77,610 to $119,120 | 2,030 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $84,030 | $40.40 | $74,050 to $103,060 | 7,630 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $80,930 | $38.91 | $62,500 to $91,070 | 360 |
| Vallejo, CA | $79,280 | $38.11 | $62,050 to $90,070 | 160 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $78,550 | $37.77 | $61,740 to $97,910 | 2,590 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $78,160 | $37.58 | $60,600 to $93,790 | 290 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $77,520 | $37.27 | $59,690 to $98,440 | 22,240 |
| Napa, CA | $77,020 | $37.03 | $61,720 to $94,730 | 80 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $76,300 | $36.68 | $59,410 to $98,260 | 4,440 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $75,200 | $36.16 | $60,740 to $76,930 | 280 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $74,780 | $35.95 | $58,890 to $83,410 | 520 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $70,520 | $33.91 | $60,550 to $88,790 | 290 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $69,600 | $33.46 | $49,570 to $83,280 | 50 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $64,690 | $31.10 | $60,730 to $81,880 | 150 |
| Visalia, CA | $64,380 | $30.95 | $53,640 to $75,420 | 120 |
| Salinas, CA | $63,950 | $30.74 | $59,800 to $91,180 | 230 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $63,420 | $30.49 | $57,820 to $78,970 | 300 |
| El Centro, CA | $63,000 | $30.29 | $50,060 to $79,810 | 60 |
| Fresno, CA | $62,450 | $30.03 | $50,290 to $77,330 | 920 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $61,460 | $29.55 | $52,150 to $76,640 | 2,460 |
| Merced, CA | $61,320 | $29.48 | $47,670 to $75,060 | 90 |
| Yuba City, CA | $60,650 | $29.16 | $49,720 to $78,170 | 40 |
| Redding, CA | $59,620 | $28.67 | $49,900 to $75,410 | 120 |
| Modesto, CA | $58,820 | $28.28 | $54,590 to $75,570 | 420 |
| Chico, CA | $58,280 | $28.02 | $47,720 to $75,260 | 90 |
What a paralegal costs an employer in California
Wages are the start. At employers with fewer than 50 workers, benefits add 35% on top (BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation), so a paralegal at the California median costs about $104,500 a year. The employer’s view for every state and metro is on what a paralegal costs, and the routine part of the job is what Liaison does inside the tools a business already runs.
The routine half of a paralegal’s job, for 7% of what one costs in California.
- Reads the inbox, the calendar and the matter files together, so every follow-up knows the matter.
- Drafts the routine client updates and the chase for the missing document, in your voice.
- Keeps deadlines, intake and billing details current across the tools the firm runs.
Professional is $629 a month, $7,548 a year, against about $104,500 a year for a paralegal at the California median once benefits are added. On Professional we connect your tools, bring your data in and set up the first rules with you. Anything that moves money waits for your yes.
“Cut our month-end close from 4 days to 4 hours.” Marcus C., owner
$629 a month, or $500 a month on a 12-month term. Prefer to start on your own? Starter is $149 a month, self-serve, with a free trial first: 7 days, no card. More: AI for law firms.
Questions
How much does a paralegal make in California?
The median paralegal in California earned $77,390 a year, or $37.21 an hour, in May 2025. The middle half earned between $60,170 and $98,430. Nationally the median is $62,890, so California pays 23% more than the country as a whole.
Which cities in California pay paralegals the most?
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($99,250), San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA ($84,030) and Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($80,930).
What does a paralegal cost an employer in California?
Benefits at employers with fewer than 50 workers add 35% on top of wages, so a paralegal at the California median costs about $104,500 a year. The employer’s view is at useliaison.com/back-office-costs/paralegal.
Paralegal salary in other states
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, occupation 23-2011. Annual figures assume 2,080 hours a year. Updated 2026-10-02.
See it on your own business.
Thirty minutes with us, on your own tools. Bring the thing that eats your evenings and watch it get handled from your own inbox, calendar and books.
Professional is $629 a month and we set it up with you. Starter is $149 a month, self-serve, with the free trial first: 7 days, no card. Every plan is on the pricing page.