How Much Do Paralegals and Legal Assistants Make in California?
Median wage from BLS May 2025 — and the after-tax number the salary sites skip. Tax year 2026.
Quick answer
According to payandtaxes.com's analysis of BLS May 2025 data and 2026 tax law, the median Paralegals and Legal Assistants in California earns $77,390 per year and takes home $60,295 ($5,025/month) — a keep-rate of 77.9%, with 47,130 employed in the state.
Free. No signup. Single filer, standard deduction — full model.
| Gross pay | $6,449.17 |
| Federal income tax | $682.97 |
| Social Security | $399.85 |
| Medicare | $93.51 |
| California state income tax | $248.25 |
| You keep | $5,024.58 |
How much do Paralegals and Legal Assistants make in California?
The median Paralegals and Legal Assistants in California earns $77,390 per year (BLS May 2025), about $37.21 per hour.
What is that after taxes?
$77,390 gross in California keeps $60,295 after federal income tax ($8,196), FICA ($5,920) and state income tax ($2,979) — $5,025 per month, a 77.9% keep-rate.
How does California compare to the national median for Paralegals and Legal Assistants?
The California median is $14,500 above the national median of $62,890.
Which state pays Paralegals and Legal Assistants the most?
Washington DC has the highest median gross for Paralegals and Legal Assistants at $89,750 — but compare take-home, not gross: state taxes change the order.
Paralegals and Legal Assistants salary in every state · California paycheck calculator · California minimum wage