Salaries › Paralegal › California
Paralegal Salary in California (2026)
$37.21 per hour · take-home ≈ $60,142/year ($5,012/month) for a single filer
Paralegal pay range in California
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $50,460 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $60,170 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $77,390 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $98,430 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $119,580 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 47,130 Paralegal jobs in California (occupation code 23-2011, “Paralegals and Legal Assistants”).
Gross vs. take-home in California
A median Paralegal salary of $77,390 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, plus California state income tax, a single filer keeps about $60,142 — an effective tax rate of 22.3%.
| Gross (median) | $77,390 |
| Federal income tax | −$8,196 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$5,920 |
| California state income tax | −$3,132 |
| Take-home (annual) | $60,142 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $5,012 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free California paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Paralegal make in California?
- The median Paralegal salary in California is $77,390 per year ($37.21 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $60,170 and $98,430.
- What is the take-home pay for a Paralegal in California?
- On the median salary of $77,390, a single filer in California takes home about $60,142 per year ($5,012 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 22.3%.
- How many Paralegal jobs are there in California?
- BLS counts 47,130 Paralegal jobs in California in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Paralegals
Other salaries in California
Sources and methodology
Wage and employment figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 (state file, released April 2026) — the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, the most authoritative public salary dataset. Take-home estimate: 2026 federal brackets, FICA, and verified California state tax rules (single filer, standard deduction, no credits or local taxes). Estimates only — not financial advice.
- BLS OEWS — official occupational wage data.
- PaycheckTally — interactive 2026 take-home calculator for California.