Paralegals and Legal Assistants salary in El Centro, CA
Paralegals and Legal Assistants in the El Centro, CA metro area earn a median of $63,000 a year ($30.29 an hour), based on BLS data for 60 workers.
Pay ranges from $44,770 for the lowest-paid 10% to $106,750 for the top 10%. That is about the same as the national median of $62,890. Pay here is 19% lower than the California statewide median of $77,390. There are 0.91 paralegals and legal assistants per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.36). The average (mean) salary is $70,800, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for paralegals and legal assistants in El Centro, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $44,770 | $21.52 |
| 25th percentile | $50,060 | $24.07 |
| Median | $63,000 | $30.29 |
| 75th percentile | $79,810 | $38.37 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $106,750 | $51.32 |
| Average (mean) | $70,800 | $34.04 |
Half of paralegals and legal assistants earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $5,250 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,625 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,423.08 |
| Weekly | $1,211.54 |
| Hourly | $30.29 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $63,000 salary, see how much house you can afford in California at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Paralegals and Legal Assistants salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $99,250 | 2,030 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $84,030 | 7,630 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $80,930 | 360 |
| Vallejo, CA | $79,280 | 160 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $78,550 | 2,590 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $78,160 | 290 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $77,520 | 22,240 |
| Napa, CA | $77,020 | 80 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $76,300 | 4,440 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $75,200 | 280 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $74,780 | 520 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $70,520 | 290 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $69,600 | 50 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $64,690 | 150 |
| Visalia, CA | $64,380 | 120 |
| Salinas, CA | $63,950 | 230 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $63,420 | 300 |
| Fresno, CA | $62,450 | 920 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $61,460 | 2,460 |
| Merced, CA | $61,320 | 90 |
| Yuba City, CA | $60,650 | 40 |
| Redding, CA | $59,620 | 120 |
| Modesto, CA | $58,820 | 420 |
| Chico, CA | $58,280 | 90 |
Highest-paying states for paralegals and legal assistants
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $89,750 |
| Washington | $79,400 |
| Colorado | $78,190 |
| Massachusetts | $77,640 |
| California | $77,390 |
| Minnesota | $75,570 |
| New Jersey | $71,500 |
| Alaska | $68,700 |
| New York | $68,410 |
| Vermont | $67,160 |
See Paralegals and Legal Assistants pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in El Centro, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Lawyer | $162,580 | $78.16 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 23-2011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a paralegals and legal assistants make in El Centro, CA?
The median salary for paralegals and legal assistants in the El Centro, CA metro area is $63,000 a year, or $30.29 an hour. Pay ranges from $44,770 for the lowest-paid 10% to $106,750 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid paralegals and legal assistants make in El Centro, CA?
The top 10% of paralegals and legal assistants in the El Centro, CA metro area earn at least $106,750 a year. The top 25% earn $79,810 or more.
What is the starting pay for paralegals and legal assistants in El Centro, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $44,770 a year, and a quarter of paralegals and legal assistants earn $50,060 or less.
How many paralegals and legal assistants work in El Centro, CA?
About 60 paralegals and legal assistants are employed in the El Centro, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.