Paralegals and Legal Assistants salary in Modesto, CA
Paralegals and Legal Assistants in the Modesto, CA metro area earn a median of $58,820 a year ($28.28 an hour), based on BLS data for 420 workers.
Pay ranges from $46,600 for the lowest-paid 10% to $93,890 for the top 10%. That is 6% lower than the national median of $62,890. Pay here is 24% lower than the California statewide median of $77,390. There are 2.2 paralegals and legal assistants per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $64,150, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for paralegals and legal assistants in Modesto, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $46,600 | $22.41 |
| 25th percentile | $54,590 | $26.24 |
| Median | $58,820 | $28.28 |
| 75th percentile | $75,570 | $36.33 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $93,890 | $45.14 |
| Average (mean) | $64,150 | $30.84 |
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 | $4,901.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,450.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,262.31 |
| Weekly | $1,131.15 |
| Hourly | $28.28 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $58,820 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 |
| El Centro, CA | $63,000 | 60 |
| 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 |
| 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 Modesto, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Legal Support Workers, All Other | $74,670 | $35.90 |
| Lawyer | $164,010 | $78.85 |
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 Modesto, CA?
The median salary for paralegals and legal assistants in the Modesto, CA metro area is $58,820 a year, or $28.28 an hour. Pay ranges from $46,600 for the lowest-paid 10% to $93,890 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid paralegals and legal assistants make in Modesto, CA?
The top 10% of paralegals and legal assistants in the Modesto, CA metro area earn at least $93,890 a year. The top 25% earn $75,570 or more.
What is the starting pay for paralegals and legal assistants in Modesto, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $46,600 a year, and a quarter of paralegals and legal assistants earn $54,590 or less.
How many paralegals and legal assistants work in Modesto, CA?
About 420 paralegals and legal assistants are employed in the Modesto, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.