Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants Salary in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA make a median of $81,210 a year, or about $39.04 an hour. The range runs from $54K at the entry level to $121K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 115.61), so that salary is closer to $70,245 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $3,604/month — about 70.7% of take-home, which is tight.
AffordMap analysis of BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (latest release, May 2024)
So what does $81K get you in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont?
About legal secretaries and administrative assistants
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
Entry-level legal secretaries and administrative assistants (10th percentile) start around $54K. Mid-career wages sit at $81K.Top earners bring in $121K or more - a $67K spread from bottom to top.
Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $101K | +87% | 2,040 |
| New York | $74K | +37% | 15,430 |
| Delaware | $64K | +18% | 970 |
| Maryland | $63K | +17% | 1,410 |
| Rhode Island | $62K | +14% | N/A |
| Connecticut | $61K | +13% | 1,140 |
| Massachusetts | $61K | +13% | 3,880 |
| California | $61K | +13% | 23,960 |
| Minnesota | $61K | +13% | 2,500 |
| New Jersey | $60K | +12% | 3,910 |
| Washington | $60K | +10% | 4,090 |
| Alaska | $60K | +10% | 560 |
| Illinois | $58K | +7% | 8,860 |
| Hawaii | $57K | +5% | 520 |
| Michigan | $56K | +3% | 3,070 |
Track legal secretaries and administrative assistants salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont numbers change.
Related careers in Office & Admin
Frequently asked questions
How much do legal secretaries and administrative assistants make in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA?
The median is $81,210 a year - that works out to about $39.04 an hour. The range is wide: entry-level workers start around $54,450, and experienced legal secretaries and administrative assistants can clear $121,280. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $81K enough to live in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,152/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $3,604/month (HUD Fair Market Rent), which eats 70% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb - housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a legal secretaries and administrative assistants salary go in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont?
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont has a Regional Price Parity of 115.61 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median legal secretaries and administrative assistants salary is worth about $70,245 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do legal secretaries and administrative assistants get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.