Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants Salary in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA make a median of $106,130 a year, or about $51.02 an hour. The range runs from $58K at the entry level to $128K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 110.42), so that salary is closer to $96,115 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $3,483/month — about 53.3% of take-home, which is tight.
AffordMap analysis of BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (latest release, May 2024)
So what does $106K get you in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara?
About legal secretaries and administrative assistants
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
Entry-level legal secretaries and administrative assistants (10th percentile) start around $58K. Mid-career wages sit at $106K.Top earners bring in $128K or more - a $70K 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 Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara numbers change.
Related careers in Office & Admin
Frequently asked questions
How much do legal secretaries and administrative assistants make in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
The median is $106,130 a year - that works out to about $51.02 an hour. The range is wide: entry-level workers start around $57,910, and experienced legal secretaries and administrative assistants can clear $127,540. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $106K enough to live in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,420/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $3,483/month (HUD Fair Market Rent), which eats 54.3% 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 Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara?
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara has a Regional Price Parity of 110.42 (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 $96,115 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.