Accountant salary and cost of hiring in California
The median accountant in California earned $97,050 a year in May 2025[1], 16.0% above the US median of $83,680. That puts California at #6 of 51 states for this job.
BLS occupation 13-2011. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-16.
Salary range
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | $61,770 | $97,050 | $160,520 | |
| United States | $56,020 | $83,680 | $144,090 |
The middle half of accountants in California earns $75,810–$125,850; the top tenth earns $160,520 or more, 2.6 times the bottom tenth.
What a hire really costs
Benefits and payroll taxes are 30.0% of total compensation in US private industry[2]. At the California median that makes about $138,643 a year before recruiting, equipment and office space. Benefit levels vary by employer, so treat this as an estimate.
We place executive assistants, customer support and e-commerce staff today; for accountants we answer within one business day whether we can help. Enter the monthly pay you have in mind to compare it with a local hire. The fee field shows our standard fee[3]; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool[4].
Pay by metro area in California
| Area | Median | 75th percentile | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $156,700 | 13,180 | |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $143,590 | 25,170 | |
| Napa, CA | $123,250 | 520 | |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $125,190 | 13,450 | |
| Vallejo, CA | $118,470 | 690 | |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $124,550 | 1,740 | |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $122,290 | 70,640 | |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $108,950 | 13,170 | |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $119,850 | 1,510 | |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $115,440 | 2,530 | |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $107,710 | 860 | |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $108,940 | 740 | |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $105,580 | 9,240 | |
| Salinas, CA | $112,940 | 1,050 | |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $107,150 | 1,420 | |
| Modesto, CA | $104,730 | 1,200 | |
| North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $104,390 | 720 | |
| Merced, CA | $104,630 | 360 | |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $102,670 | 1,870 | |
| Visalia, CA | $99,560 | 870 | |
| Redding, CA | $101,350 | 490 | |
| Fresno, CA | $101,500 | 2,810 | |
| Yuba City, CA | $102,660 | 280 | |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $99,630 | 210 | |
| Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $97,800 | 390 | |
| Chico, CA | $97,540 | 420 | |
| El Centro, CA | $97,940 | 300 | |
| North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $99,960 | 750 |
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA pays the most ($121,700) and North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area the least ($74,880): $46,820 a year apart for the same job.
What an accountant does
An accountant goes beyond bookkeeping: month-end close, financial statements, budgets, management reports and support for audits and tax filings.
Neighbours in the ranking
| State | Median | vs California |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | +2.5% | |
| Connecticut | +0.5% | |
| California | +0.0% | |
| Colorado | -0.0% | |
| Washington | -0.5% |
Questions
How much does an accountant earn in California?
The median was $97,050 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey; the middle half earned $75,810 to $125,850.
What does it cost to employ an accountant in California?
About $138,643 a year at the median wage once benefits are added, using the 30% benefits share of US private industry (June 2026).
Where in California do accountants earn the most?
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA, with a median of $121,700 a year.
Sources
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 13-2011: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes132011.htm
- BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, private industry, June 2026: https://www.bls.gov/news.release/ecec.nr0.htm
- Silkstaff pricing: https://silkstaff.com/#pricing
- Deel pricing, contractor management: https://www.deel.com/pricing/
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Data checked 2026-10-16.