Accountant salary in Chico, CA
Chico is a lower-cost market for accountants: the median of $77,680 a year1 is 20.0% below the California statewide median of $97,050, and 7.2% below the US median of $83,680. Nationally it ranks #209 of 521 areas. BLS counts about 420 people in this job here.
BLS occupation 13-2011, area Chico, CA. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Chico against California and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chico, CA | $55,940 | $77,680 | $126,280 | |
| California | $61,770 | $97,050 | $160,520 | |
| United States | $56,020 | $83,680 | $144,090 |
The middle half of accountants in Chico earns $65,260–$97,540. Pay is tightly grouped: the top tenth starts at $126,280, only 2.3 times the bottom tenth, against 2.6 times across the US, so the going rate is easier to read. The mean ($86,290) is 11% over the median, so a group of high earners pulls the average up; price a typical hire from the median. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $32,280 wide, against $50,040 across California and $42,790 nationally: employers in Chico pay within a narrower band.
What to budget for an accountant here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $55,940 | $4,662 | $26.89 | $72,181 |
| 25th percentile | $65,260 | $5,438 | $31.38 | $84,206 |
| Median | $77,680 | $6,473 | $37.35 | $100,232 |
| 75th percentile | $97,540 | $8,128 | $46.89 | $125,858 |
| 90th percentile | $126,280 | $10,523 | $60.71 | $162,942 |
Pay climbs faster above the median than below it here: the 75th percentile is $19,860 over the median, the 25th only $12,420 under it. An offer at the 75th percentile adds about $25,626 a year in employer cost. These percentiles describe what people in the job earn locally, not experience levels, so place your offer by the tasks and seniority you need.
For scale, the US median of $83,680 falls between the median and the 75th percentile in Chico, and the California statewide median of $97,050 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in Chico
Pay is only part of it. Benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, which adds about $22,552 to the $77,680 median and brings it to $100,232 a year. Recruiting, equipment and office space come on top. 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 fee3; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool4.
Other roles in Chico
Of the 17 roles we track in Chico, this one ranks #2 by median pay, after project coordinators ($103,320); executive assistants come next at $75,770.
| Role | Median | vs accountant | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | +33.0% | 320 | |
| Accountant | this role | 420 | |
| Executive Assistant | -2.5% | 170 | |
| Recruiter | -4.9% | 310 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -8.8% | 320 |
Measured against the US median, accountants rank #14 of the 17 roles we track in Chico (-7.2%), between recruiters (-2.7%) and paralegals (-7.3%). The typical role here is at +0.9%, so, measured against the US, accountants cost less in Chico than the area's general pay level would suggest. Accountants hold 7.0% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Chico, 10.5% across California and 9.1% nationally. The job is a smaller part of the local workforce in these roles than it is nationally.
Other areas in California
Across the 28 areas of California with data for this job, the median runs from $74,880 in the North Coast Region of California nonmetro area to $121,700 in San Jose-Sunnyvale, a gap of $46,820 a year. Of the 22 areas in California with more accountants than Chico, 1 pays less: the North Coast Region of California nonmetro area ($74,880).
| Area | Median | vs Chico | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fresno, CA | +1.3% | 2,810 | |
| Yuba City, CA | +1.1% | 280 | |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | +0.8% | 210 | |
| Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California (Nonmetro) | +0.1% | 390 | |
| Chico, CA | this area | 420 | |
| El Centro, CA | -1.8% | 300 | |
| North Coast Region of California (Nonmetro) | -3.6% | 750 |
Chico against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Chico is #389 of 521 US areas for this job. Both its size and its pay sit in the middle half of US areas. Outside California, St. Cloud and Green Bay pay just above Chico and Wausau and Winchester just below. All four are within $40 a year of the median in Chico. Of the three markets with about as many accountants, two pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Chico | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Burlington, NC | +3.4% | 430 | jobs | |
| Pueblo, CO | +0.8% | 420 | jobs | |
| Green Bay, WI | +0.1% | 1,490 | pay | |
| St. Cloud, MN | +0.1% | 800 | pay | |
| Chico, CA | this area | 420 | ||
| Wausau, WI | +0.0% | 530 | pay | |
| Winchester, VA-WV | -0.0% | 590 | pay | |
| Idaho Falls, ID | -4.2% | 420 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire an accountant in Chico, CA?
About $100,232 a year at the median, or $8,353 a month: $77,680 in pay plus about $22,552 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for accountants in Chico?
The median was $77,680 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $55,940, the 90th $126,280, and the middle half earned $65,260 to $97,540.
Is Chico cheaper than the rest of California for accountants?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $77,680 against $97,050 statewide. The next area up in California is the Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetro area at $77,790, the next down El Centro at $76,280.
How many accountants work in Chico?
BLS counts about 420 in the May 2025 survey. 22 areas in California have more; the closest in size is Redding, with about 490.
Does an accountant cost more than an executive assistant in Chico?
Yes: $1,910 a year more at the median. The medians are $77,680 and $75,770.
Sources
4 sources, with links
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 13-2011: bls.gov
- BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, private industry, June 2026: bls.gov
- Stafka pricing: stafka.com
- Deel pricing, contractor management: deel.com
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.