Cost of hiring an accountant in Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA
Los Angeles-Long Beach pays accountants less than California as a whole but still more than the country. The median is $94,360 a year[1]: 2.8% below the California statewide median of $97,050 and 12.8% above the US median of $83,680. Nationally that is #22 of 521 areas, in the top tenth. It is the largest market for the job in California: about 70,640 people, 40% of the California total.
BLS occupation 13-2011, area Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Los Angeles-Long Beach against California and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA | $60,310 | $94,360 | $154,630 | |
| California | $61,770 | $97,050 | $160,520 | |
| United States | $56,020 | $83,680 | $144,090 |
The middle half of accountants in Los Angeles-Long Beach earns $74,060–$122,290. The top tenth earns $154,630 or more, 2.6 times the bottom tenth, close to the US pattern of 2.6 times.
What to budget for an accountant here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $60,310 | $5,026 | $29.00 | $86,157 |
| 25th percentile | $74,060 | $6,172 | $35.61 | $105,800 |
| Median | $94,360 | $7,863 | $45.37 | $134,800 |
| 75th percentile | $122,290 | $10,191 | $58.79 | $174,700 |
| 90th percentile | $154,630 | $12,886 | $74.34 | $220,900 |
An offer at the 75th percentile instead of the median adds $27,930 a year in pay and about $39,900 in employer cost. Going down to the 25th percentile saves $20,300 in pay. These percentiles describe what people in the job earn locally, not experience levels, so place your offer by the tasks and seniority you need.
What a hire really costs in Los Angeles-Long Beach
At the $94,360 median, a local hire costs about $134,800 a year: benefits and payroll taxes are 30.0% of total compensation in US private industry[2], about $40,440 here. 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 fee[3]; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool[4].
Other roles in Los Angeles-Long Beach
Of the 17 roles we track in Los Angeles-Long Beach, this one ranks #2 by median pay. Project Coordinator is the highest at $108,310 and Virtual Receptionist the lowest at $43,280.
| Role | Median | vs accountant | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | +14.8% | 38,540 | |
| Accountant | this role | 70,640 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -12.0% | 39,390 | |
| Executive Assistant | -12.2% | 20,850 | |
| Recruiter | -15.0% | 36,850 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -15.8% | 50,470 | |
| Office Manager | -17.8% | 54,340 | |
| Paralegal | -17.8% | 22,240 | |
| Payroll Specialist | -31.1% | 6,600 | |
| Bookkeeper | -37.9% | 53,910 | |
| HR Assistant | -39.0% | 3,890 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -43.2% | 58,800 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -45.5% | 40,380 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -48.2% | 66,590 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | -50.1% | 5,900 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | -50.6% | 5,740 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -54.1% | 35,000 |
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.
| Area | Median | vs Los Angeles-Long Beach | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego-Chula Vista, CA | +2.1% | 13,450 | |
| Vallejo, CA | +1.5% | 690 | |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | +0.3% | 1,740 | |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA | this area | 70,640 | |
| Sacramento-Roseville, CA | -2.4% | 13,170 | |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | -2.9% | 1,510 | |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks, CA | -4.3% | 2,530 |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire an accountant in Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA?
About $134,800 a year at the median, or $11,233 a month: $94,360 in pay plus benefits and payroll taxes at the 30% share of total compensation in US private industry (June 2026). Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do accountants earn in Los Angeles-Long Beach?
The median was $94,360 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $60,310, the 90th $154,630, and the middle half earned $74,060 to $122,290.
Is Los Angeles-Long Beach cheaper than the rest of California for accountants?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $94,360 against $97,050 statewide. San Jose-Sunnyvale pays the most ($121,700) and the North Coast Region of California nonmetro area the least ($74,880).
How many accountants work in Los Angeles-Long Beach?
BLS counts about 70,640 in the May 2025 survey. That is 40% of the California total of 175,360.
Does an accountant cost more than a marketing specialist in Los Angeles-Long Beach?
Yes: $11,370 a year more at the median. The medians are $94,360 and $82,990.
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. Last updated 2026-11-05.