Accountant salary in the North Coast Region of California nonmetro area
Of the 28 areas in California with BLS pay data for this job, the North Coast Region of California nonmetro area has the lowest median: $74,880 a year1. That is 22.8% below the California statewide median of $97,050, and 10.5% below the US median of $83,680. Nationally it ranks #335 of 521 areas. About 750 accountants work here.
BLS occupation 13-2011, area North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in the North Coast Region of California nonmetro area against California and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Coast Region of California (Nonmetro) | $43,580 | $74,880 | $120,660 | |
| California | $61,770 | $97,050 | $160,520 | |
| United States | $56,020 | $83,680 | $144,090 |
Accountants at the 90th percentile earn $120,660, 2.8 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 2.6. The middle half of accountants in the North Coast Region of California nonmetro area earns $61,470–$99,960. The mean ($81,940) is 9% 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 $38,490 wide, against $50,040 across California and $42,790 nationally: employers in the North Coast Region of California nonmetro area 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 | $43,580 | $3,632 | $20.95 | $56,232 |
| 25th percentile | $61,470 | $5,122 | $29.55 | $79,316 |
| Median | $74,880 | $6,240 | $36.00 | $96,619 |
| 75th percentile | $99,960 | $8,330 | $48.06 | $128,981 |
| 90th percentile | $120,660 | $10,055 | $58.01 | $155,690 |
Pay climbs faster above the median than below it here: the 75th percentile is $25,080 over the median, the 25th only $13,410 under it. An offer at the 75th percentile adds about $32,361 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 the North Coast Region of California nonmetro area, and the California statewide median of $97,050 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in the North Coast Region of California nonmetro area
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 $21,739 to the $74,880 median and brings it to $96,619 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 the North Coast Region of California nonmetro area
Of the 16 roles we track in the North Coast Region of California nonmetro area, this one ranks #3 by median pay, between recruiters ($75,550) and executive assistants ($74,030). Project Coordinator is the highest at $91,210.
| Role | Median | vs accountant | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | +21.8% | 440 | |
| Recruiter | +0.9% | 410 | |
| Accountant | this role | 750 | |
| Executive Assistant | -1.1% | 240 | |
| Office Manager | -2.0% | 910 |
Measured against the US median, accountants rank #13 of the 16 roles we track in the North Coast Region of California nonmetro area (-10.5%), between executive assistants (-3.3%) and project coordinators (-10.9%). The typical role here is at +5.9%, so, measured against the US, accountants cost less in the North Coast Region of California nonmetro area than the area's general pay level would suggest. Accountants hold 9.4% of the jobs in these 16 roles in the North Coast Region of California nonmetro area, 10.6% across California and 9.2% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
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. All 16 areas in California with more accountants than the North Coast Region of California nonmetro area also pay more, among them Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA ($94,360) and San Francisco-Oakland, CA ($110,730).
| Area | Median | vs the North Coast Region of California nonmetro area | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fresno, CA | +5.1% | 2,810 | |
| Yuba City, CA | +4.9% | 280 | |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | +4.6% | 210 | |
| Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California (Nonmetro) | +3.9% | 390 | |
| Chico, CA | +3.7% | 420 | |
| El Centro, CA | +1.9% | 300 | |
| North Coast Region of California (Nonmetro) | this area | 750 |
the North Coast Region of California nonmetro area against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, the North Coast Region of California nonmetro area is #264 of 521 US areas for this job. Both its size and its pay sit in the middle half of US areas. Outside California, Honolulu and Goldsboro pay just above the North Coast Region of California nonmetro area and Macon-Bibb County and Traverse City just below. All four are within $120 a year of the median in the North Coast Region of California nonmetro area. Of the three markets with about as many accountants, all three pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs the North Coast Region of California nonmetro area | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bend, OR | +14.9% | 750 | jobs | |
| Bloomington, IL | +2.2% | 750 | jobs | |
| Gainesville, GA | +0.4% | 750 | jobs | |
| Goldsboro, NC | +0.2% | 230 | pay | |
| Honolulu, HI | +0.1% | 3,590 | pay | |
| North Coast Region of California (Nonmetro) | this area | 750 | ||
| Macon-Bibb County, GA | -0.0% | 640 | pay | |
| Traverse City, MI | -0.1% | 610 | pay |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire an accountant in North Coast Region of California (Nonmetro)?
About $96,619 a year at the median, or $8,052 a month: $74,880 in pay plus about $21,739 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for accountants in the North Coast Region of California nonmetro area?
The median was $74,880 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $43,580, the 90th $120,660, and the middle half earned $61,470 to $99,960.
Is the North Coast Region of California nonmetro area the cheapest area in California for accountants?
Yes. Its median of $74,880 is the lowest of 28 areas in California. El Centro is next at $76,280.
How many accountants work in the North Coast Region of California nonmetro area?
BLS counts about 750 in the May 2025 survey. 16 areas in California have more; the closest in size is San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, with about 860.
Does an accountant cost more than an executive assistant in the North Coast Region of California nonmetro area?
Yes: $850 a year more at the median. The medians are $74,880 and $74,030.
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.