Cost of hiring an accountant in San Diego-Chula Vista, CA
For this job San Diego-Chula Vista sits right at the California figure, with a median of $96,340 a year[1]. That is about level with the California statewide median of $97,050, and 15.1% above the US median of $83,680. Only 13 of 521 US areas pay more for this job. About 13,450 accountants work here, 8% of the California total.
BLS occupation 13-2011, area San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in San Diego-Chula Vista against California and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego-Chula Vista, CA | $62,520 | $96,340 | $157,720 | |
| California | $61,770 | $97,050 | $160,520 | |
| United States | $56,020 | $83,680 | $144,090 |
Accountants at the 90th percentile earn $157,720, 2.5 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 2.6. The middle half of accountants in San Diego-Chula Vista earns $76,690–$125,190.
What to budget for an accountant here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $62,520 | $5,210 | $30.06 | $89,314 |
| 25th percentile | $76,690 | $6,391 | $36.87 | $109,557 |
| Median | $96,340 | $8,028 | $46.32 | $137,629 |
| 75th percentile | $125,190 | $10,432 | $60.19 | $178,843 |
| 90th percentile | $157,720 | $13,143 | $75.83 | $225,314 |
An offer at the 75th percentile instead of the median adds $28,850 a year in pay and about $41,214 in employer cost. Going down to the 25th percentile saves $19,650 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 San Diego-Chula Vista
Pay is only part of it. Benefits and payroll taxes are 30.0% of total compensation in US private industry[2], which adds about $41,289 to the $96,340 median and brings it to $137,629 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 fee[3]; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool[4].
Other roles in San Diego-Chula Vista
Of the 17 roles we track in San Diego-Chula Vista, this one ranks #2 by median pay. Project Coordinator is the highest at $117,460 and Data Entry Specialist the lowest at $43,770.
| Role | Median | vs accountant | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | +21.9% | 10,740 | |
| Accountant | this role | 13,450 | |
| Executive Assistant | -12.2% | 4,510 | |
| Recruiter | -15.6% | 9,110 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -17.5% | n/a | |
| Paralegal | -20.8% | 4,440 | |
| Office Manager | -21.0% | 11,780 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -22.6% | 11,730 | |
| Payroll Specialist | -33.8% | 1,840 | |
| Bookkeeper | -39.2% | 12,830 | |
| HR Assistant | -42.0% | 1,240 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -42.5% | 12,070 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -46.4% | 11,260 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -49.4% | 14,030 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | -50.6% | 760 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -53.9% | 6,690 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | -54.6% | 1,020 |
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 San Diego-Chula Vista | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale, CA | +26.3% | 13,180 | |
| San Francisco-Oakland, CA | +14.9% | 25,170 | |
| Napa, CA | +3.4% | 520 | |
| San Diego-Chula Vista, CA | this area | 13,450 | |
| Vallejo, CA | -0.6% | 690 | |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | -1.7% | 1,740 | |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA | -2.1% | 70,640 |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire an accountant in San Diego-Chula Vista, CA?
About $137,629 a year at the median, or $11,469 a month: $96,340 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 is the pay range for accountants in San Diego-Chula Vista?
The median was $96,340 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $62,520, the 90th $157,720, and the middle half earned $76,690 to $125,190.
Is San Diego-Chula Vista cheaper than the rest of California for accountants?
About the same: a median of $96,340 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 San Diego-Chula Vista?
BLS counts about 13,450 in the May 2025 survey. That is 8% of the California total of 175,360.
Does an accountant cost more than an executive assistant in San Diego-Chula Vista?
Yes: $11,800 a year more at the median. The medians are $96,340 and $84,540.
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 2026-11-06.