Cost of hiring an accountant in San Francisco-Oakland, CA
San Francisco-Oakland is a higher-paying market for accountants: the median of $110,730 a year[1] is 14.1% above the California statewide median of $97,050, and 32.3% above the US median of $83,680. Only 1 of 521 US areas pay more for this job. About 25,170 accountants work here, 14% of the California total.
BLS occupation 13-2011, area San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in San Francisco-Oakland against California and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland, CA | $73,420 | $110,730 | $180,060 | |
| California | $61,770 | $97,050 | $160,520 | |
| United States | $56,020 | $83,680 | $144,090 |
Accountants at the 90th percentile earn $180,060, 2.5 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 2.6. The middle half of accountants in San Francisco-Oakland earns $88,820–$143,590. The mean ($120,780) is 9% over the median, so a group of high earners pulls the average up; price a typical hire from the median.
What to budget for an accountant here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $73,420 | $6,118 | $35.30 | $104,886 |
| 25th percentile | $88,820 | $7,402 | $42.70 | $126,886 |
| Median | $110,730 | $9,228 | $53.24 | $158,186 |
| 75th percentile | $143,590 | $11,966 | $69.03 | $205,129 |
| 90th percentile | $180,060 | $15,005 | $86.57 | $257,229 |
An offer at the 75th percentile instead of the median adds $32,860 a year in pay and about $46,943 in employer cost. Going down to the 25th percentile saves $21,910 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 Francisco-Oakland
Pay is only part of it. Benefits and payroll taxes are 30.0% of total compensation in US private industry[2], which adds about $47,456 to the $110,730 median and brings it to $158,186 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 Francisco-Oakland
Of the 17 roles we track in San Francisco-Oakland, this one ranks #3 by median pay. Project Coordinator is the highest at $135,040 and Virtual Receptionist the lowest at $49,450.
| Role | Median | vs accountant | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | +22.0% | 20,770 | |
| Marketing Specialist | +11.3% | 24,120 | |
| Accountant | this role | 25,170 | |
| Executive Assistant | -5.0% | 11,250 | |
| Recruiter | -6.9% | 16,420 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -12.4% | 29,980 | |
| Office Manager | -20.0% | 19,480 | |
| Paralegal | -24.1% | 7,630 | |
| Payroll Specialist | -27.3% | 2,260 | |
| HR Assistant | -39.9% | 1,300 | |
| Bookkeeper | -40.8% | 18,100 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -43.9% | 20,270 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -44.6% | 13,660 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -47.8% | 19,930 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | -53.5% | 1,250 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | -53.7% | 1,410 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -55.3% | 8,510 |
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 Francisco-Oakland | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale, CA | +9.9% | 13,180 | |
| San Francisco-Oakland, CA | this area | 25,170 | |
| Napa, CA | -10.0% | 520 | |
| San Diego-Chula Vista, CA | -13.0% | 13,450 | |
| Vallejo, CA | -13.5% | 690 | |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | -14.5% | 1,740 | |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA | -14.8% | 70,640 |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire an accountant in San Francisco-Oakland, CA?
About $158,186 a year at the median, or $13,182 a month: $110,730 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 Francisco-Oakland?
The median was $110,730 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $73,420, the 90th $180,060, and the middle half earned $88,820 to $143,590.
Is San Francisco-Oakland cheaper than the rest of California for accountants?
No, it costs more: a median of $110,730 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 Francisco-Oakland?
BLS counts about 25,170 in the May 2025 survey. That is 14% of the California total of 175,360.
Does an accountant cost more than an executive assistant in San Francisco-Oakland?
Yes: $5,540 a year more at the median. The medians are $110,730 and $105,190.
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.