Cost of hiring an accountant in San Jose-Sunnyvale, CA
Accountants earn more in San Jose-Sunnyvale than anywhere else in California. Expect a median of $121,700 a year[1], 25.4% above the California statewide median of $97,050 and 45.4% above the US median of $83,680. It is the highest-paying of the 521 US areas with data for this job. BLS counts about 13,180 people in this job here, 8% of the California total.
BLS occupation 13-2011, area San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in San Jose-Sunnyvale against California and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale, CA | $78,440 | $121,700 | $196,890 | |
| California | $61,770 | $97,050 | $160,520 | |
| United States | $56,020 | $83,680 | $144,090 |
The middle half of accountants in San Jose-Sunnyvale earns $96,430–$156,700. The top tenth earns $196,890 or more, 2.5 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 | $78,440 | $6,537 | $37.71 | $112,057 |
| 25th percentile | $96,430 | $8,036 | $46.36 | $137,757 |
| Median | $121,700 | $10,142 | $58.51 | $173,857 |
| 75th percentile | $156,700 | $13,058 | $75.34 | $223,857 |
| 90th percentile | $196,890 | $16,408 | $94.66 | $281,271 |
An offer at the 75th percentile instead of the median adds $35,000 a year in pay and about $50,000 in employer cost. Going down to the 25th percentile saves $25,270 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 Jose-Sunnyvale
Pay is only part of it. Benefits and payroll taxes are 30.0% of total compensation in US private industry[2], which adds about $52,157 to the $121,700 median and brings it to $173,857 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 Jose-Sunnyvale
Of the 17 roles we track in San Jose-Sunnyvale, this one ranks #3 by median pay. Marketing Specialist is the highest at $141,960 and Virtual Receptionist the lowest at $47,130.
| Role | Median | vs accountant | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marketing Specialist | +16.6% | 12,710 | |
| Project Coordinator | +11.0% | 10,300 | |
| Accountant | this role | 13,180 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -4.3% | 13,390 | |
| Recruiter | -7.9% | 7,970 | |
| Executive Assistant | -12.7% | 5,300 | |
| Paralegal | -18.4% | 2,030 | |
| Office Manager | -21.9% | 7,630 | |
| Payroll Specialist | -35.9% | 1,000 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -43.0% | 6,340 | |
| HR Assistant | -44.5% | 560 | |
| Bookkeeper | -45.7% | 7,590 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -48.3% | 7,970 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -50.3% | 8,860 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | -52.2% | 620 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | -55.2% | 720 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -61.3% | 3,990 |
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 Jose-Sunnyvale | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale, CA | this area | 13,180 | |
| San Francisco-Oakland, CA | -9.0% | 25,170 | |
| Napa, CA | -18.1% | 520 | |
| San Diego-Chula Vista, CA | -20.8% | 13,450 | |
| Vallejo, CA | -21.3% | 690 | |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | -22.2% | 1,740 | |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA | -22.5% | 70,640 |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire an accountant in San Jose-Sunnyvale, CA?
About $173,857 a year at the median, or $14,488 a month: $121,700 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 San Jose-Sunnyvale?
The median was $121,700 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $78,440, the 90th $196,890, and the middle half earned $96,430 to $156,700.
Is San Jose-Sunnyvale the most expensive area in California for accountants?
Yes. Its median of $121,700 is the highest of 28 areas in California. San Francisco-Oakland comes next at $110,730.
How many accountants work in San Jose-Sunnyvale?
BLS counts about 13,180 in the May 2025 survey. That is 8% of the California total of 175,360.
Does an accountant cost more than a sales development representative in San Jose-Sunnyvale?
Yes: $5,190 a year more at the median. The medians are $121,700 and $116,510.
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.