Cost of hiring an office manager in San Francisco-Oakland, CA
Budget above the national rate here. The median office manager in San Francisco-Oakland earned $88,560 a year in May 2025[1], 14.1% above the California statewide median of $77,590 and 27.4% above the US median of $69,500. Nationally that is #2 of 519 areas, in the top tenth. About 19,480 office managers work here, 13% of the California total.
BLS occupation 43-1011, 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 | $59,980 | $88,560 | $131,810 | |
| California | $50,870 | $77,590 | $121,650 | |
| United States | $45,610 | $69,500 | $104,710 |
Office managers at the 90th percentile earn $131,810, 2.2 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 2.3. The middle half of office managers in San Francisco-Oakland earns $72,420–$107,450.
What to budget for an office manager here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $59,980 | $4,998 | $28.84 | $85,686 |
| 25th percentile | $72,420 | $6,035 | $34.82 | $103,457 |
| Median | $88,560 | $7,380 | $42.58 | $126,514 |
| 75th percentile | $107,450 | $8,954 | $51.66 | $153,500 |
| 90th percentile | $131,810 | $10,984 | $63.37 | $188,300 |
An offer at the 75th percentile instead of the median adds $18,890 a year in pay and about $26,986 in employer cost. Going down to the 25th percentile saves $16,140 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
At the $88,560 median, a local hire costs about $126,514 a year: benefits and payroll taxes are 30.0% of total compensation in US private industry[2], about $37,954 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 office managers 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 #7 by median pay. Project Coordinator is the highest at $135,040 and Virtual Receptionist the lowest at $49,450.
| Role | Median | vs office manager | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | +52.5% | 20,770 | |
| Marketing Specialist | +39.2% | 24,120 | |
| Accountant | +25.0% | 25,170 | |
| Executive Assistant | +18.8% | 11,250 | |
| Recruiter | +16.5% | 16,420 | |
| Sales Development Representative | +9.5% | 29,980 | |
| Office Manager | this role | 19,480 | |
| Paralegal | -5.1% | 7,630 | |
| Payroll Specialist | -9.1% | 2,260 | |
| HR Assistant | -24.9% | 1,300 | |
| Bookkeeper | -26.0% | 18,100 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -29.9% | 20,270 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -30.7% | 13,660 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -34.7% | 19,930 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | -41.9% | 1,250 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | -42.1% | 1,410 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -44.2% | 8,510 |
Other areas in California
Across the 28 areas of California with data for this job, the median runs from $66,410 in El Centro to $95,010 in San Jose-Sunnyvale, a gap of $28,600 a year.
| Area | Median | vs San Francisco-Oakland | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale, CA | +7.3% | 7,630 | |
| San Francisco-Oakland, CA | this area | 19,480 | |
| Vallejo, CA | -9.1% | 1,160 | |
| Napa, CA | -10.5% | 600 | |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA | -12.5% | 54,340 | |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | -12.5% | 1,120 | |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | -12.6% | 860 |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire an office manager in San Francisco-Oakland, CA?
About $126,514 a year at the median, or $10,543 a month: $88,560 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 office managers in San Francisco-Oakland?
The median was $88,560 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $59,980, the 90th $131,810, and the middle half earned $72,420 to $107,450.
Is San Francisco-Oakland cheaper than the rest of California for office managers?
No, it costs more: a median of $88,560 against $77,590 statewide. San Jose-Sunnyvale pays the most ($95,010) and El Centro the least ($66,410).
How many office managers work in San Francisco-Oakland?
BLS counts about 19,480 in the May 2025 survey. That is 13% of the California total of 149,230.
Does an office manager cost more than a paralegal in San Francisco-Oakland?
Yes: $4,530 a year more at the median. The medians are $88,560 and $84,030.
Sources
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 43-1011: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes431011.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.