Based on the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data — updated September 10, 2026.
| California | National | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median annual salary | $97,050 | $86,427 | +12% |
| Median hourly wage | $46.66 | $41.55 | +12% |
Adjusted for local price levels (100 = national average), the cost-adjusted median is $87,669.
| City | Median | Entry Level | Experienced | Cost of Living |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | $123,814 | $85,250 | $162,750 | 244 |
| Oakland | $111,832 | $77,000 | $147,000 | 196 |
| Los Angeles | $102,246 | $70,400 | $134,400 | 173 |
| Long Beach | $95,856 | $66,000 | $126,000 | 153 |
| San Diego | $94,258 | $64,900 | $123,900 | 161 |
| Sacramento | $86,270 | $59,400 | $113,400 | 130 |
| Fresno | $75,886 | $52,250 | $99,750 | 105 |
The median annual salary for a Accountant in California is $97,050, or about $46.66 per hour, according to BLS OEWS data.
The national median for Accountants is $86,427. California is +12% above the national median.
Entry-level accountants in California typically earn from $85,250 depending on the city and employer.
With 175,360 accountant jobs on record and a median salary of $97,050, California offers above-average pay compared to the rest of the country.
By median annual wage, accountants rank 238 of the 793 occupations reported in California — higher than 70% of them.
Among occupations in the same job family, Personal Financial Advisors at $130,330, Financial Risk Specialists at $129,110, Project Management Specialists at $120,910 — all figures are median annual wages for California.
No. Every figure on this page is a gross (pre-tax) wage. California levies a state income tax, so take-home pay is lower than the gross figures shown here. The state's cost of living index is 145.0 (100 = national average).
By median annual wage, accountants rank 238 of the 793 occupations reported in California — higher than 70% of them.
| Occupation in the same job family | Median in California | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Personal Financial Advisors | $130,330 | $32,200 |
| Financial Risk Specialists | $129,110 | $5,740 |
| Project Management Specialists | $120,910 | $114,380 |
| Financial and Investment Analysts | $109,110 | $45,380 |
| Financial Examiners | $106,000 | $4,200 |
| Labor Relations Specialists | $105,810 | $8,830 |
California levies a state income tax, so take-home pay is lower than the gross figures shown here. The state's cost of living index is 145.0 (100 = national average).
Ranking and comparison figures come from the same BLS OEWS release as the rest of this page, which covers 793 occupations in California.