Accountants and Auditors salary in California
Accountants and Auditors in California earn a median of $97,050 a year ($46.66 an hour), based on BLS data for 175,360 workers.
Pay ranges from $61,770 for the lowest-paid 10% to $160,520 for the top 10%. That is 16% higher than the national median of $83,680. California ranks 6th of 51 states for accountants and auditors pay. There are 9.6 accountants and auditors per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $103,760, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for accountants and auditors in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $61,770 | $29.70 |
| 25th percentile | $75,810 | $36.45 |
| Median | $97,050 | $46.66 |
| 75th percentile | $125,850 | $60.51 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $160,520 | $77.17 |
| Average (mean) | $103,760 | $49.89 |
Half of accountants and auditors earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $8,087.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,043.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,732.69 |
| Weekly | $1,866.35 |
| Hourly | $46.66 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Accountants and Auditors salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $121,700 | 13,180 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $110,730 | 25,170 |
| Napa, CA | $99,640 | 520 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $96,340 | 13,450 |
| Vallejo, CA | $95,800 | 690 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $94,690 | 1,740 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $94,360 | 70,640 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $92,110 | 13,170 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $91,610 | 1,510 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $90,340 | 2,530 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $88,160 | 860 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $84,920 | 740 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $83,920 | 9,240 |
| Salinas, CA | $83,810 | 1,050 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $83,570 | 1,420 |
| Modesto, CA | $83,560 | 1,200 |
| Merced, CA | $80,420 | 360 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $79,620 | 1,870 |
| Visalia, CA | $79,400 | 870 |
| Redding, CA | $78,990 | 490 |
| Fresno, CA | $78,690 | 2,810 |
| Yuba City, CA | $78,530 | 280 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $78,300 | 210 |
| Chico, CA | $77,680 | 420 |
| El Centro, CA | $76,280 | 300 |
Highest-paying states for accountants and auditors
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $111,530 |
| New York | $102,640 |
| New Jersey | $100,830 |
| Massachusetts | $99,460 |
| Connecticut | $97,550 |
| California | $97,050 |
| Colorado | $97,030 |
| Washington | $96,550 |
| Rhode Island | $95,820 |
| Delaware | $95,020 |
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Financial and Investment Analysts | $109,110 | $52.46 |
| Personal Financial Advisor | $130,330 | $62.66 |
| Loan Officer | $81,770 | $39.31 |
| Financial Specialists, All Other | $80,810 | $38.85 |
| Tax Preparer | $70,030 | $33.67 |
| Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents | $74,110 | $35.63 |
| Insurance Underwriter | $95,320 | $45.83 |
| Property Appraisers and Assessors | $88,900 | $42.74 |
| Financial Risk Specialist | $129,110 | $62.07 |
| Credit Analyst | $97,860 | $47.05 |
| Financial Examiner | $106,000 | $50.96 |
| Budget Analyst | $99,520 | $47.84 |
| Credit Counselor | $67,120 | $32.27 |
| Business Operations Specialists, All Other | $87,570 | $42.10 |
More: Business and Financial Operations Occupations · all salaries in California
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 13-2011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a accountants and auditors make in California?
The median salary for accountants and auditors in California is $97,050 a year, or $46.66 an hour. Pay ranges from $61,770 for the lowest-paid 10% to $160,520 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid accountants and auditors make in California?
The top 10% of accountants and auditors in California earn at least $160,520 a year. The top 25% earn $125,850 or more.
What is the starting pay for accountants and auditors in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $61,770 a year, and a quarter of accountants and auditors earn $75,810 or less.
How many accountants and auditors work in California?
About 175,360 accountants and auditors are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.