Accountant salary in California
The median accountant in California earns $97,050 a year, or $46.66 an hour, in the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ May 2025 survey. That is 16% above the national median of $83,680, and 6th of the 54 states and territories BLS publishes.
The middle half of California’s 175,360 accountants earn between $75,810 and $125,850. The highest paying metro area in the state is San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA, at $121,700.
Liaison does the routine half of an accountant’s job for 6% of what one costs in California. See how.
Accountant salary by city in California
Every metro area in California where BLS publishes a median for accountants, highest first. A metro that crosses a state line appears under each of its states.
| Metro area | Median annual | Median hourly | Middle half earns | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $121,700 | $58.51 | $96,430 to $156,700 | 13,180 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $110,730 | $53.24 | $88,820 to $143,590 | 25,170 |
| Napa, CA | $99,640 | $47.91 | $79,040 to $123,250 | 520 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $96,340 | $46.32 | $76,690 to $125,190 | 13,450 |
| Vallejo, CA | $95,800 | $46.06 | $75,980 to $118,470 | 690 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $94,690 | $45.53 | $76,390 to $124,550 | 1,740 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $94,360 | $45.36 | $74,060 to $122,290 | 70,640 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $92,110 | $44.29 | $74,550 to $108,950 | 13,170 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $91,610 | $44.04 | $73,000 to $119,850 | 1,510 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $90,340 | $43.44 | $73,560 to $115,440 | 2,530 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $88,160 | $42.39 | $72,110 to $107,710 | 860 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $84,920 | $40.83 | $72,220 to $108,940 | 740 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $83,920 | $40.34 | $69,840 to $105,580 | 9,240 |
| Salinas, CA | $83,810 | $40.29 | $73,620 to $112,940 | 1,050 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $83,570 | $40.18 | $71,310 to $107,150 | 1,420 |
| Modesto, CA | $83,560 | $40.17 | $73,750 to $104,730 | 1,200 |
| Merced, CA | $80,420 | $38.66 | $64,700 to $104,630 | 360 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $79,620 | $38.28 | $66,350 to $102,670 | 1,870 |
| Visalia, CA | $79,400 | $38.17 | $64,100 to $99,560 | 870 |
| Redding, CA | $78,990 | $37.98 | $65,400 to $101,350 | 490 |
| Fresno, CA | $78,690 | $37.83 | $66,250 to $101,500 | 2,810 |
| Yuba City, CA | $78,530 | $37.76 | $66,070 to $102,660 | 280 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $78,300 | $37.65 | $64,330 to $99,630 | 210 |
| Chico, CA | $77,680 | $37.35 | $65,260 to $97,540 | 420 |
| El Centro, CA | $76,280 | $36.67 | $59,990 to $97,940 | 300 |
What an accountant costs an employer in California
Wages are the start. At employers with fewer than 50 workers, benefits add 35% on top (BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation), so an accountant at the California median costs about $131,000 a year. The employer’s view for every state and metro is on what an accountant costs, and the routine part of the job is what Liaison does inside the tools a business already runs.
The routine half of an accountant’s job, for 6% of what one costs in California.
- Codes the bills, reconciles the processors against the deposits and flags what does not match.
- Prepares month-end: duplicates, missing receipts, payroll cross-checks, the reconciliation notes.
- Chases receivables in your voice and forecasts cash from how each customer actually pays.
Professional is $629 a month, $7,548 a year, against about $131,000 a year for an accountant at the California median once benefits are added. On Professional we connect your tools, bring your data in and set up the first rules with you. Anything that moves money waits for your yes.
“Cut our month-end close from 4 days to 4 hours.” Marcus C., owner
$629 a month, or $500 a month on a 12-month term. Prefer to start on your own? Starter is $149 a month, self-serve, with a free trial first: 7 days, no card. More: AI bookkeeper.
Questions
How much does an accountant make in California?
The median accountant in California earned $97,050 a year, or $46.66 an hour, in May 2025. The middle half earned between $75,810 and $125,850. Nationally the median is $83,680, so California pays 16% more than the country as a whole.
Which cities in California pay accountants the most?
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($121,700), San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA ($110,730) and Napa, CA ($99,640).
What does an accountant cost an employer in California?
Benefits at employers with fewer than 50 workers add 35% on top of wages, so an accountant at the California median costs about $131,000 a year. The employer’s view is at useliaison.com/back-office-costs/accountant.
Accountant salary in other states
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, occupation 13-2011. Annual figures assume 2,080 hours a year. Updated 2026-10-02.
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