Accountants and Auditors Pay Range in California
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$61,770
- 25th Percentile — Junior$75,810
- 50th Percentile — Median$97,050
- 75th Percentile — Senior$125,850
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$160,520
Half of Accountants and Auditors in California earn more than $97,050. The top 10% make $160,520 or more, while entry-level workers start around $61,770.
Accountants and Auditors in California: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- California ranks 5th of 51 states for Accountants and Auditors pay, at $103,760 per year (9.5% above the U.S. average of $94,750).
- 175,360 people work as Accountants and Auditors in California — 12.1% of all U.S. Accountants and Auditors jobs.
- Location quotient 1.03: Accountants and Auditors jobs are more concentrated in California than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $61,770; the top 10% earn over $160,520.
- Hourly equivalent: $49.88 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is District of Columbia at $122,680.
- Among business jobs in California, Personal Financial Advisors pays the most ($170,070).
Accountants and Auditors Job Market in California
Key factors affecting compensation
California's key industries are Technology, Entertainment, Agriculture, and its job market is rated very strong. Accountants and Auditors here earn $103,760 on average, placing the state 5th nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 1.42 (U.S. = 1.00), a California salary of $103,760 is roughly equivalent to $73,070 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, District of Columbia ($122,680), New York ($114,070), New Jersey ($110,590) are the closest alternatives for Accountants and Auditors weighing a move.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
Other Business Jobs in California
Related career salary benchmarks
- Personal Financial Advisors $170,070/yr California +63.9% vs this role
- Financial and Investment Analysts $125,070/yr California +20.5% vs this role
- Project Management Specialists $124,430/yr California +19.9% vs this role
- Financial Examiners $118,710/yr California +14.4% vs this role
- Management Analysts $115,720/yr California +11.5% vs this role
- Credit Analysts $113,670/yr California +9.6% vs this role
- Market Research Analysts $108,120/yr California +4.2% vs this role
- Budget Analysts $105,890/yr California +2.1% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Accountants and Auditors salary in California?
The average Accountants and Auditors salary in California is $103,760 per year (median $97,050), which is 9.5% above the national average of $94,750.
How does California rank for Accountants and Auditors pay?
California ranks 5th out of 51 states. The highest-paying state is District of Columbia ($122,680/yr).
How much do entry-level Accountants and Auditors make in California?
The lowest-paid 10% of Accountants and Auditors in California earn about $61,770 per year and the 25th percentile is $75,810.
How much do Accountants and Auditors make per hour in California?
About $49.88 per hour, based on the $103,760 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Accountants and Auditors work in California?
BLS counts 175,360 Accountants and Auditors jobs in California (OEWS May 2025).
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