California Median
$97,050
per year
Hourly Rate
$46.66
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
+16% vs US median
US median $83,680
State Rank
#6 of 51
175,360 employed here
How much do Accountants and Auditors make in California?
Accountants and Auditors working in California earn a median salary of $97,050 per year, or about $46.66 per hour. That is 16% above the national median of $83,680 for this occupation.
Within California, entry-level pay starts around $61,770 while the top 10% make $160,520 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $75,810 and $125,850 a year.
Accountants and Auditors salary range in California
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $61,770 | $29.70 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $75,810 | $36.45 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $97,050 | $46.66 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $125,850 | $60.50 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $160,520 | $77.17 |
|
How California compares
California ranks 6th out of 51 states and territories for Accountants and Auditors pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Accountants and Auditors salary in other states
District of Columbia $111,530New York $102,640New Jersey $100,830Massachusetts $99,460Connecticut $97,550Colorado $97,030Washington $96,550Rhode Island $95,820Delaware $95,020Virginia $93,290Maryland $89,370Oregon $85,800New Hampshire $83,470Alaska $83,460North Carolina $82,050Georgia $81,900Minnesota $81,600Nevada $81,600Texas $80,920Illinois $80,230Utah $79,990Arizona $79,970Wisconsin $79,400Oklahoma $79,370Ohio $79,320Florida $79,250Kansas $79,000Pennsylvania $79,000Vermont $78,890South Dakota $78,880Michigan $78,820New Mexico $78,580Indiana $77,720Wyoming $77,620Maine $77,480Iowa $77,440Tennessee $76,840Missouri $76,590South Carolina $76,560Montana $75,810North Dakota $75,730Kentucky $75,270Alabama $74,880Idaho $74,730Hawaii $74,500Louisiana $73,810West Virginia $73,320Nebraska $72,080Mississippi $68,100Arkansas $66,330
Working as Accountants and Auditors in California
Nationally, about 1,450,000 people work as Accountants and Auditors in the United States. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
Considering a move? Compare California pay ($97,050) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much do Accountants and Auditors make in California?
The median Accountants and Auditors salary in California is $97,050 per year, or about $46.66 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $61,770 at the entry level to $160,520 for the top 10% of earners.
How does California pay compare to the national average?
California pays Accountants and Auditors about 16% more than the national median of $83,680. California ranks 6th out of 51 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is California a good state for Accountants and Auditors?
Yes on pay — California pays above the national median for this occupation, at $97,050 a year. About 175,360 Accountants and Auditors are employed in California. Weigh that against local housing and living costs before moving.
What are the highest-paying jobs in California?
The highest-paying occupations in California include Ophthalmologist, Except Pediatric ($400,150), Neurologist ($357,080), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($353,900), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Accountants and Auditors salary report
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.