Accountant and Auditor Salary in San Diego, CA
Accountants and Auditors in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn a median $96,340 a year — 15% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $70,623 take-home, or $5,885 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median accountant and auditor salary in San Diego, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$12,365
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,973
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,397
- California income tax$4,730
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,252
- Take-home pay$70,623
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 9.30% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Accountant and Auditor pay by experience in San Diego, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $62,520 | $30.06 | $49,801 | $4,150 |
| 25th percentile | $76,690 | $36.87 | $58,861 | $4,905 |
| Median (50th) | $96,340 | $46.32 | $70,623 | $5,885 |
| 75th percentile | $125,190 | $60.19 | $87,793 | $7,316 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $157,720 | $75.83 | $106,579 | $8,882 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $96,340 buys in San Diego, CA
Prices in San Diego, CA are 11.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.79× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median accountant and auditor's $70,623 take-home pay has the buying power of $63,120 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Accountant and Auditor jobs are about as common in San Diego, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.94).
Best-paying cities for accountants and auditors, adjusted for cost of living
San Diego, CA ranks #67 of 90 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $121,700 | $85,775 | $77,679 |
| 2 | Charlotte, NC | $92,910 | $70,994 | $72,928 |
| 3 | Sioux Falls, SD | $80,920 | $65,757 | $72,555 |
| 4 | Trenton, NJ | $99,550 | $74,712 | $72,409 |
| 5 | Boulder, CO | $99,990 | $75,482 | $71,749 |
| 6 | Bridgeport, CT | $102,020 | $76,565 | $71,647 |
| 7 | Providence, RI | $95,020 | $72,730 | $71,463 |
| 8 | Denver, CO | $100,020 | $75,502 | $71,375 |
| 67 | San Diego, CA | $96,340 | $70,623 | $63,120 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 90 metros →
About the job: accountants and auditors
Examine, analyze, and interpret accounting records to prepare financial statements, give advice, or audit and evaluate statements prepared by others. Install or advise on systems of recording costs or other financial and budgetary data.
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +5.0% (faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Accountant and Auditor salaries elsewhere in California
- San Jose, CA — $121,700
- San Francisco, CA — $110,730
- Sacramento, CA — $92,110
- Los Angeles, CA — $94,360
- Oxnard, CA — $90,340
- Riverside, CA — $83,920
- Fresno, CA — $78,690
Frequently asked questions
How much does a accountant and auditor make in San Diego, CA?
The median accountant and auditor salary in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $96,340 a year, or about $46.32 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $76,690 and $125,190.
What is a accountant and auditor’s take-home pay in San Diego, CA?
On the median $96,340 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $70,623 a year ($5,885 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $5,982 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Diego, CA a good place to work as a accountant and auditor?
Pay here is 15% above the national median of $83,680. Local prices are 11.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $63,120 would in a typical U.S. city. San Diego, CA ranks #67 of 90 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a accountant and auditor afford rent in San Diego, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Diego, CA is $2,459 a month ($3,001 for two bedrooms) — 42% of a median accountant and auditor’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in San Diego, CA
- Personal Financial Advisor — $130,330
- Project Management Specialist — $117,460
- Financial and Investment Analyst — $106,040
- Compliance Officer — $101,230
- Management Analyst — $101,190
- Logistician — $100,130
- Business Operations Specialists, All Other — $96,580
- Cost Estimator — $87,170
- Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators — $84,550
- Buyer and Purchasing Agent — $83,090
- Loan Officer — $81,770
- Human Resources Specialist — $81,300