Accountant and Auditor Salary in San Francisco, CA
Accountants and Auditors in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area earn a median $110,730 a year — 32% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $79,221 take-home, or $6,602 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median accountant and auditor salary in San Francisco, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$15,531
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,865
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,606
- California income tax$6,068
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,439
- Take-home pay$79,221
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 Francisco, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $73,420 | $35.30 | $56,865 | $4,739 |
| 25th percentile | $88,820 | $42.70 | $66,130 | $5,511 |
| Median (50th) | $110,730 | $53.24 | $79,221 | $6,602 |
| 75th percentile | $143,590 | $69.03 | $98,419 | $8,202 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $180,060 | $86.57 | $119,480 | $9,957 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $110,730 buys in San Francisco, CA
Prices in San Francisco, CA are 15.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.95× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median accountant and auditor's $79,221 take-home pay has the buying power of $68,522 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 Francisco, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.14).
Best-paying cities for accountants and auditors, adjusted for cost of living
San Francisco, CA ranks #19 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 |
| 19 | San Francisco, CA | $110,730 | $79,221 | $68,522 |
*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
- Sacramento, CA — $92,110
- San Diego, CA — $96,340
- 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 Francisco, CA?
The median accountant and auditor salary in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area is $110,730 a year, or about $53.24 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $88,820 and $143,590.
What is a accountant and auditor’s take-home pay in San Francisco, CA?
On the median $110,730 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $79,221 a year ($6,602 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $7,508 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Francisco, CA a good place to work as a accountant and auditor?
Pay here is 32% above the national median of $83,680. Local prices are 15.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $68,522 would in a typical U.S. city. San Francisco, CA ranks #19 of 90 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a accountant and auditor afford rent in San Francisco, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Francisco, CA is $2,620 a month ($3,187 for two bedrooms) — 40% of a median accountant and auditor’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in San Francisco, CA
- Personal Financial Advisor — $160,610
- Project Management Specialist — $135,040
- Financial and Investment Analyst — $130,520
- Management Analyst — $126,730
- Market Research Analyst and Marketing Specialist — $123,250
- Compliance Officer — $118,890
- Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators — $105,340
- Business Operations Specialists, All Other — $104,500
- Human Resources Specialist — $103,140
- Loan Officer — $103,000
- Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists — $102,780
- Cost Estimator — $101,630