Tax Preparer Salary in Sacramento, CA
Tax Preparers in the Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA metro area earn a median $60,430 a year — 10% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $48,275 take-home, or $4,023 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median tax preparer salary in Sacramento, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,072
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,747
- Medicare (1.45%)$876
- California income tax$1,675
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$786
- Take-home pay$48,275
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 6.00% state
Tax Preparer pay by experience in Sacramento, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $39,430 | $18.96 | $32,783 | $2,732 |
| 25th percentile | $55,900 | $26.88 | $44,965 | $3,747 |
| Median (50th) | $60,430 | $29.05 | $48,275 | $4,023 |
| 75th percentile | $75,170 | $36.14 | $57,933 | $4,828 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $92,890 | $44.66 | $68,561 | $5,713 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $60,430 buys in Sacramento, CA
Prices in Sacramento, CA are 6.7% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.30× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median tax preparer's $48,275 take-home pay has the buying power of $45,256 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Sacramento, CA has 1.4× the national concentration of tax preparer jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for tax preparers, adjusted for cost of living
Sacramento, CA ranks #12 of 28 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kansas City, MO | $78,920 | $61,578 | $66,540 |
| 2 | San Jose, CA | $81,180 | $61,565 | $55,753 |
| 3 | San Francisco, CA | $84,240 | $63,393 | $54,832 |
| 4 | Salt Lake City, UT | $66,920 | $53,863 | $53,399 |
| 5 | Las Vegas, NV | $60,170 | $50,527 | $50,418 |
| 6 | New York, NY | $71,300 | $55,736 | $49,516 |
| 7 | Denver, CO | $65,150 | $52,370 | $49,507 |
| 8 | San Diego, CA | $70,170 | $54,881 | $49,050 |
| 12 | Sacramento, CA | $60,430 | $48,275 | $45,256 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 28 metros →
Tax Preparer salaries elsewhere in California
- San Jose, CA — $81,180
- San Francisco, CA — $84,240
- San Diego, CA — $70,170
- Los Angeles, CA — $65,120
Frequently asked questions
How much does a tax preparer make in Sacramento, CA?
The median tax preparer salary in the Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA metro area is $60,430 a year, or about $29.05 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $55,900 and $75,170.
What is a tax preparer’s take-home pay in Sacramento, CA?
On the median $60,430 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $48,275 a year ($4,023 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,461 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Sacramento, CA a good place to work as a tax preparer?
Pay here is 10% above the national median of $54,920. Local prices are 6.7% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $45,256 would in a typical U.S. city. Sacramento, CA ranks #12 of 28 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a tax preparer afford rent in Sacramento, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Sacramento, CA is $1,812 a month ($2,241 for two bedrooms) — 45% of a median tax preparer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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