Salaries › Accountant › California
Accountant Salary in California (2026)
$46.66 per hour · take-home ≈ $72,156/year ($6,013/month) for a single filer
Accountant pay range in California
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $61,770 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $75,810 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $97,050 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $125,850 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $160,520 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 175,360 Accountant jobs in California (occupation code 13-2011, “Accountants and Auditors”).
Gross vs. take-home in California
A median Accountant salary of $97,050 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, plus California state income tax, a single filer keeps about $72,156 — an effective tax rate of 25.7%.
| Gross (median) | $97,050 |
| Federal income tax | −$12,521 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$7,424 |
| California state income tax | −$4,949 |
| Take-home (annual) | $72,156 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $6,013 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free California paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Accountant make in California?
- The median Accountant salary in California is $97,050 per year ($46.66 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $75,810 and $125,850.
- What is the take-home pay for a Accountant in California?
- On the median salary of $97,050, a single filer in California takes home about $72,156 per year ($6,013 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 25.7%.
- How many Accountant jobs are there in California?
- BLS counts 175,360 Accountant jobs in California in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Accountants
Other salaries in California
Sources and methodology
Wage and employment figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 (state file, released April 2026) — the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, the most authoritative public salary dataset. Take-home estimate: 2026 federal brackets, FICA, and verified California state tax rules (single filer, standard deduction, no credits or local taxes). Estimates only — not financial advice.
- BLS OEWS — official occupational wage data.
- PaycheckTally — interactive 2026 take-home calculator for California.