The average salary for an accountant in California is around $97,050 per year.
Avg Salary
Accountants earn an average yearly salary of $97,050.
Wages typically start from $61,770 and go up to $160,520.
28% above national average Updated in 2025
Accountant earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level accountant earnings begin at:
$77.17 per hour
$160,520 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level accountant earnings begin at:
$60.51 per hour
$125,850 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level accountant earnings begin at:
$46.66 per hour
$97,050 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level accountant earnings begin at:
$36.45 per hour
$75,810 per year
10th percentile
Starting level accountant earnings begin at:
$29.70 per hour
$61,770 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Accountant salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $99,460 |
| Connecticut | $97,550 |
| California | $97,050 |
| Colorado | $97,030 |
| Washington | $96,550 |
| Rhode Island | $95,820 |
| Delaware | $95,020 |
| Virginia | $93,290 |
| Maryland | $89,370 |
| Oregon | $85,800 |
| New Hampshire | $83,470 |
| Alaska | $83,460 |
| North Carolina | $82,050 |
| Georgia | $81,900 |
| Minnesota | $81,600 |
| Nevada | $81,600 |
| Texas | $80,920 |
| Illinois | $80,230 |
| Utah | $79,990 |
| Arizona | $79,970 |
| Wisconsin | $79,400 |
| Oklahoma | $79,370 |
| Ohio | $79,320 |
| Florida | $79,250 |
| Kansas | $79,000 |
| Pennsylvania | $79,000 |
| Vermont | $78,890 |
| South Dakota | $78,880 |
| Michigan | $78,820 |
| New Mexico | $78,580 |
| Indiana | $77,720 |
| Wyoming | $77,620 |
| Maine | $77,480 |
| Iowa | $77,440 |
| Tennessee | $76,840 |
| Missouri | $76,590 |
| South Carolina | $76,560 |
| Montana | $75,810 |
| North Dakota | $75,730 |
| Kentucky | $75,270 |
| Alabama | $74,880 |
| Idaho | $74,730 |
| Hawaii | $74,500 |
| Louisiana | $73,810 |
| West Virginia | $73,320 |
| Nebraska | $72,080 |
| Mississippi | $68,100 |
| Arkansas | $66,330 |
| Virgin Islands, U.S. | $48,650 |
| Guam | $44,690 |
| Puerto Rico | $32,770 |
| District of Columbia | $111,530 |
| New York | $102,640 |
| New Jersey | $100,830 |
How do accountant salaries compare to similar careers?
Accountants earn about the same as related careers in California. On average, they make less than consultants but more than investment bankers.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Consultant salary | $107K |
| Operations research analyst salary | $102K |
| Budget analyst salary | $100K |
| Securities and commodities broker salary | $80K |
| Stock trader salary | $80K |
| Auditor salary | $97K |
| Accountant salary | $97K |
| Fraud analyst salary | $81K |
| Risk management specialist salary | $81K |
| Investment banker salary | $81K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)