Salary report · San Francisco, CA

What is the average Accountant salary in San Francisco, CA?

Accountants in San Francisco earn a median of $110,800 per year — about 42% above the national average. Pay ranges from $79,800 (25th percentile) to $171,700 (90th percentile).

25th percentile
$79,800
Median
$110,800
75th percentile
$141,800
90th percentile
$171,700
YoY change
+3.9%

Accountant salary by experience level

Entry · 0–2 yrs
$72,000
Mid · 3–5 yrs
$110,800
Senior · 6–8 yrs
$141,800
Lead · 8+ yrs
$160,700

How San Francisco pay compares

San Francisco median$110,800
National median$78,000
Cost-of-living adjusted(COL index 244)$45,400

Cost-of-living adjusted is the San Francisco salary translated into equivalent purchasing power vs the US average (COL index 100). Useful for comparing offers across cities.

5-year salary trend

$95K
2022
$99K
2023
$103K
2024
$107K
2025
$111K
2026

Trend extrapolated from BLS May 2024 BLS OEWS OEWS data using the latest year-over-year growth rate of 3.9%.

Accountant job market in San Francisco

San Francisco offers the highest tech salaries in the country but cost of living is brutal — particularly housing. Many roles offer remote/hybrid flexibility.

An estimated 3,100 accountants work in the San Francisco metro. Daily responsibilities typically include:

  • Prepare financial statements
  • File tax returns
  • Audit accounts
  • Reconcile records
  • Advise on tax strategy

Related job salaries in San Francisco

Accountant salary in other cities

FAQ

How much does a Accountant make in San Francisco, CA?+

Accountants in San Francisco earn a median of $110,800 per year — about 42% above the national average of $78,000.

What's the entry-level Accountant salary in San Francisco?+

Entry-level Accountants in San Francisco typically earn around $72,000 per year. Salaries scale to about $160,700 at the senior level with 8+ years of experience.

Is $110,800 a good Accountant salary in San Francisco?+

$110,800 is the median, meaning half of Accountants in San Francisco earn more and half earn less. Adjusted for the city's cost-of-living index of 244, that's roughly $45,400 in nationally-equivalent purchasing power.

How fast is Accountant pay growing in San Francisco?+

Accountant salaries in San Francisco grew about 3.9% year-over-year in the latest BLS data. The 10-year national outlook for this role is +4%.

Where do Accountants in San Francisco get paid the most?+

The 90th percentile Accountant salary in San Francisco is around $171,700. These typically include senior, lead, or specialist roles at major employers.

Are you being paid fairly in San Francisco?

Run a free comparison against BLS data — see if your salary is below, at, or above the San Francisco median.

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