Los Angeles accountant salary: rankings and context
Here is how that number compares with the rest of the United States, with CA, and with other jobs in Los Angeles.
Accountant pay in Los Angeles: national and in-state ranking
On a United States league table of 21 metros, Los Angeles comes 9th. One place higher is San Diego at US$96,340, one lower is Portland at US$92,200, and San Jose tops the list.
Across CA, the 4 observed metros average US$105,800; Los Angeles is 11% below that and 4th in the state. The others: San Diego (US$96,340), San Jose (US$121,700) and San Francisco (US$110,730).
Is US$94,360 a good salary in Los Angeles?
With a COL index of 100, there is little difference between headline pay and price-adjusted pay (US$94,400).
Its place holds after a cost-of-living adjustment — 9th of 21 either way.
Run the median through our simplified tax model (13% effective) and about US$6,900 lands each month. Budget US$1,650 for a modeled 1-bedroom — 24% of pay — and other modeled costs, and roughly US$3,370 remains.
Los Angeles vs nearby CA metros
San Diego (also in CA) pays US$96,340, 2% more than Los Angeles; modeled monthly leftover is US$130 higher.
In San Jose — also in CA — the median is US$121,700 (+29% vs Los Angeles), and the modeled budget leaves US$1,780 more each month.
In New York — similar cost level, COL 100 — the median is US$105,650 (+12% vs Los Angeles), and the modeled budget leaves US$730 more each month.
Where Accountant ranks among Los Angeles jobs
Accountant ranks 9th of 9 occupations with observed Los Angeles data. Lawyer leads the city at US$194,410.
Closest neighbours in the Los Angeles list: Financial Analyst at US$102,260 (+8%).
How Los Angeles ranks at the low and high end
Senior pay is the relative strength in Los Angeles: US$154,630 at the 90th percentile ranks 9th of 21, while US$60,310 at the 10th ranks 10th.
For the top 10% of earners, San Jose leads with US$196,890 at the 90th percentile, +27% against Los Angeles.
The accountant pay range in Los Angeles
The 90th percentile (US$154,630) is 2.6× the 10th (US$60,310), a wide band that usually reflects different seniority levels and employer types under one title.