San Diego accountant salary: rankings and context
Monthly take-home on that median is roughly US$7,000; local prices sit at COL 100, so its buying power is about US$96,300.
How San Diego compares with United States and CA
San Jose leads at US$121,700, 26% above San Diego, while San Antonio sits at US$78,650. The neighbours in the ranking are Seattle and Los Angeles.
Across CA, the 4 observed metros average US$105,800; San Diego is 9% below that and 3rd in the state. The others: Los Angeles (US$94,360), San Jose (US$121,700) and San Francisco (US$110,730).
Is US$96,340 a good salary in San Diego?
With a COL index of 100, there is little difference between headline pay and price-adjusted pay (US$96,300).
Adjusting for prices does not move San Diego in the ranking: it is 8th of 21 on both cash and buying power.
Take-home on the median comes to roughly US$7,000 monthly (13% effective tax in our simplified model). Rent for a modeled 1-bedroom is 24% of it, and the single-adult budget ends about US$3,500 in the black.
Other CA options for accountants
A accountant moving from San Diego to Los Angeles (also in CA) would see the median fall 2% to US$94,360, with US$130 less left over monthly in our model.
San Jose (also in CA) pays US$121,700, 26% more than San Diego; modeled monthly leftover is US$1,650 higher.
A accountant moving from San Diego to New York (similar cost level, COL 100) would see the median rise 10% to US$105,650, with US$600 more left over monthly in our model.
Accountant vs other occupations in San Diego
Lawyer is the best-paid tracked role in San Diego at US$178,220; accountant comes 9th of 9.
Closest neighbours in the San Diego list: Frontend Developer at US$98,300 (+2%).
Entry-level vs senior accountant pay in San Diego
Top earners do comparatively well in San Diego — 8th of 21 at the 90th percentile — while entry-level pay ranks 9th.
For the top 10% of earners, San Jose leads with US$196,890 at the 90th percentile, +25% against San Diego.
The accountant pay range in San Diego
Pay is spread out: US$62,520 at the 10th percentile to US$157,720 at the 90th (2.5×). Level and setting matter more than the city average here.