Accountant · Salary Comparison · 2026
Accountant Salary: Columbus, OH vs San Francisco, CA
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for Accountants in Columbus, OH and San Francisco, CA, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ San Francisco, CA
$64,000 vs $95,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Columbus, OH
$70,330 vs $51,075
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Columbus, OH
$62,391 vs $42,804
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Columbus, OH | San Francisco, CA | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $64,000 | $95,000▲ | -$31,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $49,000 | $72,000▲ | -$23,000 |
| 75th Percentile | $83,000 | $123,000▲ | -$40,000 |
| 90th Percentile | $104,000 | $155,000▲ | -$51,000 |
| Cost of Living Index | 91 | 186 | -95 |
| State Income Tax | 3.99%▲ | 9.3% | -5.3100000000000005% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $70,330▲ | $51,075 | +$19,255 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $56,776 | $79,616▲ | -$22,840 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $62,391▲ | $42,804 | +$19,587 |
| Total Employment | 11,000 | 18,000 | -7,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Columbus, OH minus San Francisco, CA.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, San Francisco, CA pays $31,000 more (median: $64,000 vs $95,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 91 vs 186), Columbus, OH provides better purchasing power ($70,330 vs $51,075 equivalent). Columbus, OH has the lower state tax rate (3.99% vs 9.3%).
Data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS · 2026 · Cost-of-living indices from composite metro area data. Take-home estimates approximate only — consult a tax professional for accurate figures.