Accountant · Salary Comparison · 2026
Accountant Salary: Nashville, TN vs San Francisco, CA
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for Accountants in Nashville, TN 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
✓ Nashville, TN
$58,182 vs $51,075
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Nashville, TN
$53,760 vs $42,804
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Nashville, TN | 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 | 110 | 186 | -76 |
| State Income Tax | 0%▲ | 9.3% | -9.3% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $58,182▲ | $51,075 | +$7,107 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $59,136 | $79,616▲ | -$20,480 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $53,760▲ | $42,804 | +$10,956 |
| Total Employment | 9,000 | 18,000 | -9,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Nashville, TN 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 110 vs 186), Nashville, TN provides better purchasing power ($58,182 vs $51,075 equivalent). Nashville, TN has no state income tax, which is a significant advantage.
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.