Accountant · Salary Comparison · 2026
Accountant Salary: Portland, OR vs San Francisco, CA
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for Accountants in Portland, OR and San Francisco, CA, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ San Francisco, CA
$72,000 vs $95,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Portland, OR
$55,385 vs $51,075
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Portland, OR
$46,698 vs $42,804
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Portland, OR | San Francisco, CA | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $72,000 | $95,000▲ | -$23,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $55,000 | $72,000▲ | -$17,000 |
| 75th Percentile | $93,000 | $123,000▲ | -$30,000 |
| 90th Percentile | $117,000 | $155,000▲ | -$38,000 |
| Cost of Living Index | 130 | 186 | -56 |
| State Income Tax | 8.75%▲ | 9.3% | -0.5500000000000007% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $55,385▲ | $51,075 | +$4,310 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $60,707 | $79,616▲ | -$18,909 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $46,698▲ | $42,804 | +$3,894 |
| Total Employment | 10,000 | 18,000 | -8,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Portland, OR minus San Francisco, CA.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, San Francisco, CA pays $23,000 more (median: $72,000 vs $95,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 130 vs 186), Portland, OR provides better purchasing power ($55,385 vs $51,075 equivalent). Portland, OR has the lower state tax rate (8.75% 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.