Accountant · Salary Comparison · 2026
Accountant Salary: San Diego, CA vs San Francisco, CA
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for Accountants in San Diego, CA and San Francisco, CA, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ San Francisco, CA
$75,000 vs $95,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ San Francisco, CA
$49,342 vs $51,075
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ San Francisco, CA
$41,352 vs $42,804
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | San Diego, CA | San Francisco, CA | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $75,000 | $95,000▲ | -$20,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $57,000 | $72,000▲ | -$15,000 |
| 75th Percentile | $97,000 | $123,000▲ | -$26,000 |
| 90th Percentile | $122,000 | $155,000▲ | -$33,000 |
| Cost of Living Index | 152 | 186 | -34 |
| State Income Tax | 9.3%▲ | 9.3% | — |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $49,342 | $51,075▲ | -$1,733 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $62,855 | $79,616▲ | -$16,761 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $41,352 | $42,804▲ | -$1,452 |
| Total Employment | 14,000 | 18,000 | -4,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = San Diego, CA minus San Francisco, CA.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, San Francisco, CA pays $20,000 more (median: $75,000 vs $95,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 152 vs 186), San Francisco, CA provides better purchasing power ($49,342 vs $51,075 equivalent). San Francisco, CA has the lower state tax rate (9.3% 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.