Accountant · Salary Comparison · 2026
Accountant Salary: Washington, DC vs San Francisco, CA
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for Accountants in Washington, DC and San Francisco, CA, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ San Francisco, CA
$88,000 vs $95,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Washington, DC
$57,895 vs $51,075
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Washington, DC
$50,018 vs $42,804
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Washington, DC | San Francisco, CA | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $88,000 | $95,000▲ | -$7,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $67,000 | $72,000▲ | -$5,000 |
| 75th Percentile | $114,000 | $123,000▲ | -$9,000 |
| 90th Percentile | $143,000 | $155,000▲ | -$12,000 |
| Cost of Living Index | 152 | 186 | -34 |
| State Income Tax | 6.5%▲ | 9.3% | -2.8000000000000007% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $57,895▲ | $51,075 | +$6,820 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $76,027 | $79,616▲ | -$3,589 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $50,018▲ | $42,804 | +$7,214 |
| Total Employment | 25,000 | 18,000 | +7,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Washington, DC minus San Francisco, CA.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, San Francisco, CA pays $7,000 more (median: $88,000 vs $95,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 152 vs 186), Washington, DC provides better purchasing power ($57,895 vs $51,075 equivalent). Washington, DC has the lower state tax rate (6.5% 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.