Tax Preparers pay range in San Francisco
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $47,420 a year or less, while the top 10% make $105,230 or more. The middle half of tax preparers in San Francisco earn between $71,700 and $97,630.
- $47K10th
- $72K25th
- $84KMedian
- $98K75th
- $105K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $84,300 | $7,025 | $40.53 |
| Median | $84,240 | $7,020 | $40.50 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $71,700 | $5,975 | $34.47 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $97,630 | $8,136 | $46.94 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Tax Preparers pay in San Francisco vs. California and the U.S.
Tax preparers in San Francisco earn 18% more than the California average ($71,540) and 38% more than the U.S. average ($60,930). At the median the gap is +53% against the U.S. median of $54,920.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | $84,300 | $84,240 | $47,420 | $105,230 | 1,410 |
| California | $71,540 | $70,030 | $38,910 | $104,000 | 10,270 |
| United States | $60,930 | $54,920 | $33,760 | $99,270 | 76,480 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Tax Preparers salary after taxes in San Francisco
On the average salary of $84,300, a single filer in San Francisco takes home about $64,387 a year, or $5,366 a month and $2,476 every two weeks. Taxes take 24% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is San Francisco a good place for tax preparers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the San Francisco area are 16% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 115.6), so the average $84,300 buys what about $72,916 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.1 times the median wage of all jobs in San Francisco ($74,260). A typical home costs $1,149,215, or 13.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Tax Preparers salary in other California cities
San Francisco ranks 1st of 17 California metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- San Francisco$84,300
- San Jose$83,550
- Santa Rosa$71,350
- San Diego$69,700
- Salinas$68,190
- Los Angeles$68,140
- Stockton$67,450
- Modesto$66,970
- Sacramento$66,850
- Santa Cruz$66,290
Highest-paying cities for tax preparers
San Francisco, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($84,300).
- San Francisco, CA$84,300
- San Jose, CA$83,550
- Kansas City, MO$82,540
- Anchorage, AK$77,620
- Jefferson City, MO$77,180
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Tax Preparers salary in San Francisco: questions
How much do tax preparers make an hour in San Francisco?
$40.53 an hour on average, and $40.50 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level tax preparers salary in San Francisco?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $47,420 a year and the 25th percentile is $71,700, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the tax preparers take-home pay in San Francisco?
About $64,387 a year ($5,366 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $84,300. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do tax preparers earn more in San Francisco than elsewhere?
The average here is 38% more than the U.S. average for this job ($60,930).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 13-2082; area San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA (41860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.9%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.21, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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