Tax Preparers pay range in San Luis Obispo
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $40,210 a year or less, while the top 10% make $91,270 or more. The middle half of tax preparers in San Luis Obispo earn between $45,830 and $76,210.
- $40K10th
- $46K25th
- $60KMedian
- $76K75th
- $91K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $63,830 | $5,319 | $30.69 |
| Median | $60,480 | $5,040 | $29.08 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $45,830 | $3,819 | $22.03 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $76,210 | $6,351 | $36.64 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Tax Preparers pay in San Luis Obispo vs. California and the U.S.
Tax preparers in San Luis Obispo earn 11% less than the California average ($71,540) and 5% more than the U.S. average ($60,930). At the median the gap is +10% against the U.S. median of $54,920.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Luis Obispo | $63,830 | $60,480 | $40,210 | $91,270 | n/a |
| 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 Luis Obispo
On the average salary of $63,830, a single filer in San Luis Obispo takes home about $51,433 a year, or $4,286 a month and $1,978 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% 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 Luis Obispo a good place for tax preparers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the San Luis Obispo area are 9% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 108.6), so the average $63,830 buys what about $58,777 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in San Luis Obispo ($50,770). A typical home costs $909,699, or 14.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Tax Preparers salary in other California cities
San Luis Obispo ranks 12th of 17 California metro areas for this job; San Francisco pays the most ($84,300).
- 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
- San Luis Obispo$63,830
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 Luis Obispo: questions
How much do tax preparers make an hour in San Luis Obispo?
$30.69 an hour on average, and $29.08 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level tax preparers salary in San Luis Obispo?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $40,210 a year and the 25th percentile is $45,830, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the tax preparers take-home pay in San Luis Obispo?
About $51,433 a year ($4,286 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $63,830. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do tax preparers earn more in San Luis Obispo than elsewhere?
The average here is 5% 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 Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA (42020). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 6.6%.
- 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.
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