Entry-level Accountant salary in San Francisco, CA
Based on 215 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level I in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes San Mateo, Fremont, Menlo Park, Walnut Creek, Foster City.
Also listed as: Auditor, Tax Accountant
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $75,254 |
| 25th | $76,211 |
| 50th (median) | $85,800 |
| 75th | $94,000 |
| 90th | $98,400 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $60,000 | $59,176 | $67,900 | 191 |
| FY2021 | $63,000 | $59,467 | $70,000 | 149 |
| FY2022 | $70,000 | $60,299 | $79,775 | 130 |
| FY2023 | $77,000 | $68,266 | $80,000 | 178 |
| FY2024 | $77,840 | $67,475 | $84,000 | 174 |
| FY2025 | $85,050 | $75,254 | $94,000 | 160 |
| FY2026 | $87,360 | $77,000 | $97,253 | 55 |
Cost of living
San Francisco's median entry-level Accountant salary of $85,800 is worth about $74,200 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; San Francisco = 115.6).
Compared with all workers here
All Accountants and Auditors in the San Francisco, CA area earned a median of $110,730 in May 2025 (25,170 employed). The H-1B median here is $85,800, 23% lower.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.
Employers filing at this level
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| EY | $94,000 | 69 |
| Deloitte | $79,498 | 45 |
| Standish Management | $90,000 | 17 |
| PwC | too few | 3 |
| Badawi & Associates | too few | 3 |
| CG Uhlenberg | too few | 3 |
| Fong Ko & Associates | too few | 3 |
| Neptune Medical | too few | 3 |
| Spott, Lucey & Wall, Inc. CPAs | too few | 3 |
| EK Food Services | too few | 2 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $85,800 | 215 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $109,716 | 308 |
| Senior · Level III | $145,220 | 210 |
| Expert · Level IV | $164,500 | 212 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.
Minimum H-1B salary by level
| Wage level | Prevailing wage (most common) | Median offered salary | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $75,254 | $85,800 | 215 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $96,491 | $109,716 | 308 |
| Senior · Level III | $117,707 | $145,220 | 210 |
| Expert · Level IV | $141,378 | $164,500 | 212 |
The prevailing wage is the minimum an employer must pay for this job and area. Amounts vary by county within a metro and by wage source.