Accountant Salary in Los Angeles, CA — 2026
Accountant salary data for Los Angeles, CA — adjusted for local cost of living. Entry-level to senior pay ranges, take-home pay calculator, and local job market insights.
The median Accountant salary in Los Angeles, CA is $127,820 per year ($10,652/month, $61/hr). This reflects the local cost of living index of 166, which is 66% above the national average.
Also known as: CPA, Public Accountant, Staff Accountant. Salary data on this page applies to all of these job titles in Los Angeles, CA.
Accountant Take-Home Pay in Los Angeles
Tax Breakdown (Median Salary)
| Gross Annual | $127,820 |
| Federal Tax | -$19,411 |
| State Tax (9.3%) | -$11,887 |
| FICA (SS + Medicare) | -$9,778 |
| Annual Take-Home | $86,744 |
| Monthly Take-Home | $7,229 |
Living Cost Comparison
Accountant Requirements
Key Skills
Accountant salary search terms in Los Angeles
People comparing Accountant pay in Los Angeles, CA may use related job-title wording. Salario keeps the main estimate tied to the Accountant role, then treats the terms below as comparison phrases that should be checked for licensing, employer type, seniority, and role scope.
| Comparison point | How to use it |
|---|---|
| Primary local answer | $127,820 median salary, $87,980-$170,980 modeled range, and $86,744 estimated take-home pay in Los Angeles. |
| Title variants | CPA, Public Accountant, Staff Accountant can point to similar searches, but some variants may represent a narrower specialty or a higher/lower seniority band. |
| Offer comparison | Compare base salary, hourly equivalent, take-home pay, certifications, local cost of living, and whether the job is employee, contractor, public-sector, commission-heavy, or management-level. |
Los Angeles Job Market Overview
Los Angeles, California has a population of 3,898,747 and an unemployment rate of 4.8%. The top industries are Entertainment, Technology, Healthcare. The local job growth rate is 1.8%, and the average commute time is 31 minutes.
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Salary Percentile Breakdown — Accountant in Los Angeles
Based on the cost-of-living-adjusted distribution for Accountant in Los Angeles, CA, here's how earnings break down across the workforce:
| Percentile | Annual Salary | Hourly Equivalent | Career Stage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th (lowest) | $87,980 | $42/hr | Entry-level, < 1 yr exp. |
| 25th | $107,900 | $52/hr | Junior, 1-3 yrs exp. |
| 50th (median) | $127,820 | $61/hr | Mid-career, 1-3 years |
| 75th | $170,980 | $82/hr | Senior, 5-10 yrs exp. |
| 90th (top) | $214,140 | $103/hr | Lead/Principal, 10+ yrs |
Percentiles estimated using a log-normal salary distribution model calibrated to Accountant compensation data. Top earners (P90) typically include managers, specialists with rare skills, or those at high-paying employers in Los Angeles's Entertainment sector.
5-Year Salary Trajectory
Accountant salaries in Los Angeles have grown approximately 14.0% over the past 5 years, outpacing local CPI inflation in many cases. Here's the historical and projected trajectory:
Year-over-year, an average Accountant can expect a 14.2% annual increase moving from entry to senior level over 5 years in Los Angeles. Negotiation, certifications (CPA, CMA), and changing employers strategically can accelerate this trajectory.
Los Angeles vs National Average
The national median Accountant salary is $77,000. In Los Angeles, the cost-of-living-adjusted median of $127,820 is 66.0% above the national figure. This reflects Los Angeles's cost of living index of 166 (higher than the national average of 100).
For Accountants, this means: rent typically consumes 36.7% of take-home pay (households spending >30% are considered rent-burdened), and a median home in Los Angeles costs about 9.6× annual take-home. Homeownership in Los Angeles on this salary is challenging — most experts recommend keeping home costs to 3-4× income.
Industry Context: Entertainment in Los Angeles
Los Angeles's economy is anchored by Entertainment, Technology, Healthcare, with 3,898,747 residents and 4.8% unemployment as of 2026. Accountants working in the Entertainment sector typically earn at or above the local median due to industry-specific demand. The state's overall job growth rate is 1.8%, and Accountant occupations specifically are projected to grow 4.0% nationally through 2034 (BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook).
Methodology & Data Sources
How we calculate Accountant salaries in Los Angeles, CA:
- Base salary model starts with Salario occupation data and public wage references, including BLS OEWS and O*NET when a direct or related occupational crosswalk is available. For niche titles, we do not treat a broader SOC family as an exact job-title wage.
- Cost-of-living adjustment applied using the Los Angeles index of 166 relative to the national baseline of 100, with local rent, home price, unemployment, and tax inputs checked separately.
- Percentile distribution (P10-P90) estimated from the entry, median, senior, and top compensation tiers in the Salario salary model rather than claimed as exact employer payroll data.
- Take-home pay calculated using 2026 federal tax brackets (10%-37%), CA state income tax of 9.3%, and FICA (Social Security 6.2% + Medicare 1.45%).
- Tax brackets and standard deduction ($16,100 single filer for tax year 2026) sourced from IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32 and updated annually.
Authoritative data sources:
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — national and metro-area salary data
- O*NET OnLine — occupation tasks, alternate job titles, skills, and SOC crosswalks
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook — occupation outlook where a matching profile is available
- BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI-U) — regional inflation and cost-of-living data
- U.S. Census Bureau — Los Angeles QuickFacts — population and demographic data
- IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32 summary — 2026 federal tax brackets and standard deductions
- BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics — Los Angeles unemployment rate
Last reviewed: 2026. Salary data updated annually as new BLS releases become available. Accountant salaries can vary significantly based on employer, sector (Entertainment vs others in Los Angeles), specific skill set (GAAP, QuickBooks, Tax Preparation), and individual negotiation. Always verify current compensation through multiple sources before making career decisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average Accountant salary in Los Angeles, CA?
How much does a Accountant take home in Los Angeles after taxes?
Is Los Angeles a good city for Accountants?
What skills are needed for a Accountant in Los Angeles?
How does Accountant salary in Los Angeles compare to the national average?
What job titles are similar to Accountant in Los Angeles?
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- Amortio: Home Affordability — what home you can buy on this income
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average Accountant salary in Los Angeles, CA?
The median Accountant salary in Los Angeles, CA is $127,820 per year as of 2026. This is adjusted for the local cost of living index of 166. Entry-level Accountants earn around $87,980, while senior-level professionals can earn $170,980 or more.
How much does a Accountant take home in Los Angeles after taxes?
A Accountant earning the median salary of $127,820 in Los Angeles, CA takes home approximately $86,744 per year ($7,229/month) after federal, state, and local taxes. The effective tax rate is 32.1%.
Is Los Angeles a good city for Accountants?
Los Angeles, CA has a cost of living index of 166 (above national average). Accountants here earn above the city median. The local unemployment rate is 4.8% and top industries include Entertainment, Technology, Healthcare.
What skills are needed for a Accountant in Los Angeles?
Key skills for Accountants include GAAP, QuickBooks, Tax Preparation, Auditing, Excel. Typical education requirement is Bachelor's Degree. Valuable certifications include CPA, CMA, EA.
How does Accountant salary in Los Angeles compare to the national average?
The national median Accountant salary is $77,000. In Los Angeles, the adjusted salary is $127,820, which is 66.0% higher than the national average, reflecting the local cost of living.
What job titles are similar to Accountant in Los Angeles?
Related search terms for Accountant in Los Angeles, CA include CPA, Public Accountant, Staff Accountant. Use them as comparison terms, not always exact matches: licensing, employer type, seniority, public-sector rules, and whether the role is W-2, contractor, clinical, technical, management, or sales-focused can change the salary range.