Accountants and Auditors salary in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
Accountants and Auditors in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area earn a median of $91,610 a year ($44.04 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,510 workers.
Pay ranges from $60,740 for the lowest-paid 10% to $154,470 for the top 10%. That is 9% higher than the national median of $83,680. Pay here is 6% lower than the California statewide median of $97,050. There are 7.5 accountants and auditors per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.80). The average (mean) salary is $98,350, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for accountants and auditors in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $60,740 | $29.20 |
| 25th percentile | $73,000 | $35.10 |
| Median | $91,610 | $44.04 |
| 75th percentile | $119,850 | $57.62 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $154,470 | $74.26 |
| Average (mean) | $98,350 | $47.29 |
Half of accountants and auditors earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $7,634.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,817.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,523.46 |
| Weekly | $1,761.73 |
| Hourly | $44.04 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $91,610 salary, see how much house you can afford in California at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Accountants and Auditors salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $121,700 | 13,180 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $110,730 | 25,170 |
| Napa, CA | $99,640 | 520 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $96,340 | 13,450 |
| Vallejo, CA | $95,800 | 690 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $94,690 | 1,740 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $94,360 | 70,640 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $92,110 | 13,170 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $90,340 | 2,530 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $88,160 | 860 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $84,920 | 740 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $83,920 | 9,240 |
| Salinas, CA | $83,810 | 1,050 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $83,570 | 1,420 |
| Modesto, CA | $83,560 | 1,200 |
| Merced, CA | $80,420 | 360 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $79,620 | 1,870 |
| Visalia, CA | $79,400 | 870 |
| Redding, CA | $78,990 | 490 |
| Fresno, CA | $78,690 | 2,810 |
| Yuba City, CA | $78,530 | 280 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $78,300 | 210 |
| Chico, CA | $77,680 | 420 |
| El Centro, CA | $76,280 | 300 |
Highest-paying states for accountants and auditors
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $111,530 |
| New York | $102,640 |
| New Jersey | $100,830 |
| Massachusetts | $99,460 |
| Connecticut | $97,550 |
| California | $97,050 |
| Colorado | $97,030 |
| Washington | $96,550 |
| Rhode Island | $95,820 |
| Delaware | $95,020 |
See Accountants and Auditors pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Financial and Investment Analysts | $97,720 | $46.98 |
| Personal Financial Advisor | $124,380 | $59.80 |
| Loan Officer | $86,200 | $41.44 |
| Financial Specialists, All Other | $78,590 | $37.78 |
| Budget Analyst | $110,470 | $53.11 |
| Credit Counselor | $62,500 | $30.05 |
| Property Appraisers and Assessors | $95,730 | $46.02 |
| Business Operations Specialists, All Other | $89,340 | $42.95 |
| Project Management Specialist | $106,250 | $51.08 |
| Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists | $79,710 | $38.32 |
| Human Resources Specialist | $80,340 | $38.63 |
| Management Analyst | $99,990 | $48.07 |
| Buyers and Purchasing Agents | $82,040 | $39.44 |
| Training and Development Specialists | $75,890 | $36.48 |
More: Business and Financial Operations Occupations · all salaries in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 13-2011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a accountants and auditors make in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA?
The median salary for accountants and auditors in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area is $91,610 a year, or $44.04 an hour. Pay ranges from $60,740 for the lowest-paid 10% to $154,470 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid accountants and auditors make in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA?
The top 10% of accountants and auditors in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area earn at least $154,470 a year. The top 25% earn $119,850 or more.
What is the starting pay for accountants and auditors in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $60,740 a year, and a quarter of accountants and auditors earn $73,000 or less.
How many accountants and auditors work in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA?
About 1,510 accountants and auditors are employed in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.