Tax Preparer salary in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
Tax Preparers in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn a median of $70,170 a year ($33.74 an hour), based on BLS data for 690 workers.
Pay ranges from $38,700 for the lowest-paid 10% to $99,120 for the top 10%. That is 28% higher than the national median of $54,920. Pay here is about the same as the California statewide median of $70,030. There are 0.45 tax preparers per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $69,700, close to the median.
Pay range for tax preparers in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,700 | $18.61 |
| 25th percentile | $45,040 | $21.65 |
| Median | $70,170 | $33.74 |
| 75th percentile | $82,990 | $39.90 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $99,120 | $47.65 |
| Average (mean) | $69,700 | $33.51 |
Half of tax preparers 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 | $5,847.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,923.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,698.85 |
| Weekly | $1,349.42 |
| Hourly | $33.74 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $70,170 salary, see how much house you can afford in California at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Tax Preparer salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $84,240 | 1,410 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $81,180 | 760 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $71,800 | 60 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $65,930 | 130 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $65,120 | 3,250 |
| Modesto, CA | $64,630 | 170 |
| Salinas, CA | $63,060 | 90 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $62,050 | 260 |
| Vallejo, CA | $61,930 | 70 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $61,460 | 110 |
| Redding, CA | $61,200 | 60 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $60,480 | n/a |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $60,430 | 740 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $59,490 | n/a |
| Fresno, CA | $58,970 | 250 |
| Chico, CA | $41,600 | 40 |
Highest-paying states for tax preparers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| New York | $71,850 |
| California | $70,030 |
| Utah | $66,720 |
| Montana | $63,080 |
| Missouri | $62,780 |
| Colorado | $62,620 |
| Alaska | $62,360 |
| New Hampshire | $61,370 |
| Oregon | $61,370 |
| Pennsylvania | $61,270 |
See Tax Preparer pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Accountants and Auditors | $96,340 | $46.32 |
| Financial and Investment Analysts | $106,040 | $50.98 |
| Personal Financial Advisor | $130,330 | $62.66 |
| Loan Officer | $81,770 | $39.31 |
| Financial Specialists, All Other | $89,650 | $43.10 |
| Insurance Underwriter | $98,210 | $47.22 |
| Credit Analyst | $95,310 | $45.82 |
| Property Appraisers and Assessors | $99,850 | $48.01 |
| Financial Risk Specialist | $121,010 | $58.18 |
| Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents | $79,100 | $38.03 |
| Budget Analyst | $107,010 | $51.45 |
| Financial Examiner | $106,090 | $51.00 |
| Credit Counselor | $67,120 | $32.27 |
| Business Operations Specialists, All Other | $96,580 | $46.44 |
More: Business and Financial Operations Occupations · all salaries in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 13-2082. 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 tax preparer make in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
The median salary for tax preparers in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $70,170 a year, or $33.74 an hour. Pay ranges from $38,700 for the lowest-paid 10% to $99,120 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid tax preparers make in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
The top 10% of tax preparers in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn at least $99,120 a year. The top 25% earn $82,990 or more.
What is the starting pay for tax preparers in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $38,700 a year, and a quarter of tax preparers earn $45,040 or less.
How many tax preparers work in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
About 690 tax preparers are employed in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.