Tax Preparer salary in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
Tax Preparers in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area earn a median of $81,180 a year ($39.03 an hour), based on BLS data for 760 workers.
Pay ranges from $48,390 for the lowest-paid 10% to $113,530 for the top 10%. That is 48% higher than the national median of $54,920. Pay here is 16% higher than the California statewide median of $70,030. There are 0.67 tax preparers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $83,550, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for tax preparers in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $48,390 | $23.27 |
| 25th percentile | $64,140 | $30.84 |
| Median | $81,180 | $39.03 |
| 75th percentile | $99,800 | $47.98 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $113,530 | $54.58 |
| Average (mean) | $83,550 | $40.17 |
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 | $6,765 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,382.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,122.31 |
| Weekly | $1,561.15 |
| Hourly | $39.03 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $81,180 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 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $71,800 | 60 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $70,170 | 690 |
| 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 Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Accountants and Auditors | $121,700 | $58.51 |
| Financial and Investment Analysts | $144,910 | $69.67 |
| Personal Financial Advisor | $136,820 | $65.78 |
| Loan Officer | $95,090 | $45.71 |
| Financial Specialists, All Other | $100,950 | $48.54 |
| Financial Risk Specialist | $166,240 | $79.93 |
| Budget Analyst | $131,730 | $63.33 |
| Credit Analyst | $129,240 | $62.13 |
| Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents | $99,300 | $47.74 |
| Financial Examiner | $123,750 | $59.50 |
| Credit Counselor | $80,680 | $38.79 |
| Insurance Underwriter | $95,830 | $46.07 |
| Property Appraisers and Assessors | $81,760 | $39.31 |
| Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists | $141,960 | $68.25 |
More: Business and Financial Operations Occupations · all salaries in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, 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 Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
The median salary for tax preparers in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area is $81,180 a year, or $39.03 an hour. Pay ranges from $48,390 for the lowest-paid 10% to $113,530 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid tax preparers make in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
The top 10% of tax preparers in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area earn at least $113,530 a year. The top 25% earn $99,800 or more.
What is the starting pay for tax preparers in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $48,390 a year, and a quarter of tax preparers earn $64,140 or less.
How many tax preparers work in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
About 760 tax preparers are employed in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.