SOC 13-2082 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Tax Preparers — Santa Rosa
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA · 10 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Santa Rosa, CA comes to $65,930 a year, ahead of the national median of $54,920 by 20.0%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Santa Rosa, CA comes to $65,930 a year, ahead of the national median of $54,920 by 20.0%. Pay ranges from under $45,670 at the tenth percentile to more than $97,300 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $57,570 to $80,620.
The area has 130 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 1.26 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Within the state, San Francisco records the highest median at $84,240. Of the 419 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 211th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $45,670 | −16.8% |
| 25th | $57,570 | +4.8% |
| Median (50th) | $65,930 | +20.0% |
| 75th | $80,620 | +46.8% |
| 90th | $97,300 | +77.2% |
| Mean | $71,350 | +29.9% |
Other metro areas in California
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco | $84,240 | 1,410 | |
| 2 | San Jose | $81,180 | 760 | |
| 3 | Santa Cruz | $71,800 | 60 | |
| 4 | San Diego | $70,170 | 690 | |
| 5 | Los Angeles | $65,120 | 3,250 | |
| 6 | Modesto | $64,630 | 170 | |
| 7 | Salinas | $63,060 | 90 | |
| 8 | Oxnard | $62,050 | 260 | |
| 9 | Vallejo | $61,930 | 70 | |
| 10 | Stockton | $61,460 | 110 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Santa Rosa run 10.7% above the national average, so the median of $65,930 buys what $59,557 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 8.4% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$65,930as reported by BLSLocal price level
110.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$59,557US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $65,930 a year, 20.0% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $45,670 to $97,300 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 130 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is San Francisco, at $84,240.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Tax Preparers in Santa Rosa, CA?
The median annual wage is $65,930, or $31.70 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $54,920, so pay in Santa Rosa, CA is 20.0% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Santa Rosa, CA earns more than $97,300 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $45,670 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in San Francisco, at $84,240 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 130 jobs in this occupation in Santa Rosa, CA. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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