State comparison · 2025
Tax Preparers salary: California vs South Dakota
Tax Preparers in California earn a median of $70,030. In South Dakota, $52,530. After cost-of-living, the gap is 6.7% — not 33.3%.
Nominal pay gap
+33.3%
California vs South Dakota
COL-adjusted gap
+6.7%
After BEA Regional Price Parities
California
Tax Preparers
- Median
- $70,030
- p25
- $47,420
- p75
- $84,890
- p10
- $38,910
- p90
- $104,000
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 110.7
South Dakota
Tax Preparers
- Median
- $52,530
- p25
- $44,100
- p75
- $63,850
- p10
- $39,080
- p90
- $77,480
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 88.6
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Cost-of-living adjustment from BEA Regional Price Parities (overall index). Hiring velocity from DOL OFLC public disclosure data, recent 180 days vs prior. See methodology.