State comparison · 2025
Tax Preparers salary: California vs Washington
Tax Preparers in California earn a median of $70,030. In Washington, $45,370. After cost-of-living, the gap is 49.2% — not 54.4%.
Nominal pay gap
+54.4%
California vs Washington
COL-adjusted gap
+49.2%
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
Washington
Tax Preparers
- Median
- $45,370
- p25
- $41,590
- p75
- $48,830
- p10
- $38,260
- p90
- $71,480
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 107.0
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.