Tax Preparers in California
Considering working as a Tax Preparers in California? Below are the key facts. Prepare tax returns for individuals or small businesses. Excludes “Accountants and Auditors” (13-2011).
What do Tax Preparers Make in California?
For a tax preparers working in California, the typical annual salary is $73,210 per year (or about $35.20/hour).Pay can range from $36,250 at the 10th percentile to $102,290 at the 90th percentile.
| Wage Statistic | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $36,250 | $17.43 |
| 25th percentile | $43,560 | $20.94 |
| Median (50th) | $73,210 | $35.20 |
| 75th percentile | $84,730 | $40.74 |
| 90th percentile | $102,290 | $49.18 |
Location quotient — how concentrated this career is in California relative to the national average — is 1.24, indicating that tax preparers are more concentrated here than the national average.
National Wage Comparison
Nationally, tax preparers earn a median of $67,542 per year ($32.47/hour), exceeding the California median.
Employment Outlook
National employment for 188,739 tax preparers in the U.S.. In California alone, approximately 10,700 people work in this role. That puts the state above the typical state, which employs around 870 tax preparers.
Top California Metros for Tax Preparers
The largest metro-area employers of tax preparers in California.
| Metro Area | Number Employed | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 4,240 | $74,670 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 1,590 | $83,240 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 870 | $48,660 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 770 | $83,600 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | 560 | $57,260 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 520 | $36,540 |
| Fresno, CA | 170 | $61,560 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | 170 | $44,880 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | 110 | $57,840 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | 80 | $44,300 |
| Salinas, CA | 70 | $44,530 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | 70 | $43,540 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | 50 | $60,420 |
| Chico, CA | 40 | $44,070 |
| Vallejo, CA | 40 | $44,750 |
| El Centro, CA | 30 | $34,940 |
| Merced, CA | 30 | $38,420 |
| Redding, CA | 30 | $39,950 |
| Yuba City, CA | 30 | $35,880 |
Top States for Tax Preparers Employment
View the states that employ the most tax preparers work.
| State | Number Employed |
|---|---|
| California | 10,700 |
| New York | 6,880 |
| Texas | 5,930 |
| Florida | 3,490 |
| North Carolina | 2,550 |
| Pennsylvania | 2,480 |
| Arizona | 2,480 |
| New Jersey | 2,460 |
| Colorado | 2,420 |
| Virginia | 2,200 |
| Michigan | 2,010 |
| Georgia | 1,940 |
| Massachusetts | 1,800 |
| Oklahoma | 1,690 |
| Indiana | 1,660 |
| South Carolina | 1,490 |
| Oregon | 1,480 |
| Utah | 1,470 |
| Washington | 1,350 |
| Minnesota | 1,330 |
Highest-Paying States for Tax Preparers
The highest-paying states for tax preparers.
| State | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Alaska | $77,010 |
| New York | $73,230 |
| California | $73,210 |
| Montana | $71,370 |
| Minnesota | $65,530 |
| Colorado | $62,860 |
| Texas | $61,510 |
| Wyoming | $60,340 |
| Virginia | $59,220 |
| North Dakota | $59,130 |
Skills
Key tax preparers skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Core knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Abilities
The abilities that matter most for tax preparers, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Daily Tasks
Common tasks include:
- Compute taxes owed or overpaid, using adding machines or personal computers, and complete entries on forms, following tax form instructions and tax tables.
- Use all appropriate adjustments, deductions, and credits to keep clients' taxes to a minimum.
- Furnish taxpayers with sufficient information and advice to ensure correct tax form completion.
- Interview clients to obtain additional information on taxable income and deductible expenses and allowances.
- Prepare or assist in preparing simple to complex tax returns for individuals or small businesses.
- Review financial records, such as income statements and documentation of expenditures to determine forms needed to prepare tax returns.
- Check data input or verify totals on forms prepared by others to detect errors in arithmetic, data entry, or procedures.
- Explain federal and state tax laws to individuals and companies.
- Answer questions and provide future tax planning to clients.
- Consult tax law handbooks or bulletins to determine procedures for preparation of atypical returns.
- Calculate form preparation fees according to return complexity and processing time required.
- Schedule appointments with clients.
Work Activities
- Working with Computers
- Getting Information
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
- Processing Information
- Documenting/Recording Information
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
- Analyzing Data or Information
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems
- Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
Tools & Technology
Technologies frequently used: Hot technologies: Intuit QuickBooks In-demand technologies: Intuit TurboTax
What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?
Several college majors map to this occupation:
- Accounting
- Taxation
Featured schools near , edit
Related Careers
Other careers like tax preparers include:
- Financial Managers
- Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists
- Accountants and Auditors
- Budget Analysts
- Credit Analysts
- Personal Financial Advisors
Also Known As
CPA (Certified Public Accountant), Corporate Tax Preparer, Credentialed Tax Expert, Credentialed Tax Professional, Enrolled Agent, Income Tax Advisor, Income Tax Consultant, Income Tax Expert, Income Tax Preparer, Licensed Tax Consultant, Preseason Tax Professional, State and Local Tax Associate (SALT Associate), Tax Accountant, Tax Advisor, Tax Associate.
References
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
- O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
- BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
- O*NET-SOC code: 13-2082.00
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