40h normalized salary comparison

Accountant Salary in Santa Ana

Average Accountant salary in Santa Ana on a 40h basis 92,732 $ 7,728 $ gross/month · 44.58 $ gross/hour
Full-time salary range/year 41,600 $ – 152,889 $
Full-time salary range/month 3,467 $ – 12,741 $
Based on 34 salary reports

The average salary for a Accountant in Santa Ana is 92,732 $ per year on a 40-hour full-time equivalent, or 7,728 $ gross per month and 44.58 $ gross per hour. The reported full-time salary range is 41,600 $ to 152,889 $. The analysis is based on 34 salary reports from workers and employers in Santa Ana. Part-time salaries are proportionally converted to 40 weekly hours so the values are comparable.

Reports 34
Minimum 40h 41,600 $
Avg. gross/year 40h 92,732 $
Avg. Gross/month 40h 7,728 $
Avg. gross/hour 40h 44.58 $
Maximum 40h 152,889 $

Minimum, average and maximum values on a 40h basis

Trend over time on a 40h basis

Individual reported salaries

Date Job title Weekly hours Reported gross/year Normalized to 40h/year Gross/month 40h Gross/hour 40h Note
04/12/2026 Senior Tax Consultant (Contract) 40.0 h 118,000 $ 118,000 $ 9,833 $ 56.73 $ I'm a senior tax consultant on a 12-month contract handling complex corporate tax issues. This is a full-time contractual engagement and I work standard full-time hours.
03/03/2026 Accounting Manager (Finance Transformation) 42.0 h 128,000 $ 121,905 $ 10,159 $ 58.61 $ I'm an accounting manager leading a finance transformation project at a large regional employer. I supervise process changes and a small team; it's a full-time role with additional leadership hours.
01/19/2026 Accounts Receivable Specialist (Part-time) 32.0 h 40,000 $ 50,000 $ 4,167 $ 24.04 $ I work part-time (32 hours/week) managing accounts receivable and invoicing for a local services firm. I handle collections and cash application but do not supervise others.
11/07/2025 Senior Accountant (Cost & Inventory) 40.0 h 115,000 $ 115,000 $ 9,583 $ 55.29 $ I perform senior-level cost and inventory accounting for a regional consumer goods company. Full-time position with responsibility for month-end analytics and variance reporting.
09/10/2025 Tax Director 45.0 h 172,000 $ 152,889 $ 12,741 $ 73.50 $ As tax director for a regional business, I oversee tax strategy, compliance, and a team of tax professionals. This is a senior leadership role and requires extended hours and high responsibility.
06/24/2025 Controller (Tech Startup) 40.0 h 150,000 $ 150,000 $ 12,500 $ 72.12 $ I'm controller at a mid-stage tech startup in the area. I handle financial reporting, investor reporting, and manage the accounting team. This is a full-time executive-level accounting role.
02/11/2025 Self-Employed Accounting Consultant 35.0 h 125,000 $ 142,857 $ 11,905 $ 68.68 $ I run my own consulting practice providing CFO-level accounting services to small businesses. I work roughly 35 hours/week and my reported salary is net pre-tax earnings from the practice.
11/06/2024 Accounting Consultant (Freelance) 30.0 h 90,000 $ 120,000 $ 10,000 $ 57.69 $ I freelance as an accounting consultant, working about 30 hours/week advising small clients on bookkeeping improvements and interim controller tasks. This is self-employed income.
09/28/2024 Finance Director 45.0 h 160,000 $ 142,222 $ 11,852 $ 68.38 $ I act as finance director overseeing accounting, FP&A, and reporting for a fast-growing private company. I have broad responsibilities including budgeting and strategy and manage several managers.
05/03/2024 Senior Tax Manager 42.0 h 135,000 $ 128,571 $ 10,714 $ 61.81 $ I manage tax compliance and planning for a regional company and lead a small team of tax professionals. This is a full-time leadership position with occasional extended hours in season.
01/16/2024 Part-time Bookkeeper (Consulting) 20.0 h 36,000 $ 72,000 $ 6,000 $ 34.62 $ I work as a part-time bookkeeping consultant (20 hours/week) for a portfolio of small clients, handling monthly books and tax prep assistance. I run my practice but treat this as part-time work.
12/15/2023 Senior Financial Accountant 40.0 h 122,000 $ 122,000 $ 10,167 $ 58.65 $ I handle external reporting, SEC-style schedules, and complex accounting policies at a larger private company. I'm full-time and collaborate with external auditors regularly.
10/29/2023 Senior Staff Accountant (Corporate) 40.0 h 101,500 $ 101,500 $ 8,458 $ 48.80 $ I handle complex consolidations and intercompany accounting at a national corporation's regional office. Full-time role, I mentor two junior staff members.
06/05/2023 Payroll Manager 40.0 h 96,000 $ 96,000 $ 8,000 $ 46.15 $ I lead payroll operations for a multi-state employer, oversee compliance and integrations with HR systems. This is a full-time managerial role with responsibility for a small team.
02/17/2023 Senior Auditor 38.0 h 99,000 $ 104,211 $ 8,684 $ 50.10 $ I work as a senior auditor on external engagements for a regional audit practice. I travel sometimes and work full time with occasional overtime during audit season.
11/30/2022 Controller 45.0 h 140,000 $ 124,444 $ 10,370 $ 59.83 $ I'm the controller for a medium-sized manufacturing firm. I lead accounting and reporting, manage payroll and tax relationships, and have several direct reports. This is a leadership role with long hours.
07/22/2022 Accounting Manager (Large Employer) 42.0 h 112,000 $ 106,667 $ 8,889 $ 51.28 $ I serve as accounting manager at a large regional employer overseeing a team and financial close. My role is full-time and often requires extended hours around month-end.
04/11/2022 Senior Accountant (Healthcare) 40.0 h 88,000 $ 88,000 $ 7,333 $ 42.31 $ I work in healthcare finance doing revenue recognition and reimbursement accounting. I'm full-time with six years' experience and provide audit support.
12/02/2021 Accounting Manager 40.0 h 105,000 $ 105,000 $ 8,750 $ 50.48 $ I manage the accounting department for a local tech start-up and handle payroll, monthly close, and staff development. I'm full-time and coordinate cross-functional reporting.
09/14/2021 Senior Tax Accountant 40.0 h 95,000 $ 95,000 $ 7,917 $ 45.67 $ I'm a senior tax accountant with specialization in state and local tax compliance. I work full time at a mid-size firm and mentor junior staff during tax season.
03/08/2021 Accounts Payable Specialist (Part-time) 28.0 h 32,000 $ 45,714 $ 3,810 $ 21.98 $ I work part-time (28 hours/week) handling accounts payable and vendor relations for a small nonprofit. I manage AP end-to-end but I'm not a manager.
10/21/2020 Accounting Supervisor 40.0 h 85,000 $ 85,000 $ 7,083 $ 40.87 $ I supervise a small accounting team and oversee month-end close and financial reporting at a medium-sized distribution company. This is a full-time supervisory role.
06/30/2020 Remote Staff Accountant 37.5 h 72,000 $ 76,800 $ 6,400 $ 36.92 $ I'm a remote staff accountant for a national nonprofit; I work slightly reduced hours (37.5/week) but full responsibilities for accounting, reporting, and grant tracking.
01/08/2020 Staff Accountant (Hospitality) 40.0 h 76,000 $ 76,000 $ 6,333 $ 36.54 $ I work full time in hospitality accounting managing revenue accounting and commission reconciliations at a mid-sized hotel group. I've been here two years and handle month-end close tasks.
11/19/2019 Senior Accountant (Private Company) 40.0 h 78,000 $ 78,000 $ 6,500 $ 37.50 $ I perform month-end close, prepare financial statements and lead the accounting projects at a privately held company. I'm full-time and have recently taken on mentorship duties.
07/29/2019 Bookkeeper / Office Manager (Part-time) 22.0 h 34,000 $ 61,818 $ 5,152 $ 29.72 $ I split my time between bookkeeping and office management duties at a small clinic, working 22 hours per week. I handle payroll, billing, and general ledger entries on a part-time basis.
02/05/2019 Cost Accountant 40.0 h 75,000 $ 75,000 $ 6,250 $ 36.06 $ I work in manufacturing cost accounting analyzing inventory and standard costs. I'm full time and have five years' experience; I don't have direct reports but collaborate with operations.
12/03/2018 Accounting Clerk (Entry) 37.5 h 48,000 $ 51,200 $ 4,267 $ 24.62 $ I'm an entry-level accounting clerk doing invoicing, reconciliations, and expense reports for a small professional services firm. I'm full-time but work slightly under 40 hours.
09/12/2018 Senior Staff Accountant 40.0 h 70,500 $ 70,500 $ 5,875 $ 33.89 $ I've been a senior staff accountant for four years handling complex reconciliations, audit support, and supervising one junior accountant at a regional nonprofit. This is a full-time role.
03/27/2018 Payroll Specialist 40.0 h 60,000 $ 60,000 $ 5,000 $ 28.85 $ I'm responsible for payroll processing for about 150 employees at a medium-sized service company. I'm full time and handle tax filings and benefits deductions.
10/09/2017 Staff Accountant 40.0 h 58,000 $ 58,000 $ 4,833 $ 27.88 $ I do general ledger entries, month-end close, and fixed asset accounting for a small contractor. I've been here three years in a full-time capacity and have taken on more complex reconciliations over time.
05/18/2017 Tax Associate 40.0 h 65,000 $ 65,000 $ 5,417 $ 31.25 $ I'm a tax associate at a mid-size advisory firm. I prepare individual and small-business returns and have two years of experience. This is a full-time position with typical busy-season overtime.
11/02/2016 Part-time Bookkeeper 25.0 h 26,000 $ 41,600 $ 3,467 $ 20.00 $ I work part time (about 25 hours/week) providing bookkeeping and bank reconciliations for a local retail small business. I handle payroll and AP but don't manage staff.
08/14/2016 Junior Staff Accountant 40.0 h 52,000 $ 52,000 $ 4,333 $ 25.00 $ I'm an entry-level staff accountant and have been here 10 months doing month-end reconciliations and accounts payable at a small manufacturing firm. This is a full-time role with standard responsibilities and no direct reports.

Accountant Job Outlook in Santa Ana, California

Accountants in Santa Ana, California work at the center of Orange County’s government, legal, and commercial activity. As the county seat, Santa Ana concentrates public-sector finance operations while sitting next to major private employers in the South Coast Metro and Irvine business corridors. This mix typically translates into steady year-round hiring for accounting professionals across corporate, government, nonprofit, and education settings.

Local demand is often driven by financial close cycles, audits, and tax deadlines, with additional needs tied to acquisitions, ERP implementations, and revenue growth among Orange County companies. Employers in and around Santa Ana commonly seek accountants with solid GAAP knowledge, strong Excel skills, and familiarity with systems such as Oracle NetSuite, SAP, or QuickBooks. Experience with internal controls, SOX frameworks at publicly held companies, and California tax compliance can be a differentiator.

Labor Market

Santa Ana sits within the Anaheim–Santa Ana–Irvine metro division of the broader Los Angeles region, giving accountants access to a deep and diverse labor market. The area’s economy spans real estate and title services, manufacturing (including aerospace and medical devices), consumer products, logistics, healthcare, and professional services. This industry variety generally supports consistent openings for staff and senior accountants, cost accountants, revenue accountants, and audit/tax professionals.

Public entities headquartered in Santa Ana regularly hire accounting talent for budgeting, grants management, and financial reporting under GASB standards. Nearby corporate hubs in Costa Mesa and Irvine add opportunities in SEC reporting, consolidation, lease accounting (ASC 842), and revenue recognition (ASC 606). Many firms also value bilingual Spanish skills given Santa Ana’s large Spanish-speaking community and the client-facing nature of many accounting roles.

Based on national and state discussions from professional organizations and workforce boards, the outlook for accountants is typically stable and tied to ongoing compliance requirements, business formation, and the need for reliable financial reporting. In Orange County, continued activity in real estate, manufacturing, and private equity-backed portfolio companies often sustains demand for both public accounting and in-house roles.

Major Employers

Accountants in Santa Ana can find roles with organizations headquartered in the city, as well as with regional employers a short commute away. Notable hiring organizations include:

  • County of Orange (headquartered in Santa Ana) – Government accounting, audits, and grants administration across multiple departments.
  • City of Santa Ana – Municipal finance, budgeting, treasury, and reporting.
  • Santa Ana Unified School District – School district accounting, purchasing, and payroll functions.
  • Rancho Santiago Community College District / Santa Ana College – Higher-education accounting, grants, and auxiliary services.
  • First American Financial Corporation (Santa Ana) – Corporate, division, and consolidated accounting in title and real estate services.
  • Behr Process Corporation (Behr Paint) (Santa Ana) – Cost accounting, inventory, and financial reporting for consumer products manufacturing.
  • TTM Technologies (Santa Ana) – Manufacturing accounting, standard costing, and plant-level finance for electronics/PCB production.
  • Orange County Global Medical Center (Santa Ana) – Healthcare finance, revenue cycle support, and audit preparation.
  • Allied Universal (corporate operations in Santa Ana) – Corporate accounting, revenue recognition, and acquisitions integration.

In the broader Orange County market, large public accounting firms maintain significant offices in nearby Costa Mesa and Irvine, including Deloitte, PwC, KPMG, EY, RSM, BDO, and Moss Adams. These firms frequently recruit staff and experienced accountants for audit, tax, and advisory work serving clients across the county, including many based in Santa Ana.

Career Opportunities

Accountants in Santa Ana can pursue multiple paths:

  • Corporate accounting – Close and consolidation, GL, fixed assets, and financial reporting for mid-sized and large companies.
  • Cost and inventory accounting – Especially relevant to local manufacturers and distributors tied to regional ports and John Wayne Airport.
  • Public accounting – Audit and tax roles with Big Four and mid-market firms serving Orange County clients.
  • Government and education – Roles in budgeting, grants, and compliance with entities based in Santa Ana.
  • Specialized roles – Internal audit, SOX testing, revenue recognition, lease accounting, M&A integration, and systems-focused positions.

Credentials such as the CPA are often preferred for advancement, while certificates in data analytics or experience with BI tools can help candidates stand out. Local networking through the CalCPA Orange County/Long Beach Chapter, university alumni groups at Cal State Fullerton and UC Irvine, and professional meetups can be useful for uncovering openings. Overall, the combination of public-sector headquarters in Santa Ana and private-sector growth nearby generally creates a healthy pipeline of opportunities for accountants who bring both technical rigor and business partnership skills.

Frequently Asked Questions about Accountant in Santa Ana

How much does a Accountant make in Santa Ana?

The average salary for a Accountant in Santa Ana is 92,732 $ per year on a 40-hour basis, or 7,728 $ gross per month.

Why are salaries converted to 40 hours?

Part-time and full-time reports are normalized to a 40-hour workweek so salary reports can be compared fairly.

Where can I find more salary comparisons for Accountant or Santa Ana?

You can find more comparisons on the profession overview for Accountant and the city overview for Santa Ana. They show reported cities or jobs with their difference from the average.