Loading
Assembling your view…
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Real salary distribution from 288 tracked cities across 46 states. Compare entry-level, median, and senior compensation — then adjust for cost of living.
The national median tells one story. The city-level data tells a dozen. The national median salary for Auditors in 2026 is $91,947, with entry-level positions averaging $66,202 and senior roles reaching $130,565. But those numbers flatten a reality with enormous geographic variation — Sunnyvale pays a median of $167,480, while other markets fall well below the national average. We tracked 288 cities to build the complete picture.
A career as a Auditor sits at the intersection of Business & Finance and Finance & Strategy. Most professionals enter with Bachelor's in accounting, and the field is characterized by steady. The work itself is hybrid. Understanding that context matters: it explains why certain markets pay premiums and others lag.
$101,910 separates the highest and lowest-paying cities. A Auditor in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $167,480 — $101,910 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($65,570). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent. Cost-adjusted, this occupation outearns its reputation.
The salary distribution for Auditors reveals a $64,363 spread from entry to senior. At $91,947, the median sits $11,580 above the national median household income of $80,367. That's a strong baseline — and it only includes individual earnings, not household. The P10 floor of $66,202 represents early-career or part-time positions, while the $130,565 ceiling captures experienced professionals in premium markets.
The pay gap between the top and bottom markets is dramatic: $156,420 (average of the top 3 cities) versus $66,097 (average of the bottom 3). That $90,323 delta is real money — $7,527/month before taxes. But the highest-paying cities tend to be the most expensive. The cost-adjusted comparison below tells the more important story.
A Auditor in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $167,480 — $101,910 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($65,570). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent.
The national average entry-level (P10) salary for Auditor is $66,202, while senior-level (P90) earners average $130,565. That $64,363 trajectory represents the earning growth a career in this field can deliver.
At the 90th percentile, Auditors pull in an average of $130,565. In the top-paying markets, that figure climbs even higher — making this one of the more lucrative career trajectories in its field.
Even at the 10th percentile, Auditors average $66,202 nationally. That's a higher starting floor than many careers' median — a signal of strong baseline demand and compensation.
| Country | Coverage | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 288 | $66,202 | $91,947 | $130,565 |
| United Kingdom | 27 | £37,049 | £51,457 | £73,069 |
| Canada | 21 | CA$50,850 | CA$70,625 | CA$100,287 |
| Australia | 13 | A$58,346 | A$81,035 | A$115,070 |
| Sweden | 24 | 345,389 kr | 479,706 kr | 681,183 kr |
| State | Cities | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 61 | $79,902 | $110,976 | $157,585 |
| Massachusetts | 4 | $77,215 | $107,243 | $152,284 |
| Hawaii | 1 | $76,788 | $106,650 | $151,443 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | $71,100 | $98,750 | $140,225 |
| New Jersey | 4 | $70,247 | $97,565 | $138,542 |
| Washington | 8 | $68,896 | $95,689 | $135,878 |
| New York | 5 | $64,843 | $90,060 | $127,885 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $64,843 | $90,060 | $127,885 |
| Florida | 22 | $64,352 | $89,378 | $126,916 |
| Colorado | 11 | $63,240 | $87,834 | $124,724 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | $63,137 | $87,690 | $124,520 |
| Nevada | 5 | $63,023 | $87,532 | $124,295 |
| Arizona | 12 | $62,710 | $87,098 | $123,678 |
| Oregon | 5 | $62,568 | $86,900 | $123,398 |
| Idaho | 3 | $62,378 | $86,637 | $123,024 |
| Connecticut | 5 | $61,885 | $85,952 | $122,052 |
| Utah | 4 | $61,715 | $85,715 | $121,716 |
| Virginia | 7 | $60,699 | $84,304 | $119,712 |
| South Carolina | 3 | $59,914 | $83,213 | $118,163 |
| Alaska | 1 | $59,724 | $82,950 | $117,789 |
| Illinois | 5 | $59,042 | $82,002 | $116,443 |
| North Carolina | 9 | $57,575 | $79,966 | $113,551 |
| New Mexico | 3 | $56,880 | $79,000 | $112,180 |
| Montana | 1 | $56,880 | $79,000 | $112,180 |
| Tennessee | 6 | $56,690 | $78,737 | $111,806 |
| Texas | 40 | $56,411 | $78,348 | $111,254 |
| Minnesota | 2 | $56,312 | $78,210 | $111,059 |
| Wisconsin | 2 | $56,027 | $77,815 | $110,498 |
| Georgia | 6 | $55,837 | $77,552 | $110,123 |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | $55,742 | $77,420 | $109,936 |
| Kansas | 4 | $55,458 | $77,025 | $109,376 |
| Michigan | 6 | $55,268 | $76,762 | $109,001 |
| Kentucky | 2 | $54,605 | $75,840 | $107,693 |
| Maryland | 1 | $54,605 | $75,840 | $107,693 |
| Nebraska | 2 | $54,036 | $75,050 | $106,571 |
| South Dakota | 1 | $54,036 | $75,050 | $106,571 |
| Oklahoma | 4 | $52,614 | $73,075 | $103,767 |
| North Dakota | 1 | $52,330 | $72,680 | $103,206 |
| Louisiana | 4 | $51,619 | $71,693 | $101,804 |
| Missouri | 4 | $51,619 | $71,693 | $101,803 |
| Alabama | 5 | $51,419 | $71,416 | $101,411 |
| Indiana | 3 | $50,623 | $70,310 | $99,840 |
| Arkansas | 1 | $50,623 | $70,310 | $99,840 |
| Iowa | 2 | $50,054 | $69,520 | $98,718 |
| Ohio | 6 | $49,960 | $69,388 | $98,531 |
| Mississippi | 1 | $47,779 | $66,360 | $94,231 |
At the state level, California leads with an average Auditor median of $110,976 across 61 cities, followed by Massachusetts ($107,243) and Hawaii ($106,650). Contrast that with the lowest-paying markets: The lowest-paying states — Mississippi, Ohio, Iowa — offer medians between $66,360 and $69,520. But state averages mask city-level variation that's often just as large.
Raw salary rankings and cost-adjusted rankings tell different stories. After adjusting for local costs, Sunnyvale ($79,000 adjusted), Santa Clara ($79,000 adjusted), Irvine ($79,000 adjusted) lead the field. The takeaway: the highest nominal salary doesn't always deliver the best standard of living. Cost-adjusted, this occupation outearns its reputation.
Raw salary divided by the local cost index — this shows where your paycheck buys the most.
| # | City | Nominal Salary | Cost Index | Adjusted Salary | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sunnyvale California | $167,480 | 212 | $79,000 | $99,155 |
| 2 | Santa Clara California | $156,420 | 198 | $79,000 | $93,067 |
| 3 | Irvine California | $145,360 | 184 | $79,000 | $86,978 |
| 4 | San Francisco California | $142,990 | 181 | $79,000 | $85,673 |
| 5 | Carlsbad California | $140,620 | 178 | $79,000 | $84,369 |
| 6 | San Jose California | $139,830 | 177 | $79,000 | $83,934 |
| 7 | Fremont California | $139,830 | 177 | $79,000 | $83,934 |
| 8 | Berkeley California | $136,670 | 173 | $79,000 | $82,194 |
| 9 | Costa Mesa California | $136,670 | 173 | $79,000 | $82,194 |
| 10 | Huntington Beach California | $133,510 | 169 | $79,000 | $80,455 |
The $64,363 gap between P10 and P90 represents the earning trajectory of a Auditor career. Senior-level earners make 2.0× what entry-level professionals do — a solid progression that justifies the upfront investment. In the Finance & Strategy sector, steady, which shapes both starting salaries and long-term ceiling.
The weighted national median salary for Auditors is $91,947 in 2026, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics across 288 U.S. metro areas. Entry-level (10th percentile) averages $66,202, while experienced professionals at the 90th percentile average $130,565.
The highest-paying city for Auditors is Sunnyvale, California with a median salary of $167,480. The top 3 cities are Sunnyvale ($167,480), Santa Clara ($156,420), Irvine ($145,360). Note: high-paying cities often have higher costs of living — check the cost-adjusted rankings above for purchasing power.
The lowest median Auditor salary in our data is in Toledo, Ohio at $65,570. However, lower-paying cities often have significantly lower costs of living, which can offset the pay gap. Always compare salary data alongside local cost of living.
Entry-level Auditors (10th percentile) average $66,202 nationally. This varies by city — in the highest-paying markets, entry-level pay can be close to $120,586. Experience, certifications, and employer type all influence starting salary.
At the 90th percentile (senior level), Auditors average $130,565 nationally — $64,363 more than entry-level. In top-paying cities, senior Auditors can earn up to $237,822.
The top-paying states for Auditors are California ($110,976 median), Massachusetts ($107,243 median), Hawaii ($106,650 median). State averages are computed across all tracked cities in each state, weighted equally.
The typical education path for a Auditor involves Bachelor's in accounting. The field is in the Finance & Strategy sector (Business & Finance), and the career outlook is steady. Work style is typically hybrid.
With a national median of $91,947 and representation across 288 metro areas, Auditor offers above-average earning potential compared to national household income. The $64,363 gap between entry and senior pay shows room for salary growth. Industry outlook: steady.
All salary data on this page is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan areas. We present 10th percentile (entry), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks. Cost-of-living adjustments use our core database of 288 cities.
Salary data is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. We present the 10th percentile (entry-level), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks.
Cost-of-living adjustments use Livably's core index derived from Zillow rent data, Census income surveys, and regional BLS price data. Take-home pay estimates apply simplified federal brackets, 7.65% FICA, and state income tax rates from the Tax Foundation.
State and national averages are computed as simple means across all tracked cities with data for this occupation. Rankings are updated monthly as new BLS releases become available.