Accounting Degree in Irvine, CA — Salary & ROI 2026
Accounting degree analysis for Irvine, CA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$68K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$98K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
4.5 yrs
in Irvine
Cost of Living
109
index (100 = avg)
Accounting in Irvine, CA Overview
Irvine is one of California's top college towns, with 24 institutions and a student population of 16,104. Public tuition averages $13,752/year here — near the national average for public universities. Accounting enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Financial Reporting and Tax Preparation. The adjusted starting salary in Irvine is approximately $67,580.
Category
Business
Local Colleges
24
Public Tuition
$13,752/yr
Private Tuition
$33,606/yr
Room & Board
$19,564/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$8,909/yr
Unemployment
3.8%
Graduation Rate
46%
Accounting Salary in Irvine (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Irvine's cost of living index of 109 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Accounting salary: $62,000 starting, $90,000 mid-career, $115,000 senior level.Irvine adjustment factor: 1.09x based on the local cost of living index.
Accounting ROI Calculator for Irvine
Estimate your return on investment for a Accounting degree using local Irvine tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $13,752 | Private avg: $33,606
Irvine avg aid: $8,909/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$133,264
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$29,430
vs HS diploma in Irvine
ROI Payback Period
4.5 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Irvine
$684,236
Lifetime earnings premium ($817,500) minus total education cost ($133,264)
Student Loan Payoff for Accounting in Irvine
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Irvine for Accounting
University of California, Irvine
public
$13,752/yr
$55,008 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Irvine Valley College
$1,540/yr
Top Employers for Accounting in Irvine
Irvine offers opportunities in Financial services, Consulting firms, Fortune 500 companies for Accounting graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Irvine Hiring Sectors for Business
Financial services
Consulting firms
Fortune 500 companies
Startups
Marketing agencies
Common Accounting Job Titles
Accounting in Nearby California Cities
Los Angeles, CA
$87K starting · COL 141
69 colleges
San Diego, CA
$87K starting · COL 140
68 colleges
San Jose, CA
$80K starting · COL 129
95 colleges
San Francisco, CA
$71K starting · COL 114
22 colleges
Fresno, CA
$73K starting · COL 118
37 colleges
Sacramento, CA
$69K starting · COL 112
38 colleges
Long Beach, CA
$72K starting · COL 116
14 colleges
Oakland, CA
$82K starting · COL 132
13 colleges
Other Business Majors in Irvine
Business Analytics
$85K starting · 2 yr ROI
Finance
$76K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Economics
$71K starting · 4 yr ROI
Information Systems
$55K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Supply Chain Management
$55K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Operations Management
$55K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Real Estate
$55K starting · 4 yr ROI
Business Administration
$63K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Accounting Degree in Irvine — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Accounting ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Irvine.