StateRates

San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles salaries

The median worker in the San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA metro area earned $49,760 a year in 2024, about $23.92 an hour. That ranks #85 of the 391 metro areas published here, 0.5% above the national median.

California

Median pay $49,760 $23.92 per hour
Vs national +0.5% U.S. $49,500
Workers 121,040 wage and salary
Metro rank #85 of 391 by median pay

What this labour market looks like

San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles pays 12.6% less than California as a whole. Metros usually run ahead of their states because they concentrate higher-paying industries, and the gap is a rough measure of how much of a state's economy sits in its cities.

Unusually concentrated here

Occupations against their national share, 2024
Occupation Concentration Employed Median
Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse 16.2× 3,330 $37,010
Demonstrators and Product Promoters 11.4× 580 $37,820
Educational Instruction and Library Workers, All Other 5.68× 510 $49,100
Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks 3.5× 720 $36,920
Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers 2.48× 1,020 $34,350
Correctional Officers and Jailers 2.46× 700 $104,090
Civil Engineers 2.42× 680 $110,920
Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners 2.12× 1,420 $36,620
Dishwashers 2.05× 760 $35,910
Amusement and Recreation Attendants 2.04× 590 $34,640
Cooks, Fast Food 1.91× 1,000 $36,390
Substitute Teachers, Short-Term 1.77× 670 $52,710

Best paid occupations

Highest median pay in San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles
Occupation Median Hourly Employed
Architectural and Engineering Managers $200,820 $96.55 200
Pharmacists $170,480 $81.96 230
Computer and Information Systems Managers $165,330 $79.49 230
Chief Executives $162,290 $78.03 200
Industrial Production Managers $152,270 $73.21 250
Financial Managers $138,230 $66.46 390
Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary $136,490 n/a 200
Registered Nurses $133,470 $64.17 1,950
Software Developers $132,010 $63.47 480
Managers, All Other $124,710 $59.96 390
Construction Managers $124,460 $59.84 280
Dental Hygienists $121,100 $58.22 220
Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers $120,680 $58.02 290
Administrative Services Managers $120,010 $57.70 240
Medical and Health Services Managers $112,960 $54.31 430
Civil Engineers $110,920 $53.33 680
Correctional Officers and Jailers $104,090 $50.04 700
General and Operations Managers $103,550 $49.79 2,130
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers $101,690 $48.89 470
Project Management Specialists $101,230 $48.67 620
Sales Managers $98,800 $47.50 600
Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors $98,280 $47.25 430
Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health $95,100 $45.72 200
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education $93,050 n/a 500
First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers $92,830 $44.63 620
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education $92,200 n/a 940
First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers $88,960 $42.77 500
Management Analysts $83,870 $40.32 530
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators $83,780 $40.28 530
Accountants and Auditors $82,240 $39.54 900
Teachers and Instructors, All Other $81,220 n/a 210
Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education $80,190 n/a 310
Electricians $80,070 $38.50 540
Business Operations Specialists, All Other $80,010 $38.46 770
Cost Estimators $79,100 $38.03 240
Social and Community Service Managers $78,820 $37.89 250
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers $78,630 $37.80 360
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses $77,500 $37.26 430
Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants $76,960 $37.00 300
Human Resources Specialists $76,000 $36.54 570
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products $75,500 $36.30 670
Buyers and Purchasing Agents $75,170 $36.14 250
Firefighters $73,930 $35.54 330
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers $73,910 $35.54 1,080
Carpenters $72,440 $34.83 860
Food Service Managers $72,060 $34.64 360
Paralegals and Legal Assistants $71,450 $34.35 250
Training and Development Specialists $71,200 $34.23 240
Computer User Support Specialists $69,490 $33.41 260
Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists $65,570 $31.52 520
Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel $65,280 $31.38 620
Chefs and Head Cooks $64,590 $31.05 270
Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents $64,240 $30.88 370
Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers $64,240 $30.88 380
Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers $64,120 $30.83 280
Roofers $62,450 $30.03 200
Child, Family, and School Social Workers $62,400 $30.00 360
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters $61,990 $29.81 350
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics $61,280 $29.46 480
Construction Laborers $60,320 $29.00 1,170

Where most people work

Largest occupations in San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles by employment
Occupation Employed Median Hourly
Home Health and Personal Care Aides 3,640 $33,330 $16.02
Fast Food and Counter Workers 3,450 $36,900 $17.74
Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse 3,330 $37,010 $17.80
Retail Salespersons 3,190 $37,510 $18.03
Cashiers 3,030 $35,970 $17.29
Waiters and Waitresses 2,860 $34,540 $16.61
Office Clerks, General 2,490 $47,520 $22.84
General and Operations Managers 2,130 $103,550 $49.79
Registered Nurses 1,950 $133,470 $64.17
Cooks, Restaurant 1,790 $42,290 $20.33
Stockers and Order Fillers 1,670 $38,600 $18.56
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners 1,610 $37,880 $18.21
Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners 1,420 $36,620 $17.61
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General 1,300 $47,900 $23.03
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive 1,190 $50,910 $24.48
Construction Laborers 1,170 $60,320 $29.00
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand 1,170 $38,620 $18.57
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks 1,160 $57,580 $27.68
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers 1,100 $46,870 $22.53
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers 1,080 $73,910 $35.54

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024 state estimates. Wage and salary workers only, excluding the self-employed.

Other California metro areas

San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles pay: common questions

What is the average salary in San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles?

The median across all occupations is $49,760, or $23.92 an hour, covering 121,040 wage and salary workers. The mean is $68,900, higher because a small number of very large salaries pull an average upward.

Does San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles pay more than the rest of California?

No. The metro median of $49,760 is 12.6% below the California median of $56,940. Metropolitan areas usually pay more than their states because they concentrate higher-paying industries, and usually cost more to live in for the same reason.

Which jobs pay best in San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles?

Architectural and Engineering Managers ($200,820), Pharmacists ($170,480), Computer and Information Systems Managers ($165,330). Medical specialities top nearly every metro list, which reflects how the occupations are classified more than local conditions.

What is San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles unusually full of?

Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse, at 16.2× the national concentration. Location quotient is a better description of a local economy than its biggest employers, which are retail and food service almost everywhere.