SOC 13-2011 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Accountants and Auditors — San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA · 10 metro areas compared
At $88,160, median pay for Accountants and Auditors in San Luis Obispo, CA tracks the national median of $83,680 closely.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $88,160, median pay for Accountants and Auditors in San Luis Obispo, CA tracks the national median of $83,680 closely. Pay ranges from under $59,940 at the tenth percentile to more than $133,180 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $72,110 to $107,710.
Employment stands at 860, or 7.0 jobs per thousand held locally. Within the state, San Jose records the highest median at $121,700. Of the 361 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 105th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $59,940 | −28.4% |
| 25th | $72,110 | −13.8% |
| Median (50th) | $88,160 | +5.4% |
| 75th | $107,710 | +28.7% |
| 90th | $133,180 | +59.2% |
| Mean | $94,600 | +13.0% |
Other metro areas in California
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose | $121,700 | 13,180 | |
| 2 | San Francisco | $110,730 | 25,170 | |
| 3 | Napa | $99,640 | 520 | |
| 4 | San Diego | $96,340 | 13,450 | |
| 5 | Vallejo | $95,800 | 690 | |
| 6 | Santa Rosa | $94,690 | 1,740 | |
| 7 | Los Angeles | $94,360 | 70,640 | |
| 8 | Sacramento | $92,110 | 13,170 | |
| 9 | Santa Maria | $91,610 | 1,510 | |
| 10 | Oxnard | $90,340 | 2,530 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in San Luis Obispo run 10.7% above the national average, so the median of $88,160 buys what $79,639 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 4.8% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$88,160as reported by BLSLocal price level
110.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$79,639US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $88,160 a year, 5.4% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $59,940 to $133,180 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 860 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is San Jose, at $121,700.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Accountants and Auditors in San Luis Obispo, CA?
The median annual wage is $88,160, or $42.39 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $83,680, so pay in San Luis Obispo, CA is 5.4% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in San Luis Obispo, CA earns more than $133,180 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $59,940 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in San Jose, at $121,700 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 860 jobs in this occupation in San Luis Obispo, CA. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
Explore related data