SOC 17-2011 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Aerospace Engineers — San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA · 9 metro areas compared
At $135,490, median pay for Aerospace Engineers in San Luis Obispo, CA tracks the national median of $134,960 closely.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $135,490, median pay for Aerospace Engineers in San Luis Obispo, CA tracks the national median of $134,960 closely. Pay ranges from under $103,170 at the tenth percentile to more than $205,000 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $103,170 to $164,950.
Employment stands at 40, or 0.3 jobs per thousand held locally. Within the state, San Francisco records the highest median at $191,260. Of the 361 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 27th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $103,170 | −23.6% |
| 25th | $103,170 | −23.6% |
| Median (50th) | $135,490 | +0.4% |
| 75th | $164,950 | +22.2% |
| 90th | $205,000 | +51.9% |
| Mean | $143,350 | +6.2% |
Other metro areas in California
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco | $191,260 | 510 | |
| 2 | San Jose | $181,630 | 930 | |
| 3 | Los Angeles | $163,280 | 5,200 | |
| 4 | San Diego | $135,010 | 800 | |
| 5 | Sacramento | $132,230 | 200 | |
| 6 | Santa Maria | $130,870 | 100 | |
| 7 | Riverside | $129,530 | 120 | |
| 8 | Bakersfield | $128,720 | 700 | |
| 9 | Oxnard | $128,670 | 110 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in San Luis Obispo run 10.7% above the national average, so the median of $135,490 buys what $122,394 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 9.3% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$135,490as reported by BLSLocal price level
110.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$122,394US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $135,490 a year, 0.4% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $103,170 to $205,000 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 40 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is San Francisco, at $191,260.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Aerospace Engineers in San Luis Obispo, CA?
The median annual wage is $135,490, or $65.14 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 $134,960, so pay in San Luis Obispo, CA is 0.4% 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 $205,000 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $103,170 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 Francisco, at $191,260 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 40 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.
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