SOC 35-2021 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Food Preparation Workers — San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA · 10 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in San Luis Obispo, CA comes to $38,550 a year, ahead of the national median of $35,320 by 9.1%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in San Luis Obispo, CA comes to $38,550 a year, ahead of the national median of $35,320 by 9.1%. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $36,080 and $43,890. The lowest tenth earn under $35,250, while the highest tenth earn more than $50,850.
Employment stands at 900, or 7.3 jobs per thousand held locally. San Jose leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $45,580. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 328th of 361 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $35,250 | −0.2% |
| 25th | $36,080 | +2.2% |
| Median (50th) | $38,550 | +9.1% |
| 75th | $43,890 | +24.3% |
| 90th | $50,850 | +44.0% |
| Mean | $41,340 | +17.0% |
Other metro areas in California
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose | $45,580 | 5,930 | |
| 2 | Napa | $42,810 | 620 | |
| 3 | Santa Rosa | $42,640 | 1,410 | |
| 4 | San Francisco | $41,000 | 14,470 | |
| 5 | Los Angeles | $39,770 | 44,930 | |
| 6 | Santa Cruz | $39,110 | 830 | |
| 7 | Merced | $38,980 | 460 | |
| 8 | Vallejo | $38,840 | 930 | |
| 9 | San Diego | $38,780 | 9,360 | |
| 10 | El Centro | $38,610 | 320 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in San Luis Obispo run 10.7% above the national average, so the median of $38,550 buys what $34,824 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 1.4% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$38,550as reported by BLSLocal price level
110.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$34,824US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $38,550 a year, 9.1% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $35,250 to $50,850 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 900 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is San Jose, at $45,580.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Food Preparation Workers in San Luis Obispo, CA?
The median annual wage is $38,550, or $18.53 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 $35,320, so pay in San Luis Obispo, CA is 9.1% 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 $50,850 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $35,250 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 $45,580 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 900 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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