SOC 29-1216 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
General Internal Medicine Physicians — 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 $289,840 a year, ahead of the national median of $256,560 by 13.0%.
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 $289,840 a year, ahead of the national median of $256,560 by 13.0%. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $129,500 and $385,930. The lowest tenth earn under $129,500, while the highest tenth earn more than $385,930.
Santa Cruz leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $430,970. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 4th of 361 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $129,500 | −49.5% |
| 25th | $129,500 | −49.5% |
| Median (50th) | $289,840 | +13.0% |
| 75th | $385,930 | +50.4% |
| 90th | $385,930 | +50.4% |
| Mean | $258,160 | +0.6% |
Other metro areas in California
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Santa Cruz | $430,970 | — | |
| 2 | Sacramento | $361,590 | — | |
| 3 | San Francisco | $351,670 | — | |
| 4 | San Jose | $347,870 | — | |
| 5 | Oxnard | $314,720 | — | |
| 6 | Visalia | $307,430 | 70 | |
| 7 | Los Angeles | $303,980 | — | |
| 8 | San Diego | $282,200 | — | |
| 9 | Bakersfield | $239,200 | — | |
| 10 | Riverside | $99,840 | 650 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in San Luis Obispo run 10.7% above the national average, so the median of $289,840 buys what $261,825 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 2.1% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$289,840as reported by BLSLocal price level
110.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$261,825US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $289,840 a year, 13.0% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $129,500 to $385,930 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Santa Cruz, at $430,970.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for General Internal Medicine Physicians in San Luis Obispo, CA?
The median annual wage is $289,840, or $139.35 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 $256,560, so pay in San Luis Obispo, CA is 13.0% 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 $385,930 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $129,500 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 Santa Cruz, at $430,970 per year.
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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