SOC 27-4021 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Photographers — 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 $48,790 a year, ahead of the national median of $44,660 by 9.2%.
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 $48,790 a year, ahead of the national median of $44,660 by 9.2%. Pay ranges from under $36,180 at the tenth percentile to more than $74,690 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $39,380 to $63,820.
Employment stands at 40, or 0.3 jobs per thousand held locally. Within the state, San Francisco records the highest median at $58,840. Of the 361 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 264th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $36,180 | −19.0% |
| 25th | $39,380 | −11.8% |
| Median (50th) | $48,790 | +9.2% |
| 75th | $63,820 | +42.9% |
| 90th | $74,690 | +67.2% |
| Mean | $59,300 | +32.8% |
Other metro areas in California
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco | $58,840 | 880 | |
| 2 | Bakersfield | $56,220 | 60 | |
| 3 | Santa Maria | $55,220 | 60 | |
| 4 | San Jose | $52,470 | 210 | |
| 5 | Santa Rosa | $50,500 | 60 | |
| 6 | Los Angeles | $47,840 | 4,290 | |
| 7 | Stockton | $46,620 | 40 | |
| 8 | Sacramento | $45,880 | 290 | |
| 9 | Modesto | $44,240 | 50 | |
| 10 | San Diego | $44,030 | 620 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in San Luis Obispo run 10.7% above the national average, so the median of $48,790 buys what $44,074 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 1.3% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$48,790as reported by BLSLocal price level
110.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$44,074US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $48,790 a year, 9.2% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $36,180 to $74,690 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 40 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is San Francisco, at $58,840.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Photographers in San Luis Obispo, CA?
The median annual wage is $48,790, or $23.46 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 $44,660, so pay in San Luis Obispo, CA is 9.2% 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 $74,690 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $36,180 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 $58,840 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.
Explore related data