How much does a cook make in San Luis Obispo?
$44,970a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA metro area. That is $21.62 an hour or $3,748 a month.
- Hourly
- $21.62
- Vs. national median
- +20%
- Rank among cities
- 48 of 391
- Jobs in the area
- 340
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $37,660Median: $44,970Highest 10%: $58,360
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $37,660 | $18.11 | |
| 25th | $39,300 | $18.89 | |
| Median | $44,970 | $21.62 | |
| 75th | $47,490 | $22.83 | |
| 90th | $58,360 | $28.06 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for cooks.
| San Jose, CA | $51,880 |
| San Francisco, CA | $49,140 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $48,210 |
| Napa, CA | $48,060 |
| Hanford, CA | $47,310 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $47,260 |
| Vallejo, CA | $47,130 |
| San Diego, CA | $47,100 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $46,850 |
| Salinas, CA | $46,820 |
| Modesto, CA | $45,480 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $45,400 |
| Sacramento, CA | $45,020 |
| Oxnard, CA | $44,570 |
| Riverside, CA | $44,470 |
| Merced, CA | $44,410 |
| Redding, CA | $44,250 |
| Stockton, CA | $43,950 |
| Yuba City, CA | $43,940 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $43,910 |
| Fresno, CA | $42,580 |
| Visalia, CA | $41,820 |
| Chico, CA | $41,380 |
| El Centro, CA | $40,980 |
Related jobs in San Luis Obispo
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $59,400 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $48,320 |
| Cook | $43,680 |
| Cook | $43,220 |
| Cook | $42,390 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $42,350 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $38,550 |
| Food Server | $38,150 |
| Cook | $38,020 |
| Dishwasher | $36,760 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cook make an hour in San Luis Obispo?
The median hourly pay in the San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA metro area is $21.62 ($44,970 a year).
Do cooks make more in San Luis Obispo than the national average?
Yes: $44,970 against $37,450 nationally, 20% more.
How does San Luis Obispo compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $46,390, so San Luis Obispo pays 3% less.
Where does San Luis Obispo rank for cook pay?
48 of 391 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in San Luis Obispo?
The lowest-paid 10% make $37,660 or less a year; the top 10% make $58,360 or more.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.