How much does a cook make in San Luis Obispo?
$43,220a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA metro area. That is $20.78 an hour or $3,602 a month.
- Hourly
- $20.78
- Vs. national median
- +16%
- Rank among cities
- 38 of 391
- Jobs in the area
- 1,640
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $36,690Median: $43,220Highest 10%: $48,280
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $36,690 | $17.64 | |
| 25th | $37,850 | $18.20 | |
| Median | $43,220 | $20.78 | |
| 75th | $45,990 | $22.11 | |
| 90th | $48,280 | $23.21 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for cooks.
| Napa, CA | $47,320 |
| San Jose, CA | $47,170 |
| San Diego, CA | $46,440 |
| San Francisco, CA | $46,030 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $45,720 |
| Salinas, CA | $44,930 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $44,560 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $44,460 |
| Sacramento, CA | $44,230 |
| Vallejo, CA | $44,100 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $43,340 |
| Riverside, CA | $42,450 |
| Oxnard, CA | $42,060 |
| Modesto, CA | $41,910 |
| Stockton, CA | $41,170 |
| Yuba City, CA | $39,160 |
| Hanford, CA | $38,810 |
| Merced, CA | $38,480 |
| Fresno, CA | $38,260 |
| Redding, CA | $38,200 |
| Chico, CA | $37,980 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $37,800 |
| El Centro, CA | $37,710 |
| Visalia, CA | $37,090 |
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 | $44,970 |
| Cook | $43,680 |
| 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 $20.78 ($43,220 a year).
Do cooks make more in San Luis Obispo than the national average?
Yes: $43,220 against $37,390 nationally, 16% more.
How does San Luis Obispo compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $44,880, so San Luis Obispo pays 4% less.
Where does San Luis Obispo rank for cook pay?
38 of 391 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in San Luis Obispo?
The lowest-paid 10% make $36,690 or less a year; the top 10% make $48,280 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.