How much does a cook make in San Luis Obispo?
$38,020a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA metro area. That is $18.28 an hour or $3,168 a month.
- Hourly
- $18.28
- Vs. national median
- +6%
- Rank among cities
- 43 of 237
- Jobs in the area
- 320
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $35,950Median: $38,020Highest 10%: $44,920
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $35,950 | $17.28 | |
| 25th | $37,500 | $18.03 | |
| Median | $38,020 | $18.28 | |
| 75th | $44,100 | $21.20 | |
| 90th | $44,920 | $21.60 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for cooks.
| Santa Rosa, CA | $46,450 |
| San Jose, CA | $45,990 |
| San Francisco, CA | $45,790 |
| Vallejo, CA | $45,360 |
| Napa, CA | $43,930 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $43,680 |
| Oxnard, CA | $42,990 |
| Yuba City, CA | $42,400 |
| Salinas, CA | $40,550 |
| Hanford, CA | $39,300 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $39,140 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $38,490 |
| Sacramento, CA | $38,480 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $38,340 |
| Fresno, CA | $38,280 |
| Modesto, CA | $38,260 |
| Visalia, CA | $37,940 |
| Chico, CA | $37,700 |
| Stockton, CA | $37,490 |
| San Diego, CA | $37,300 |
| Redding, CA | $36,730 |
| Merced, CA | $36,240 |
| Riverside, CA | $35,610 |
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 | $43,220 |
| Cook | $42,390 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $42,350 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $38,550 |
| Food Server | $38,150 |
| 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 $18.28 ($38,020 a year).
Do cooks make more in San Luis Obispo than the national average?
Yes: $38,020 against $35,880 nationally, 6% more.
How does San Luis Obispo compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $42,930, so San Luis Obispo pays 11% less.
Where does San Luis Obispo rank for cook pay?
43 of 237 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in San Luis Obispo?
The lowest-paid 10% make $35,950 or less a year; the top 10% make $44,920 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.