How much does a cook make in San Luis Obispo?
$42,390a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA metro area. That is $20.38 an hour or $3,533 a month.
- Hourly
- $20.38
- Vs. national median
- +37%
- Rank among cities
- 14 of 308
- Jobs in the area
- 850
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $34,930Median: $42,390Highest 10%: $43,700
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $34,930 | $16.79 | |
| 25th | $37,120 | $17.85 | |
| Median | $42,390 | $20.38 | |
| 75th | $43,060 | $20.70 | |
| 90th | $43,700 | $21.01 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for cooks.
| San Jose, CA | $47,220 |
| San Francisco, CA | $46,670 |
| Napa, CA | $45,300 |
| Vallejo, CA | $44,450 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $43,840 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $43,630 |
| Salinas, CA | $43,120 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $42,700 |
| Oxnard, CA | $42,530 |
| Modesto, CA | $42,510 |
| Riverside, CA | $42,480 |
| San Diego, CA | $42,450 |
| Yuba City, CA | $42,320 |
| Sacramento, CA | $42,210 |
| Stockton, CA | $41,600 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $41,480 |
| Hanford, CA | $41,280 |
| Merced, CA | $40,430 |
| Chico, CA | $40,340 |
| El Centro, CA | $40,230 |
| Redding, CA | $39,920 |
| Visalia, CA | $39,750 |
| Fresno, CA | $39,620 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $38,000 |
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 |
| 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 $20.38 ($42,390 a year).
Do cooks make more in San Luis Obispo than the national average?
Yes: $42,390 against $30,890 nationally, 37% more.
How does San Luis Obispo compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $42,050, so San Luis Obispo pays 1% more.
Where does San Luis Obispo rank for cook pay?
14 of 308 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in San Luis Obispo?
The lowest-paid 10% make $34,930 or less a year; the top 10% make $43,700 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.