How much does a firefighter make in San Luis Obispo?

$75,910a year

Median yearly pay for firefighters in the San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA metro area. That is $36.50 an hour or $6,326 a month.

Hourly: $36.50
Vs. national median: +28%
Rank among cities: 52 of 347
Jobs in the area: 390

Pay range

Lowest 10%: $51,540Median: $75,910Highest 10%: $101,200

Percentile	Yearly	Hourly
10th	$51,540	$24.78
25th	$64,980	$31.24
Median	$75,910	$36.50
75th	$92,760	$44.60
90th	$101,200	$48.63

Other cities in California

Median yearly pay for firefighters.

San Jose, CA	$152,100
San Francisco, CA	$113,700
Los Angeles, CA	$98,050
Vallejo, CA	$95,950
Sacramento, CA	$94,080
Santa Rosa, CA	$87,400
Santa Maria, CA	$82,250
Salinas, CA	$81,070
Yuba City, CA	$80,360
Napa, CA	$80,260
Stockton, CA	$79,540
Fresno, CA	$79,160
Riverside, CA	$79,160
Oxnard, CA	$77,400
Modesto, CA	$77,370
Bakersfield, CA	$72,410
Chico, CA	$71,830
San Diego, CA	$70,900
Redding, CA	$65,170
Visalia, CA	$65,170
Santa Cruz, CA	$64,980
Merced, CA	$63,940
Hanford, CA	$55,220
El Centro, CA	$46,080

Firefighter salary in California Firefighter salary in all states

Related jobs in San Luis Obispo

Same field, median yearly pay.

First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detective	$140,400
First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officer	$132,500
First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Worker	$113,700
Correctional Officer and Jailer	$107,200
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer	$101,900
Transportation Security Screener	$71,240
Crossing Guard and Flagger	$48,100
Security Guard	$42,980
Lifeguard	$36,360

Salaries for every job in San Luis Obispo, CA

Frequently asked questions

How much does a firefighter make an hour in San Luis Obispo?

The median hourly pay in the San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA metro area is $36.50 ($75,910 a year).

Do firefighters make more in San Luis Obispo than the national average?

Yes: $75,910 against $59,280 nationally, 28% more.

How does San Luis Obispo compare with the rest of California?

The median in California is $85,120, so San Luis Obispo pays 11% less.

Where does San Luis Obispo rank for firefighter pay?

52 of 347 metro areas with data.

How much does a firefighter make starting out in San Luis Obispo?

The lowest-paid 10% make $51,540 or less a year; the top 10% make $101,200 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.