Cooks, Restaurant Salary in San Luis Obispo, CA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA

Median annual salary $42,290 +14.8% vs national
Median hourly $20.33
10th percentile $36,590
90th percentile $47,240
Employed locally 1,790
National median $36,830

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Cooks, Restaurant
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $36,590
    25th
    $37,840
    50th (median)
    $42,290
    75th
    $45,190
    90th
    $47,240

    San Luis Obispo economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.10% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $93,398 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Restaurant salary vs area income 45% Median Cooks, Restaurant salary is 55% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Cooks, Restaurant

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $48,320
    Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $46,970
    Portland-South Portland, ME $46,960
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $46,960
    Massachusetts nonmetropolitan area $46,500
    Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area $46,340

    Nearby metros — Cooks, Restaurant salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $46,970
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $46,960
    Napa, CA $46,270
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $45,230
    San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA $45,040
    Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA $45,020

    Related occupations in San Luis Obispo, CA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers$36,900
    Waiters and Waitresses$34,540
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$46,870
    Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers$34,350
    Cooks, Fast Food$36,390
    Food Preparation Workers$36,890

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Cooks, Restaurant make per hour in San Luis Obispo?

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Restaurant in San Luis Obispo, CA is $20.33, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $23.21 or more per hour.

    Is San Luis Obispo above or below average for Cooks, Restaurant salaries?

    The median Cooks, Restaurant salary in San Luis Obispo, CA is 14.8% above the national median of $36,830. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Cooks, Restaurant in San Luis Obispo?

    Entry-level Cooks, Restaurant (10th percentile) earn around $36,590 per year in San Luis Obispo, CA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $37,840.