Cooks, Short Order Salary in San Luis Obispo, CA

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

Median annual salary $38,000 +6.7% vs national
Median hourly $18.27
10th percentile $33,280
90th percentile $45,540
Employed locally 210
National median $35,620

Compare Cooks, Short Order salary & buying power

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Cooks, Short Order
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San Luis Obispo, CA
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $33,280
    25th
    $35,400
    50th (median)
    $38,000
    75th
    $42,390
    90th
    $45,540

    San Luis Obispo economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.10% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $93,398 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Short Order salary vs area income 41% Median Cooks, Short Order salary is 59% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Cooks, Short Order

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $48,970
    Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ $48,700
    Barnstable Town, MA $46,830
    Arizona $46,240
    Washington $46,010
    Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $46,010

    Nearby metros — Cooks, Short Order salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $44,270
    Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $43,610
    Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA $43,570
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $42,310
    Napa, CA $39,650
    Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $39,010

    Related occupations in San Luis Obispo, CA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $36,900
    Waiters and Waitresses $34,540
    Cooks, Restaurant $42,290
    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

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Short Order in San Luis Obispo, CA is $18.27, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $21.59 or more per hour.

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

    The median Cooks, Short Order salary in San Luis Obispo, CA is 6.7% above the national median of $35,620. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

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

    Entry-level Cooks, Short Order (10th percentile) earn around $33,280 per year in San Luis Obispo, CA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $35,400.