Firefighters Salary in San Luis Obispo, CA

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

Median annual salary $73,930 +24.2% vs national
Median hourly $35.54
10th percentile $48,910
90th percentile $98,550
Employed locally 330
National median $59,530

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Type a city below to see how San Luis Obispo, CA stacks up on salary and cost of living.

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Firefighters
in
San Luis Obispo, CA
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $48,910
    25th
    $61,390
    50th (median)
    $73,930
    75th
    $82,690
    90th
    $98,550

    San Luis Obispo economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.10% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $93,398 2023 • Census ACS
    Firefighters salary vs area income 79% Median Firefighters salary is 21% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Firefighters

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $164,940
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $121,270
    Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $108,320
    New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $105,250
    Vallejo, CA $104,460
    Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $102,220

    Nearby metros — Firefighters salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $164,940
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $121,270
    Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $108,320
    Vallejo, CA $104,460
    Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $99,210
    Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA $88,440

    Related occupations in San Luis Obispo, CA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Correctional Officers and Jailers$104,090
    Security Guards$45,860
    Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$101,690
    Protective Service Workers, All Other$47,370
    Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers$35,960
    First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers$127,850

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Firefighters make per hour in San Luis Obispo?

    The median hourly wage for Firefighters in San Luis Obispo, CA is $35.54, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $48.63 or more per hour.

    Is San Luis Obispo above or below average for Firefighters salaries?

    The median Firefighters salary in San Luis Obispo, CA is 24.2% above the national median of $59,530. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Firefighters in San Luis Obispo?

    Entry-level Firefighters (10th percentile) earn around $48,910 per year in San Luis Obispo, CA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $61,390.