Chemical Technicians pay range in San Luis Obispo
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,290 a year or less, while the top 10% make $81,000 or more. The middle half of chemical technicians in San Luis Obispo earn between $46,220 and $60,320.
- $36K10th
- $46K25th
- $47KMedian
- $60K75th
- $81K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $53,520 | $4,460 | $25.73 |
| Median | $46,950 | $3,912 | $22.57 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $46,220 | $3,852 | $22.22 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $60,320 | $5,027 | $29.00 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Chemical Technicians pay in San Luis Obispo vs. California and the U.S.
Chemical technicians in San Luis Obispo earn 17% less than the California average ($64,570) and 16% less than the U.S. average ($63,900). At the median the gap is -22% against the U.S. median of $60,390.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Luis Obispo | $53,520 | $46,950 | $36,290 | $81,000 | 40 |
| California | $64,570 | $59,510 | $44,070 | $88,900 | 6,800 |
| United States | $63,900 | $60,390 | $41,740 | $92,040 | 57,540 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Chemical Technicians salary after taxes in San Luis Obispo
On the average salary of $53,520, a single filer in San Luis Obispo takes home about $43,780 a year, or $3,648 a month and $1,684 every two weeks. Taxes take 18% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is San Luis Obispo a good place for chemical technicians? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the San Luis Obispo area are 9% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 108.6), so the average $53,520 buys what about $49,284 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.9 times the median wage of all jobs in San Luis Obispo ($50,770). A typical home costs $909,699, or 17.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Chemical Technicians salary in other California cities
San Luis Obispo ranks 18th of 19 California metro areas for this job; San Francisco pays the most ($76,990).
- San Francisco$76,990
- San Jose$71,610
- Vallejo$70,500
- Sacramento$65,170
- Los Angeles$63,410
- San Diego$60,910
- Bakersfield$60,790
- Santa Maria$60,220
- Napa$58,780
- San Luis Obispo$53,520
Highest-paying cities for chemical technicians
Baton Rouge, LA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($94,470).
- Baton Rouge, LA$94,470
- Lake Charles, LA$89,340
- Augusta, GA$83,060
- Niles, MI$81,900
- Beaumont, TX$80,360
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Chemical Technicians salary in San Luis Obispo: questions
How much do chemical technicians make an hour in San Luis Obispo?
$25.73 an hour on average, and $22.57 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level chemical technicians salary in San Luis Obispo?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,290 a year and the 25th percentile is $46,220, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the chemical technicians take-home pay in San Luis Obispo?
About $43,780 a year ($3,648 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $53,520. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do chemical technicians earn more in San Luis Obispo than elsewhere?
The average here is 16% less than the U.S. average for this job ($63,900).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 19-4031; area San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA (42020). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 5.6%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.82, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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