Clergy pay range in San Luis Obispo
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,990 a year or less, while the top 10% make $106,710 or more. The middle half of clergy in San Luis Obispo earn between $45,090 and $84,730.
- $36K10th
- $45K25th
- $63KMedian
- $85K75th
- $107K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $71,600 | $5,967 | $34.42 |
| Median | $62,610 | $5,218 | $30.10 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $45,090 | $3,758 | $21.68 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $84,730 | $7,061 | $40.74 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Clergy pay in San Luis Obispo vs. California and the U.S.
Clergy in San Luis Obispo earn 18% less than the California average ($87,150) and 7% more than the U.S. average ($66,860). At the median the gap is +3% against the U.S. median of $60,810.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Luis Obispo | $71,600 | $62,610 | $35,990 | $106,710 | 80 |
| California | $87,150 | $77,710 | $42,690 | $157,030 | 7,110 |
| United States | $66,860 | $60,810 | $37,860 | $98,890 | 57,200 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Clergy salary after taxes in San Luis Obispo
On the average salary of $71,600, a single filer in San Luis Obispo takes home about $56,545 a year, or $4,712 a month and $2,175 every two weeks. Taxes take 21% 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 clergy? 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 $71,600 buys what about $65,932 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in San Luis Obispo ($50,770). A typical home costs $909,699, or 12.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Clergy salary in other California cities
San Luis Obispo ranks 14th of 19 California metro areas for this job; Los Angeles pays the most ($104,000).
- Los Angeles$104,000
- Santa Rosa$85,300
- San Francisco$80,410
- Santa Maria$79,270
- Riverside$78,400
- San Jose$77,970
- San Diego$77,750
- Vallejo$75,860
- Sacramento$75,780
- San Luis Obispo$71,600
Highest-paying cities for clergy
Los Angeles, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($104,000).
- Los Angeles, CA$104,000
- Santa Rosa, CA$85,300
- Seattle, WA$85,010
- Bozeman, MT$83,660
- San Francisco, CA$80,410
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Clergy salary in San Luis Obispo: questions
How much do clergy make an hour in San Luis Obispo?
$34.42 an hour on average, and $30.10 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level clergy salary in San Luis Obispo?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,990 a year and the 25th percentile is $45,090, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the clergy take-home pay in San Luis Obispo?
About $56,545 a year ($4,712 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $71,600. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do clergy earn more in San Luis Obispo than elsewhere?
The average here is 7% more than the U.S. average for this job ($66,860).
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 21-2011; area San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA (42020). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 5.0%.
- 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 1.84, this job is 1.8 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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