Firefighters pay range in San Luis Obispo
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $51,540 a year or less, while the top 10% make $101,150 or more. The middle half of firefighters in San Luis Obispo earn between $64,980 and $92,760.
- $52K10th
- $65K25th
- $76KMedian
- $93K75th
- $101K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $77,790 | $6,482 | $37.40 |
| Median | $75,910 | $6,326 | $36.50 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $64,980 | $5,415 | $31.24 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $92,760 | $7,730 | $44.60 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Firefighters pay in San Luis Obispo vs. California and the U.S.
Firefighters in San Luis Obispo earn 18% less than the California average ($95,090) and 22% more than the U.S. average ($63,630). At the median the gap is +28% against the U.S. median of $59,280.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Luis Obispo | $77,790 | $75,910 | $51,540 | $101,150 | 390 |
| California | $95,090 | $85,120 | $52,390 | $136,150 | 31,470 |
| United States | $63,630 | $59,280 | $34,910 | $101,040 | 345,990 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Firefighters salary after taxes in San Luis Obispo
On the average salary of $77,790, a single filer in San Luis Obispo takes home about $60,404 a year, or $5,034 a month and $2,323 every two weeks. Taxes take 22% 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 firefighters? 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 $77,790 buys what about $71,632 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.5 times the median wage of all jobs in San Luis Obispo ($50,770). A typical home costs $909,699, or 11.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Firefighters salary in other California cities
San Luis Obispo ranks 15th of 25 California metro areas for this job; Bakersfield pays the most ($199,490).
- Bakersfield$199,490
- San Jose$134,270
- San Francisco$110,590
- Los Angeles$108,860
- Vallejo$99,530
- Sacramento$97,420
- Stockton$89,710
- Santa Maria$87,660
- Santa Rosa$86,410
- San Luis Obispo$77,790
Highest-paying cities for firefighters
Bakersfield, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($199,490).
- Bakersfield, CA$199,490
- San Jose, CA$134,270
- San Francisco, CA$110,590
- Los Angeles, CA$108,860
- Seattle, WA$100,450
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Firefighters salary in San Luis Obispo: questions
How much do firefighters make an hour in San Luis Obispo?
$37.40 an hour on average, and $36.50 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level firefighters salary in San Luis Obispo?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $51,540 a year and the 25th percentile is $64,980, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the firefighters take-home pay in San Luis Obispo?
About $60,404 a year ($5,034 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $77,790. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do firefighters earn more in San Luis Obispo than elsewhere?
The average here is 22% more than the U.S. average for this job ($63,630).
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 33-2011; area San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA (42020). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.8%.
- 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 1.45, this job is 1.4 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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