Paramedics pay range in San Luis Obispo
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $56,350 a year or less, while the top 10% make $112,900 or more. The middle half of paramedics in San Luis Obispo earn between $64,920 and $112,900.
- $56K10th
- $65K25th
- $74KMedian
- $113K75th
- $113K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $85,630 | $7,136 | $41.17 |
| Median | $73,930 | $6,161 | $35.54 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $64,920 | $5,410 | $31.21 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $112,900 | $9,408 | $54.28 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Paramedics pay in San Luis Obispo vs. California and the U.S.
Paramedics in San Luis Obispo earn 10% more than the California average ($77,740) and 35% more than the U.S. average ($63,360). At the median the gap is +22% against the U.S. median of $60,600.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Luis Obispo | $85,630 | $73,930 | $56,350 | $112,900 | 40 |
| California | $77,740 | $74,590 | $53,370 | $102,450 | 5,190 |
| United States | $63,360 | $60,600 | $44,230 | $84,850 | 100,610 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Paramedics salary after taxes in San Luis Obispo
On the average salary of $85,630, a single filer in San Luis Obispo takes home about $65,199 a year, or $5,433 a month and $2,508 every two weeks. Taxes take 24% 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 paramedics? 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 $85,630 buys what about $78,852 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 10.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Paramedics salary in other California cities
San Luis Obispo ranks 4th of 16 California metro areas for this job; San Francisco pays the most ($92,860).
- San Francisco$92,860
- San Jose$92,750
- Salinas$88,690
- San Luis Obispo$85,630
- Redding$82,630
- Oxnard$82,190
- Sacramento$79,940
- Los Angeles$77,280
- Santa Rosa$76,340
- Santa Cruz$75,870
Highest-paying cities for paramedics
Bellingham, WA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($119,190).
- Bellingham, WA$119,190
- Seattle, WA$117,660
- Bremerton, WA$110,800
- Olympia, WA$109,680
- Mount Vernon, WA$106,520
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Paramedics salary in San Luis Obispo: questions
How much do paramedics make an hour in San Luis Obispo?
$41.17 an hour on average, and $35.54 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level paramedics salary in San Luis Obispo?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $56,350 a year and the 25th percentile is $64,920, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the paramedics take-home pay in San Luis Obispo?
About $65,199 a year ($5,433 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $85,630. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do paramedics earn more in San Luis Obispo than elsewhere?
The average here is 35% more than the U.S. average for this job ($63,360).
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 29-2043; area San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA (42020). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 6.7%.
- 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 0.46, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.46).
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