Jobs that pay the biggest premium in San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA

Each occupation's median wage in San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA compared against the national median for the same occupation. Unlike a cost-of-living adjustment — which scales every job in a state by the same constant and so cannot change their order — this genuinely re-ranks, and it shows where San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA pays a real premium. Limited to occupations with at least 1,000 workers in the state.

Cost of living: prices in San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA run 8.6% above the national average (2024), so a San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA salary is worth about 0.92× its face value in national terms. That scales every wage here by the same factor — it changes what the numbers mean, not their order.

Local wage estimates are suppressed more often than state ones — BLS withholds any figure too few local employers report — so an occupation missing here simply has no published local estimate.

Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Cost of living: BEA regional price parities, 2024

Find high paying jobs in San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA

OccupationMedian, San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA · vs. national

1Healthcare Social Workers$133,340
Master's degree
$67,490 – $134,450+96.4%
2Surveying and Mapping Technicians$101,270
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,900 – $124,770+86.7%
3Correctional Officers and Jailers$107,220
High school diploma or equivalent
$85,720 – $114,730+81.9%
4Counselors, All Other$91,940
Master's degree
$38,060 – $91,940+80.8%
5Public Safety Telecommunicators$90,930
High school diploma or equivalent
$68,960 – $101,830+71.4%
6First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers$132,490
High school diploma or equivalent
$123,170 – $156,060+69.9%
7Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health$90,720
Associate's degree
$50,050 – $110,800+64.7%
8Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers$98,800
Master's degree
$66,170 – $145,850+63.9%
9Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary$104,190
Bachelor's degree
$48,750 – $166,480+63.3%
10Medical Equipment Preparers$75,800
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,120 – $78,690+58.9%
11Clinical and Counseling Psychologists$155,960
Doctoral or professional degree
$94,340 – $215,140+55.1%
12Community Health Workers$80,290
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,850 – $82,520+54.9%
13Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors$99,330
Master's degree
$58,320 – $130,390+54.4%
14Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education$97,620
Bachelor's degree
$61,800 – $125,920+52.6%
15Property Appraisers and Assessors$102,840
Bachelor's degree
$76,120 – $133,290+51.3%
16Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School$97,260
Bachelor's degree
$61,640 – $117,650+49.4%
17Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists$97,410
Bachelor's degree
$97,410 – $143,510+47.0%
18Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary$152,560
Master's degree
$100,520 – $175,010+44.1%
19Tour and Travel Guides$54,550
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,700 – $64,420+43.1%
20Surveyors$107,700
Bachelor's degree
$62,900 – $152,250+42.8%
21Registered Nurses$138,820
Bachelor's degree
$100,560 – $199,540+42.3%
22Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$90,870
Bachelor's degree
$61,140 – $123,110+41.2%
23Substitute Teachers, Short-Term$58,620
Bachelor's degree
$45,580 – $74,450+40.7%
24Special Education Teachers, All Other$106,510
Bachelor's degree
$65,880 – $122,600+39.1%
25Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$83,190
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,010 – $104,990+38.6%
26Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$99,560
Bachelor's degree
$63,060 – $127,300+38.2%
27Bill and Account Collectors$64,970
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,680 – $79,580+38.1%
28Cooks, Fast Food$42,390
No formal educational credential
$34,930 – $43,700+37.2%
29Highway Maintenance Workers$68,720
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,830 – $78,700+36.7%
30Respiratory Therapists$112,430
Associate's degree
$78,190 – $131,010+36.6%
31Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors$80,770
Master's degree
$45,880 – $103,110+36.1%
32Fast Food and Counter Workers$42,350
No formal educational credential
$34,650 – $46,000+35.7%
33Librarians and Media Collections Specialists$92,140
Master's degree
$55,130 – $142,630+35.0%
34Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$99,840
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,540 – $128,240+34.3%
35Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$101,860
High school diploma or equivalent
$83,860 – $160,620+33.7%
36Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$79,340
High school diploma or equivalent
$54,250 – $130,190+32.6%
37First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$140,400
High school diploma or equivalent
$100,630 – $203,110+32.4%
38Industrial Production Managers$166,030
Bachelor's degree
$85,610 – $215,330+31.7%
39Court, Municipal, and License Clerks$63,160
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,860 – $77,650+29.7%
40Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$123,650
High school diploma or equivalent
$72,680 – $152,020+29.7%
41Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$84,120
Associate's degree
$52,000 – $115,110+29.5%
42Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$125,090
Associate's degree
$64,500 – $152,490+29.5%
43Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$103,670
Associate's degree
$63,340 – $134,020+29.4%
44Library Technicians$57,510
Postsecondary nondegree award
$37,940 – $62,030+29.0%
45Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health$105,810
Bachelor's degree
$68,520 – $142,560+28.7%
46Dental Hygienists$125,670
Associate's degree
$106,190 – $147,480+28.1%
47Firefighters$75,910
Postsecondary nondegree award
$51,540 – $101,150+28.1%
48Construction Laborers$60,140
No formal educational credential
$44,200 – $92,190+27.6%
49Healthcare Support Workers, All Other$61,770
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,840 – $89,340+27.5%
50Carpenters$77,220
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,460 – $128,350+27.5%

Bars run from the 10th to the 90th percentile; the middle half is shaded darker, and the tick is the median.

#	Occupation	MedianSan Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	vs. national
1	Healthcare Social WorkersMaster's degree	$133,340	$67,490 – $134,450	+96.4%
2	Surveying and Mapping TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$101,270	$48,900 – $124,770	+86.7%
3	Correctional Officers and JailersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$107,220	$85,720 – $114,730	+81.9%
4	Counselors, All OtherMaster's degree	$91,940	$38,060 – $91,940	+80.8%
5	Public Safety TelecommunicatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$90,930	$68,960 – $101,830	+71.4%
6	First-Line Supervisors of Correctional OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$132,490	$123,170 – $156,060	+69.9%
7	Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including HealthAssociate's degree	$90,720	$50,050 – $110,800	+64.7%
8	Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social WorkersMaster's degree	$98,800	$66,170 – $145,850	+63.9%
9	Career/Technical Education Teachers, PostsecondaryBachelor's degree	$104,190	$48,750 – $166,480	+63.3%
10	Medical Equipment PreparersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,800	$52,120 – $78,690	+58.9%
11	Clinical and Counseling PsychologistsDoctoral or professional degree	$155,960	$94,340 – $215,140	+55.1%
12	Community Health WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,290	$46,850 – $82,520	+54.9%
13	Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and AdvisorsMaster's degree	$99,330	$58,320 – $130,390	+54.4%
14	Elementary School Teachers, Except Special EducationBachelor's degree	$97,620	$61,800 – $125,920	+52.6%
15	Property Appraisers and AssessorsBachelor's degree	$102,840	$76,120 – $133,290	+51.3%
16	Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary SchoolBachelor's degree	$97,260	$61,640 – $117,650	+49.4%
17	Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$97,410	$97,410 – $143,510	+47.0%
18	Education Administrators, Kindergarten through SecondaryMaster's degree	$152,560	$100,520 – $175,010	+44.1%
19	Tour and Travel GuidesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$54,550	$35,700 – $64,420	+43.1%
20	SurveyorsBachelor's degree	$107,700	$62,900 – $152,250	+42.8%
21	Registered NursesBachelor's degree	$138,820	$100,560 – $199,540	+42.3%
22	Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationBachelor's degree	$90,870	$61,140 – $123,110	+41.2%
23	Substitute Teachers, Short-TermBachelor's degree	$58,620	$45,580 – $74,450	+40.7%
24	Special Education Teachers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$106,510	$65,880 – $122,600	+39.1%
25	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$83,190	$58,010 – $104,990	+38.6%
26	Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationBachelor's degree	$99,560	$63,060 – $127,300	+38.2%
27	Bill and Account CollectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,970	$48,680 – $79,580	+38.1%
28	Cooks, Fast FoodNo formal educational credential	$42,390	$34,930 – $43,700	+37.2%
29	Highway Maintenance WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$68,720	$46,830 – $78,700	+36.7%
30	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$112,430	$78,190 – $131,010	+36.6%
31	Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health CounselorsMaster's degree	$80,770	$45,880 – $103,110	+36.1%
32	Fast Food and Counter WorkersNo formal educational credential	$42,350	$34,650 – $46,000	+35.7%
33	Librarians and Media Collections SpecialistsMaster's degree	$92,140	$55,130 – $142,630	+35.0%
34	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$99,840	$59,540 – $128,240	+34.3%
35	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$101,860	$83,860 – $160,620	+33.7%
36	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,340	$54,250 – $130,190	+32.6%
37	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$140,400	$100,630 – $203,110	+32.4%
38	Industrial Production ManagersBachelor's degree	$166,030	$85,610 – $215,330	+31.7%
39	Court, Municipal, and License ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,160	$49,860 – $77,650	+29.7%
40	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$123,650	$72,680 – $152,020	+29.7%
41	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$84,120	$52,000 – $115,110	+29.5%
42	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$125,090	$64,500 – $152,490	+29.5%
43	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$103,670	$63,340 – $134,020	+29.4%
44	Library TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$57,510	$37,940 – $62,030	+29.0%
45	Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including HealthBachelor's degree	$105,810	$68,520 – $142,560	+28.7%
46	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$125,670	$106,190 – $147,480	+28.1%
47	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$75,910	$51,540 – $101,150	+28.1%
48	Construction LaborersNo formal educational credential	$60,140	$44,200 – $92,190	+27.6%
49	Healthcare Support Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,770	$40,840 – $89,340	+27.5%
50	CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,220	$48,460 – $128,350	+27.5%

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The same fields, narrowed to what you can enter without one. Fields missing here have too few such occupations in San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA to rank honestly.

Jobs that pay the biggest premium in San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA

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