Highest-paying jobs in San Luis Obispo
Stacker collected information on the highest-paying jobs in San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande, CA, using data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Jobs are ranked by average annual salary with information up to date as of May 2021.
In San Luis Obispo, the annual mean wage is $59,440 or 2.0% higher than national mean of $58,260, while the highest-paying occupation makes $274,880. Read on to see which jobs make the list.
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#50. Mental health and substance abuse social workers
- Annual mean salary: $97,950
- #2 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 350
National
- Annual mean salary: $57,800
- Employment: 113,810
- Entry level education requirements: Master’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Napa, CA ($112,950)
--- San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande, CA ($97,950)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($94,060)
#49. Computer programmers
- Annual mean salary: $98,410
- #37 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70
National
- Annual mean salary: $96,650
- Employment: 152,610
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($144,130)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($126,220)
--- Dalton, GA ($123,500)
#48. First-line supervisors of security workers
- Annual mean salary: $98,500
- #1 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
National
- Annual mean salary: $55,080
- Employment: 55,450
- Entry level education requirements: nan
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande, CA ($98,500)
--- Kennewick-Richland, WA ($86,240)
--- Syracuse, NY ($69,610)
#47. Aerospace engineers
- Annual mean salary: $98,830
- #58 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available
National
- Annual mean salary: $122,970
- Employment: 56,640
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Omaha-Council Bluffs, NE-IA ($166,060)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($149,490)
--- Boulder, CO ($148,990)

#46. Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers
- Annual mean salary: $99,240
- #8 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30
National
- Annual mean salary: $78,440
- Employment: 5,220
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($104,810)
--- Visalia-Porterville, CA ($101,650)
--- Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL ($101,610)
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#45. Personal financial advisors
- Annual mean salary: $100,230
- #214 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 160
National
- Annual mean salary: $119,960
- Employment: 263,030
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Barnstable Town, MA ($172,780)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($161,010)
--- East Stroudsburg, PA ($158,790)

#44. Police and sheriff's patrol officers
- Annual mean salary: $102,090
- #9 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 540
National
- Annual mean salary: $70,750
- Employment: 665,380
- Entry level education requirements: nan
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($125,960)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($118,450)
--- Napa, CA ($116,010)
#43. School psychologists
- Annual mean salary: $102,730
- #15 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30
National
- Annual mean salary: $82,770
- Employment: 57,110
- Entry level education requirements: nan
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Boulder, CO ($116,280)
--- El Centro, CA ($116,010)
--- Fresno, CA ($115,360)
#42. Dental hygienists
- Annual mean salary: $103,150
- #18 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 200
National
- Annual mean salary: $81,360
- Employment: 207,190
- Entry level education requirements: Associate’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($125,750)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($122,660)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($119,320)
#41. Electrical engineers
- Annual mean salary: $103,540
- #103 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 120
National
- Annual mean salary: $107,890
- Employment: 186,020
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($148,870)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($133,640)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($124,680)
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#40. Electrical power-line installers and repairers
- Annual mean salary: $103,940
- #13 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 270
National
- Annual mean salary: $79,060
- Employment: 123,940
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($117,700)
--- Salinas, CA ($110,180)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($109,490)

#39. First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers
- Annual mean salary: $104,120
- #22 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60
National
- Annual mean salary: $83,270
- Employment: 80,890
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($171,060)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($145,740)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($135,860)
#38. Administrative services managers
- Annual mean salary: $104,130
- #148 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 190
National
- Annual mean salary: $113,030
- Employment: 224,620
- Entry level education requirements: nan
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($149,360)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($142,650)
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($141,950)
#37. Industrial engineers
- Annual mean salary: $104,630
- #34 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
National
- Annual mean salary: $95,200
- Employment: 293,950
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Anchorage, AK ($142,770)
--- Midland, TX ($129,440)
--- Billings, MT ($126,170)
#36. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
- Annual mean salary: $105,140
- #84 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 120
National
- Annual mean salary: $105,580
- Employment: 144,640
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($159,890)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($154,170)
--- Trenton, NJ ($144,620)
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#35. Civil engineers
- Annual mean salary: $105,930
- #23 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 530
National
- Annual mean salary: $95,490
- Employment: 304,310
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($119,720)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($116,550)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($115,120)
#34. Electronics engineers, except computer
- Annual mean salary: $108,540
- #58 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70
National
- Annual mean salary: $115,490
- Employment: 107,170
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($152,060)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($138,480)
--- Idaho Falls, ID ($136,310)

#33. Geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers
- Annual mean salary: $108,820
- #21 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
National
- Annual mean salary: $103,550
- Employment: 23,620
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($161,290)
--- Corpus Christi, TX ($156,870)
--- Midland, TX ($156,270)

#32. Sales managers
- Annual mean salary: $108,920
- #311 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 560
National
- Annual mean salary: $142,390
- Employment: 453,800
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($198,960)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($196,910)
--- Boulder, CO ($182,820)
#31. General and operations managers
- Annual mean salary: $111,100
- #114 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,880
National
- Annual mean salary: $115,250
- Employment: 2,984,920
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($165,340)
--- Trenton, NJ ($165,030)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($159,210)
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#30. Construction managers
- Annual mean salary: $112,640
- #47 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 370
National
- Annual mean salary: $108,210
- Employment: 284,750
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Anchorage, AK ($160,710)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($149,050)
--- Napa, CA ($145,430)
#29. Data scientists
- Annual mean salary: $113,440
- #25 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
National
- Annual mean salary: $108,660
- Employment: 105,980
- Entry level education requirements: nan
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($157,110)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($153,180)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($135,900)

#28. Computer systems analysts
- Annual mean salary: $114,040
- #15 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 170
National
- Annual mean salary: $102,210
- Employment: 505,150
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($141,290)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($131,650)
--- Huntsville, AL ($118,690)

#27. Medical and health services managers
- Annual mean salary: $114,400
- #139 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 330
National
- Annual mean salary: $119,840
- Employment: 436,770
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($162,110)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($157,340)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($156,370)
#26. Environmental engineers
- Annual mean salary: $115,310
- #18 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
National
- Annual mean salary: $100,220
- Employment: 42,660
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($131,700)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($127,470)
--- Idaho Falls, ID ($127,160)
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#25. Veterinarians
- Annual mean salary: $117,090
- #48 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 100
National
- Annual mean salary: $109,920
- Employment: 77,260
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($144,440)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($141,670)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($140,390)
#24. Education administrators, kindergarten through secondary
- Annual mean salary: $119,850
- #46 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 130
National
- Annual mean salary: $102,650
- Employment: 274,710
- Entry level education requirements: Master’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($144,880)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($143,450)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($142,330)

#23. Software developers
- Annual mean salary: $120,310
- #27 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 540
National
- Annual mean salary: $120,990
- Employment: 1,364,180
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($167,420)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($158,320)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($148,220)
#22. Clinical and counseling psychologists
- Annual mean salary: $120,760
- #14 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 180
National
- Annual mean salary: $99,640
- Employment: 58,100
- Entry level education requirements: nan
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($136,630)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($134,200)
--- Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA ($133,060)
#21. Registered nurses
- Annual mean salary: $122,730
- #11 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,920
National
- Annual mean salary: $82,750
- Employment: 3,047,530
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($155,230)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($151,640)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($146,360)
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#20. Optometrists
- Annual mean salary: $127,740
- #62 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
National
- Annual mean salary: $125,440
- Employment: 38,720
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Wilmington, NC ($198,370)
--- Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT ($172,190)
--- Norwich-New London-Westerly, CT-RI ($169,140)

#19. Human resources managers
- Annual mean salary: $134,800
- #56 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 100
National
- Annual mean salary: $136,590
- Employment: 166,530
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($190,020)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($186,930)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($175,410)

#18. Training and development managers
- Annual mean salary: $135,410
- #20 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
National
- Annual mean salary: $128,800
- Employment: 35,830
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($180,360)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($176,270)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($166,410)

#17. Financial managers
- Annual mean salary: $135,720
- #137 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 480
National
- Annual mean salary: $153,460
- Employment: 681,070
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($209,100)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($201,330)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($188,900)

#16. Industrial production managers
- Annual mean salary: $138,480
- #14 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 210
National
- Annual mean salary: $117,780
- Employment: 192,270
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($155,640)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($153,860)
--- Fort Collins, CO ($153,470)
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#15. Physician assistants
- Annual mean salary: $139,040
- #27 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90
National
- Annual mean salary: $119,460
- Employment: 132,940
- Entry level education requirements: Master’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Portsmouth, NH-ME ($167,240)
--- Panama City, FL ($165,000)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($164,150)
#14. Natural sciences managers
- Annual mean salary: $139,100
- #47 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30
National
- Annual mean salary: $156,110
- Employment: 74,760
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($222,360)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($219,240)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($216,750)
#13. Lawyers
- Annual mean salary: $140,920
- #47 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 300
National
- Annual mean salary: $148,030
- Employment: 681,010
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($231,200)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($191,460)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($186,610)
#12. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Annual mean salary: $141,170
- #15 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70
National
- Annual mean salary: $98,760
- Employment: 128,230
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($182,700)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($170,740)
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($164,600)
#11. Marketing managers
- Annual mean salary: $141,570
- #75 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 170
National
- Annual mean salary: $153,440
- Employment: 278,690
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($210,280)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($198,870)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($191,310)
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#10. Pharmacists
- Annual mean salary: $150,150
- #8 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 230
National
- Annual mean salary: $125,690
- Employment: 312,550
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($168,640)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($163,840)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($158,420)

#9. Nurse practitioners
- Annual mean salary: $153,300
- #6 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 140
National
- Annual mean salary: $118,040
- Employment: 234,690
- Entry level education requirements: Master’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($197,870)
--- Napa, CA ($184,700)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($180,380)
#8. Computer and information systems managers
- Annual mean salary: $161,540
- #25 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 240
National
- Annual mean salary: $162,930
- Employment: 485,190
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($228,030)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($211,470)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($202,800)
#7. Architectural and engineering managers
- Annual mean salary: $165,420
- #35 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 230
National
- Annual mean salary: $158,970
- Employment: 187,100
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($228,000)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($206,050)
--- Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island, FL ($198,430)
#6. Dentists, general
- Annual mean salary: $172,460
- #136 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90
National
- Annual mean salary: $167,160
- Employment: 108,680
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Manchester, NH ($276,510)
--- Salinas, CA ($234,410)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($229,800)
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#5. Pediatricians, general
- Annual mean salary: $196,400
- #53 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
National
- Annual mean salary: $198,420
- Employment: 33,620
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Austin-Round Rock, TX ($298,760)
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($298,320)
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($291,940)
#4. Chief executives
- Annual mean salary: $205,200
- #140 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 190
National
- Annual mean salary: $213,020
- Employment: 200,480
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($313,440)
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($298,960)
--- Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX ($296,480)
#3. Family medicine physicians
- Annual mean salary: $247,830
- #102 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 100
National
- Annual mean salary: $235,930
- Employment: 102,930
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Coeur d'Alene, ID ($336,820)
--- Fond du Lac, WI ($336,140)
--- Gainesville, GA ($330,930)

#2. Psychiatrists
- Annual mean salary: $268,320
- #34 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60
National
- Annual mean salary: $249,760
- Employment: 25,520
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($360,840)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($360,740)
--- Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN ($333,190)
#1. General internal medicine physicians
- Annual mean salary: $274,880
- #55 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
National
- Annual mean salary: $242,190
- Employment: 58,260
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Rockford, IL ($359,200)
--- Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC ($350,330)
--- Sumter, SC ($334,810)
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