Highest-paying science jobs in San Luis Obispo

Written by:
February 9, 2023
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Highest-paying science jobs in San Luis Obispo

Stacker compiled a list of the highest-paying science jobs in San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande, CA metro area using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Jobs are ranked by 2021 annual mean wage. Jobs the BLS lists as "life, physical, and social science occupations" were included.

#11. Chemical technicians

San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande, CA
- Annual mean salary: $41,870
- #249 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40

National
- Annual mean salary: $55,040
- Employment: 57,690
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Billings, MT ($86,340)
--- Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV ($78,000)
--- Baton Rouge, LA ($77,020)

#10. Forest and conservation technicians

San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande, CA
- Annual mean salary: $46,720
- #40 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90

National
- Annual mean salary: $43,420
- Employment: 30,440
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA ($68,370)
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($66,570)
--- Corvallis, OR ($62,260)

#9. Environmental science and protection technicians, including health

San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande, CA
- Annual mean salary: $46,770
- #106 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40

National
- Annual mean salary: $50,550
- Employment: 34,110
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Kennewick-Richland, WA ($79,780)
--- Huntsville, AL ($78,320)
--- Birmingham-Hoover, AL ($76,970)

#8. Biological technicians

San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande, CA
- Annual mean salary: $51,630
- #40 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30

National
- Annual mean salary: $51,770
- Employment: 76,150
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX ($69,050)
--- Boulder, CO ($68,640)
--- Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA ($65,940)

#7. Chemists

San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande, CA
- Annual mean salary: $74,630
- #161 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40

National
- Annual mean salary: $89,130
- Employment: 80,600
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($131,290)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($115,790)
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($108,330)

#6. Environmental scientists and specialists, including health

San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande, CA
- Annual mean salary: $88,450
- #31 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 130

National
- Annual mean salary: $81,240
- Employment: 76,890
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Idaho Falls, ID ($116,630)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($109,190)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($107,710)

#5. Occupational health and safety specialists

San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande, CA
- Annual mean salary: $90,760
- #20 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50

National
- Annual mean salary: $78,740
- Employment: 106,340
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Kennewick-Richland, WA ($111,950)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($108,240)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($108,020)

#4. Urban and regional planners

San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande, CA
- Annual mean salary: $92,300
- #23 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 140

National
- Annual mean salary: $81,310
- Employment: 38,940
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Boulder, CO ($119,680)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($112,760)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($112,740)

#3. School psychologists

San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande, CA
- Annual mean salary: $102,730
- #16 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30

National
- Annual mean salary: $82,770
- Employment: 57,110
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Boulder, CO ($116,280)
--- El Centro, CA ($116,010)
--- Fresno, CA ($115,360)

#2. Geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers

San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande, CA
- Annual mean salary: $108,820
- #23 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40

National
- Annual mean salary: $103,550
- Employment: 23,620
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($161,290)
--- Corpus Christi, TX ($156,870)
--- Midland, TX ($156,270)

#1. Clinical and counseling psychologists

San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande, CA
- Annual mean salary: $120,760
- #16 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 180

National
- Annual mean salary: $99,640
- Employment: 58,100
- 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)

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