San Luis Obispo Employment

Employment and Industries in the San Luis Obispo, California Area

Agriculture is a major element of San Luis Obispo's economy. San Luis Obispo County is California's third largest wine producing region. Wine grapes are the largest crop in the county. Tourism is also a significant factor for the economy due to the area's wineries and being a popular area for outside sports such as surfing, windsurfing, diving, kayaking, sailing and hiking. California Polytechnic State University with close to 20,000 students, also has a substantial role in powering the economy.

In San Luis Obispo, approximately 36% of the jobs are in management, professional and related occupations. About 27% of the workforce in San Luis Obispo work in sales and office jobs. Approximately 21% of the jobs are provided by the government.

Notable information about San Luis Obispo: Regarding San Luis Obispo, the New York Times stated "West Coast good life." In 2008, the cost of living index was 132.7 which is high when compared to the national average of 100. About 41% of the population over the age of 25 has a bachelor's degree or higher. In 2009, the average salary in San Luis Obispo was about $35,000.

The major sectors for employment in San Luis Obispo are:

  • Education
  • Arts, entertainment and recreation
  • Accommodation and food services
  • Social services
  • Healthcare
  • Professional, scientific and technical services
  • Finance and insurance
  • Government
  • Computer specialists
  • Light manufacturing

Some of the jobs more prevalent in San Luis Obispo than most cities are first line supervisors/managers of farming, fishing and forestry workers; wine production equipment operators, tour guides, farm workers and laborers, crop, nursery and greenhouse; first line supervisors/managers of fire fighting and prevention workers; protective service workers, veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers and physician assistants.

Shown below are the major employers in San Luis Obispo:

  • AMI Sierra Vista Radiology
  • Cal Poly San Luis Obispo - Education
  • Child Abuse & Neglect - Social services & welfare organizations
  • County Office of Education - Government
  • Cuesta College - Education
  • Ernie Ball Inc - Musical instruments manufacturer
  • French Hospital Medical Center - Hospitals
  • Medi-Cal Eligibility Info - Social service & welfare organizations
  • San Luis Obispo County Social - Government
  • San Luis Obispo Sheriff's Dept - Sheriff
  • Selma Carlson Diagnostic Center - Medical laboratories
  • Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center - Hospitals
  • Social Services Department - Government
  • Steno-Wolf Associates - Franchising

Business organizations in San Luis Obispo offering assistance to companies include:

The New Times San Luis Obispo offers up-to-date information about the business activities in San Luis Obispo.

Jobs in San Luis Obispo

RankTitleTotal EmployeesLocal Mean Salary (Per Year)Local Mean Salary (Per hour)National Growth % 2014-2024
1All Occupations118150$51,970$24.99100
2Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations14800$28,530$13.718.7
3Office and Administrative Support Occupations13460$42,350$20.3613.75
4Sales and Related Occupations13070$40,430$19.449.5
5Educational Instruction and Library Occupations8340$58,670$28.216
6Transportation and Material Moving Occupations7190$36,210$17.416.7
7Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations6740$96,950$46.615.85
8Construction and Extraction Occupations6110$56,850$27.334.6
9Management Occupations5970$103,490$49.766.35
10Healthcare Support Occupations5660$33,960$16.332.85
11Production Occupations4940$43,680$215.6
12Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations4680$33,860$16.283.6
13Business and Financial Operations Occupations4360$73,500$35.345.35
14Retail Salespersons4210$33,030$15.882.7
15Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations4170$52,910$25.443.75
16Fast Food and Counter Workers3830$26,270$12.632.45
17Cashiers3460$28,700$13.82.2
18Protective Service Occupations3370$72,840$35.022.2
19Waiters and Waitresses3350$29,130$14.011.65
20Personal Care and Service Occupations3190$33,690$16.24.65
21Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Occupations3150$29,260$14.070.65
22Home Health and Personal Care Aides3010$28,060$13.490
23Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse2710$27,770$13.350.3
24Office Clerks, General2350$38,480$18.51.9
25Computer and Mathematical Occupations2260$78,400$37.693
26Architecture and Engineering Occupations2150$96,970$46.621.7
27Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive1910$44,590$21.441.4
28Registered Nurses1810$102,560$49.311.95
29General and Operations Managers1800$101,180$48.641.5
30Stockers and Order Fillers1800$31,180$14.991.25
31Community and Social Service Occupations1760$62,710$30.151.75
32Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners1690$27,430$13.190.9
33Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand1650$32,120$15.441.8
34Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners1420$35,000$16.831.5
35Construction Laborers1360$48,530$23.330.9
36Cooks, Restaurant1300$31,680$15.230.9
37Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks1280$46,800$22.51.05
38Maintenance and Repair Workers, General1220$41,230$19.820.9
39Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations1170$59,500$28.611.8
40First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers1080$55,670$26.770.95
41Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations1080$81,280$39.080.8
42Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers1070$35,890$17.260.75
43Software Developers and Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers1070$75,190$36.150.65
44Psychiatric Technicians980$65,790$31.630.05
45First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers960$45,230$21.750.95
46First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers910$35,470$17.050.6
47Cooks, Fast Food890$25,960$12.480.3
48Project Management Specialists and Business Operations Specialists, All Other890$68,350$32.860.7
49Carpenters870$59,970$28.830.6
50Dishwashers870$26,060$12.530.3
51Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers840$25,810$12.410.3
52Food Preparation Workers830$29,160$14.020.5
53Receptionists and Information Clerks820$35,570$17.10.7
54Demonstrators and Product Promoters800$35,000$16.830.1
55Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks790$27,860$13.40.15
56Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers780$52,490$25.241.2
57Medical Assistants770$42,320$20.350.45
58Bartenders750$26,480$12.730.4
59Accountants and Auditors720$71,940$34.590.9
60Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics710$49,770$23.930.5
61Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products710$72,570$34.890.85
62Nursing Assistants680$34,240$16.460.95
63Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel670$57,070$27.440.7
64Recreation Workers640$27,460$13.20.3
65Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants620$40,580$19.510.4
66Counter and Rental Clerks580$40,870$19.650.3
67Electricians570$63,670$30.610.45
68Security Guards560$51,230$24.630.7
69Civil Engineers550$98,210$47.220.2
70Customer Service Representatives550$37,780$18.161.75
71Driver/Sales Workers540$28,980$13.930.3
72Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors530$50,180$24.130.2
73Legal Occupations530$85,210$40.960.8
74Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers530$102,710$49.380.4
75Light Truck Drivers510$39,370$18.930.6
76Management Analysts510$81,940$39.40.55
77Firefighters490$57,350$27.570.2
78Dental Assistants470$47,940$23.050.2
79Amusement and Recreation Attendants460$28,130$13.520.2
80Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators460$71,750$34.490.25
81First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers440$77,810$37.410.4
82Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists410$62,400$300.45
83Tellers410$35,110$16.880.25
84Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders390$45,920$22.080
85Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education380$33,990$16.340.3
86Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators360$33,360$16.040.8
87Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters360$52,820$25.390.3
88Sales Managers360$103,180$49.610.3
89Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents360$61,310$29.480.3
90Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors350$72,040$34.630.2
91Financial Managers350$106,140$51.030.4
92First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers350$80,460$38.680.3
93Packers and Packagers, Hand340$27,520$13.230.4
94Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment330$33,250$15.990.3
95Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other330$27,450$13.20
96Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop330$28,000$13.460.3
97Office and Administrative Support Workers, All Other330$35,650$17.140.1
98Food Service Managers320$52,480$25.230.2
99Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants310$63,660$30.610.35
100Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders310$33,350$16.040.2
Source: 2019 Occupational Employment Statistics and 2018-28 Employment Projections, Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS.gov
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Additional Details

San Luis Obispo Colleges
San Luis Obispo colleges and trade schools.

Jobs More Common Near San Luis Obispo Than Most Other Cities

* Average job popularity for metro areas = 1.0

TitleMean Local SalaryLocal Jobs
All Occupations$51,970118,150
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations$28,53014,800
Office and Administrative Support Occupations$42,35013,460
Sales and Related Occupations$40,43013,070
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations$58,6708,340
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations$36,2107,190
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations$96,9506,740
Construction and Extraction Occupations$56,8506,110
Management Occupations$103,4905,970
Healthcare Support Occupations$33,9605,660
Production Occupations$43,6804,940
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations$33,8604,680
Business and Financial Operations Occupations$73,5004,360
Retail Salespersons$33,0304,210
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations$52,9104,170
Fast Food and Counter Workers$26,2703,830
Cashiers$28,7003,460
Protective Service Occupations$72,8403,370
Waiters and Waitresses$29,1303,350
Personal Care and Service Occupations$33,6903,190
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Occupations$29,2603,150
Home Health and Personal Care Aides$28,0603,010
Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse$27,7702,710
Office Clerks, General$38,4802,350
Computer and Mathematical Occupations$78,4002,260
Architecture and Engineering Occupations$96,9702,150
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$44,5901,910
Registered Nurses$102,5601,810
General and Operations Managers$101,1801,800
Stockers and Order Fillers$31,1801,800
Community and Social Service Occupations$62,7101,760
Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$27,4301,690
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$32,1201,650
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$35,0001,420
Construction Laborers$48,5301,360
Cooks, Restaurant$31,6801,300
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$46,8001,280
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$41,2301,220
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations$59,5001,170
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$55,6701,080
Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations$81,2801,080
Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers$35,8901,070
Software Developers and Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers$75,1901,070
Psychiatric Technicians$65,790980
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers$45,230960
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$35,470910
Cooks, Fast Food$25,960890
Project Management Specialists and Business Operations Specialists, All Other$68,350890
Carpenters$59,970870
Dishwashers$26,060870

Work Paying Relatively Well in the San Luis Obispo, California Metro Area (2008 data)

* Average Salary Index for metro areas = 1.0

TitleMean Local SalaryLocal Jobs
All Occupations$51,970118,150
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations$28,53014,800
Office and Administrative Support Occupations$42,35013,460
Sales and Related Occupations$40,43013,070
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations$58,6708,340
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations$36,2107,190
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations$96,9506,740
Construction and Extraction Occupations$56,8506,110
Management Occupations$103,4905,970
Healthcare Support Occupations$33,9605,660
Production Occupations$43,6804,940
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations$33,8604,680
Business and Financial Operations Occupations$73,5004,360
Retail Salespersons$33,0304,210
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations$52,9104,170
Fast Food and Counter Workers$26,2703,830
Cashiers$28,7003,460
Protective Service Occupations$72,8403,370
Waiters and Waitresses$29,1303,350
Personal Care and Service Occupations$33,6903,190
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Occupations$29,2603,150
Home Health and Personal Care Aides$28,0603,010
Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse$27,7702,710
Office Clerks, General$38,4802,350
Computer and Mathematical Occupations$78,4002,260
Architecture and Engineering Occupations$96,9702,150
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$44,5901,910
Registered Nurses$102,5601,810
General and Operations Managers$101,1801,800
Stockers and Order Fillers$31,1801,800
Community and Social Service Occupations$62,7101,760
Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$27,4301,690
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$32,1201,650
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$35,0001,420
Construction Laborers$48,5301,360
Cooks, Restaurant$31,6801,300
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$46,8001,280
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$41,2301,220
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations$59,5001,170
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$55,6701,080
Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations$81,2801,080
Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers$35,8901,070
Software Developers and Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers$75,1901,070
Psychiatric Technicians$65,790980
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers$45,230960
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$35,470910
Cooks, Fast Food$25,960890
Project Management Specialists and Business Operations Specialists, All Other$68,350890
Carpenters$59,970870
Dishwashers$26,060870

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