Childcare Workers pay range in San Luis Obispo
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $34,580 a year or less, while the top 10% make $47,050 or more. The middle half of childcare workers in San Luis Obispo earn between $36,980 and $43,580.
- $35K10th
- $37K25th
- $43KMedian
- $44K75th
- $47K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $41,570 | $3,464 | $19.99 |
| Median | $42,860 | $3,572 | $20.61 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $36,980 | $3,082 | $17.78 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $43,580 | $3,632 | $20.95 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Childcare Workers pay in San Luis Obispo vs. California and the U.S.
Childcare workers in San Luis Obispo earn about the same as the California average ($42,790) and 19% more than the U.S. average ($35,030). At the median the gap is +23% against the U.S. median of $34,980.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Luis Obispo | $41,570 | $42,860 | $34,580 | $47,050 | 370 |
| California | $42,790 | $40,020 | $35,340 | $52,670 | 52,780 |
| United States | $35,030 | $34,980 | $24,260 | $46,010 | 518,910 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Childcare Workers salary after taxes in San Luis Obispo
On the average salary of $41,570, a single filer in San Luis Obispo takes home about $34,783 a year, or $2,899 a month and $1,338 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% 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 childcare workers? 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 $41,570 buys what about $38,279 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in San Luis Obispo ($50,770). A typical home costs $909,699, or 21.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Childcare Workers salary in other California cities
San Luis Obispo ranks 14th of 25 California metro areas for this job; San Jose pays the most ($48,450).
- San Jose$48,450
- San Francisco$46,100
- Santa Rosa$43,840
- El Centro$43,020
- Napa$42,870
- Riverside$42,870
- Modesto$42,600
- Salinas$42,380
- San Diego$42,370
- San Luis Obispo$41,570
Highest-paying cities for childcare workers
Sarasota, FL pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($52,680).
- Sarasota, FL$52,680
- San Jose, CA$48,450
- San Francisco, CA$46,100
- Seattle, WA$44,390
- Boulder, CO$44,280
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Childcare Workers salary in San Luis Obispo: questions
How much do childcare workers make an hour in San Luis Obispo?
$19.99 an hour on average, and $20.60 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level childcare workers salary in San Luis Obispo?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $34,580 a year and the 25th percentile is $36,980, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the childcare workers take-home pay in San Luis Obispo?
About $34,783 a year ($2,899 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $41,570. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do childcare workers earn more in San Luis Obispo than elsewhere?
The average here is 19% more than the U.S. average for this job ($35,030).
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 39-9011; area San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA (42020). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.1%.
- 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 0.90, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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