Chemical Technicians Salary in San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA
Chemical Technicians in San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA make a median of $50,800 a year, or about $24.42 an hour. The range runs from $41K at the entry level to $79K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 108.6), so that salary is closer to $46,777 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,512/month — about 75.7% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $51K get you in San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles’s Regional Price Parity (108.6). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About chemical technicians
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA
Entry-level chemical technicians (10th percentile) start around $41K. Mid-career wages sit at $51K. Top earners bring in $79K or more, a $37K spread from bottom to top.
Chemical Technicians pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisiana | $83K | +44% | 950 |
| Delaware | $65K | +12% | 600 |
| Massachusetts | $65K | +12% | 2,200 |
| Texas | $65K | +12% | 6,510 |
| Oklahoma | $64K | +11% | 770 |
| West Virginia | $64K | +10% | 240 |
| Arizona | $63K | +9% | 470 |
| New Mexico | $63K | +8% | 100 |
| Illinois | $62K | +7% | 1,410 |
| Alaska | $61K | +6% | 150 |
| Vermont | $61K | +5% | 140 |
| South Carolina | $60K | +3% | 1,300 |
| Nebraska | $59K | +2% | 330 |
| Pennsylvania | $59K | +2% | 3,050 |
| Missouri | $59K | +2% | 700 |
| New York | $58K | -0% | 2,350 |
| Michigan | $58K | -0% | 2,300 |
| New Jersey | $58K | -0% | 3,210 |
| Wisconsin | $57K | -1% | 970 |
| California | $57K | -2% | 6,480 |
| Washington | $56K | -3% | 880 |
| Kansas | $55K | -4% | 290 |
| Idaho | $55K | -5% | 140 |
| Kentucky | $55K | -5% | 540 |
| Ohio | $55K | -5% | 2,500 |
| Minnesota | $54K | -6% | 730 |
| Mississippi | $54K | -6% | 330 |
| North Dakota | $53K | -8% | 90 |
| Utah | $53K | -8% | 760 |
| Alabama | $53K | -9% | 1,180 |
| Wyoming | $53K | -9% | 240 |
| Iowa | $52K | -10% | 430 |
| Indiana | $52K | -10% | 1,410 |
| Georgia | $52K | -10% | 820 |
| Tennessee | $51K | -12% | 1,740 |
| Connecticut | $51K | -12% | 470 |
| Virginia | $51K | -12% | 1,070 |
| Nevada | $50K | -13% | 870 |
| Montana | $50K | -13% | 200 |
| Oregon | $50K | -14% | 370 |
| Rhode Island | $50K | -14% | 170 |
| North Carolina | $49K | -15% | 1,360 |
| District of Columbia | $49K | -16% | 40 |
| South Dakota | $48K | -17% | 90 |
| Maryland | $48K | -17% | 930 |
| Maine | $47K | -18% | 50 |
| New Hampshire | $47K | -18% | 160 |
| Florida | $47K | -19% | 1,960 |
| Arkansas | $47K | -19% | 450 |
Showing 1–10 of 49 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track chemical technicians salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do chemical technicians make in San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA?
The median is $50,800 a year, that works out to about $24 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $41,300, and experienced chemical technicians can clear $78,790. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $51K enough to live in San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,460/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,512/month, which eats 72.6% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a chemical technicians salary go in San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles?
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles has a Regional Price Parity of 108.6 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median chemical technicians salary is worth about $46,777 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do chemical technicians get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.