From mortgage lending to computer programming, these are SLO County’s highest paid industries
If you want to make more than $2,700 a week in San Luis Obispo County, look no further than these 10 industries.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics compiles quarterly data showing industry wages for the country’s metropolitan statistical areas, including San Luis Obispo County.
As of the most recent data release in May, these 10 industries are the ones with the highest mean weekly wages in San Luis Obispo County.
Mortgage and non-mortgage loan brokers
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the highest-paid industry in San Luis Obispo County is mortgage and non-mortgage loan brokers.
The roughly 40 people employed in that industry in the final quarter of 2021 took home an average of $5,517 per week in wages. In all, total quarterly wages in that industry amounted to $2.9 million, according to the data.
The loan broker industry includes establishments that are mainly engaged in arranging loans by bringing borrowers and lenders together on a commission or fee basis, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in arranging loans by bringing borrowers and lenders together on a commission or fee basis.
Consumer lending
The second-highest-paid industry in SLO County is consumer lending.
This industry is made up of establishments primarily engaged in making unsecured cash loans to consumers, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
According to the data, the roughly six people employed in that industry in the final quarter of 2021 took home an average of $4,238 per week in wages.
In all, total wages in that industry amounted to $348,925 in the final quarter.
Management consulting services
The third highest-paid industry in SLO County is a subsection of management consulting services.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau the “other management consulting services” subsection encompasses businesses that provide telecommunications or utilities management consulting services, but not administrative, human resources or marketing consulting.
People working in that industry brought home an average of $3,707 per week. Total quarterly wages for the industry amounted to more than $1.5 million.
Human resources consulting services
It seems consulting can really pay the bills. The human resources consulting services industry was the fourth highest-paid in SLO County — though it was also one of the smallest.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, only between two and three people were employed in that industry in the final quarter of 2021.
Their average weekly wages were among the highest in the county, however, at $3,352.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the human resources consulting services industry is made up of establishments that provide advice and assistance to businesses and other organizations on human resources and personnel policies, employee benefits planning, compensation systems planning and wage and salary administration.
Newspaper, book and directory publishers
Halfway through the list, and the fifth-highest-paid industry in SLO County is in publishing.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, up to 277 people were employed in the newspaper, book and directory publisher industry locally as of the final quarter of 2021.
They made an average of $3,348 per week. Collective wages for the quarter were more than $11.4 million.
This industry includes publishers of newspapers, periodicals, books and directories.
Power and communication system construction
One of the largest local industries to make the top 10, the power and communication system construction industry employed more than 900 people in the final quarter of 2021, with collective wages of more than $35.7 million.
On average, workers in this industry brought home about $3,120 per week, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
This industry is made up of businesses that are mainly engaged in the construction of power lines and towers, power plants, radio, television and telecommunications transmitting and receiving towers.
Real estate credit
We’re back to the banking jobs.
According to the data, real estate credit is the seventh highest paid industry locally, with its employees earning roughly $2,963 each week on average.
This industry encompasses establishments primarily engaged in lending funds with real estate as collateral, according to the Census Bureau.
Roughly 120 people were employed in this industry in SLO County as of the end of 2021, with collective quarterly wages of more than $4.7 million.
Public relations agencies
Another smaller industry, public relations agencies brought in the eighth-highest wages in San Luis Obispo County in 2021, with an average weekly earnings of $2,963, according to the data.
This industry is made up of businesses that design and implement public relations campaigns. It also includes companies that provide lobbying, political consulting or public relations consulting.
According to the data, fewer than 10 people were employed in the industry as of the end of 2021, with collective quarterly earnings of $354,638.
Securities brokerage
Here’s one final financial industry as we prepare to close out the list.
The securities brokerage industry, which focuses on brokering deals between buyers and sellers of securities, had roughly 103 people employed in it in the final quarter of 2021.
According to the data, those workers brought home about $2,867 in weekly wages on average, for combined quarterly earnings of $3.8 million.
Custom computer programming services
The final entry on the list, custom computer programming services workers earned the 10th highest wages in San Luis Obispo County, according to the data.
Close to 900 people were employed in the industry at the end of 2021, according to the data. The average weekly wage was $2,814.
According to the Census Bureau, this industry features those that write, modify, test and support software to meet the needs of a particular customer.
Total quarterly wages were $32.7 million at the end of 2021.
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