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Average salary by job family in Merced
| Management | $128,770 |
|---|---|
| Legal | $118,630 |
| Healthcare Practitioners and Technical | $116,590 |
| Computer and Mathematical | $100,090 |
| Architecture and Engineering | $95,960 |
| Business and Financial Operations | $86,250 |
| Life, Physical, and Social Science | $82,630 |
| Educational Instruction and Library | $78,070 |
| Construction and Extraction | $67,940 |
| Protective Service | $67,650 |
| Installation, Maintenance, and Repair | $66,810 |
| Community and Social Service | $66,140 |
| Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media | $62,910 |
| Office and Administrative Support | $54,100 |
| Production | $49,500 |
| Sales and Related | $48,640 |
| Transportation and Material Moving | $48,180 |
| Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance | $46,260 |
| Farming, Fishing, and Forestry | $41,530 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related | $41,230 |
| Personal Care and Service | $40,750 |
| Healthcare Support | $38,450 |
Highest-paying jobs in Merced
- Physicians, All Other$309,600
- Family Medicine Physicians$256,250
- Chief Executives$218,910
- Education Administrators, Postsecondary$197,170
- Computer and Information Systems Managers$179,640
- Dentists, General$175,490
- Marketing Managers$174,570
- Human Resources Managers$163,480
- Financial Managers$163,310
- Nurse Practitioners$157,090
Most common jobs in Merced and what they pay
| Job | Jobs | Average salary | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | 4,990 | $34,980 | $34,320 |
| Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse | 3,820 | $40,280 | $36,350 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | 2,500 | $39,970 | $38,200 |
| Cashiers | 2,250 | $37,450 | $35,340 |
| Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary | 1,950 | $44,210 | $44,680 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | 1,710 | $58,420 | $55,630 |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | 1,560 | $103,340 | $100,120 |
| Retail Salespersons | 1,480 | $40,580 | $37,740 |
| Substitute Teachers, Short-Term | 1,450 | $60,240 | $60,770 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | 1,400 | $41,140 | $38,080 |
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Cost of living in Merced
Prices in the Merced area are 2% below the U.S. average, with a BEA price parity of 98.3 for 2024. The average local salary of $61,520 therefore buys what $62,600 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. A typical home is worth $419,171, 6.4 times the median household income of $65,044.
$419,171typical home value
$65,044median household income
98.3BEA price parity
285,597metro population
Take-home pay in Merced
| Salary level | Gross | After tax | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25th percentile wage | $36,870 | $31,195 | $2,600 |
| Median wage | $47,220 | $39,089 | $3,257 |
| Average wage | $61,520 | $49,728 | $4,144 |
| 75th percentile wage | $71,210 | $56,302 | $4,692 |
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.
Salaries for every job in Merced
Management21 jobs
- Chief Executives$219K
- Education Administrators, Postsecondary$197K
- Computer and Information Systems Managers$180K
- Marketing Managers$175K
- Human Resources Managers$163K
- Financial Managers$163K
- Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary$154K
- Managers, All Other$143K
- Medical and Health Services Managers$134K
- Industrial Production Managers$129K
- Education Administrators, All Other$124K
- Construction Managers$124K
- Administrative Services Managers$122K
- Facilities Managers$119K
- Sales Managers$119K
- General and Operations Managers$116K
- Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$115K
- Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare$87K
- Social and Community Service Managers$86K
- Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers$74K
- Food Service Managers$72K
Legal2 jobs
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical19 jobs
- Physicians, All Other$310K
- Family Medicine Physicians$256K
- Dentists, General$175K
- Nurse Practitioners$157K
- Pharmacists$156K
- Physician Assistants$149K
- Physical Therapists$132K
- Registered Nurses$130K
- Speech-Language Pathologists$120K
- Dental Hygienists$118K
- Occupational Therapists$115K
- Respiratory Therapists$107K
- Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$104K
- Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$74K
- Paramedics$63K
- Medical Records Specialists$59K
- Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other$57K
- Pharmacy Technicians$52K
- Veterinary Technologists and Technicians$50K
Computer and Mathematical7 jobs
Architecture and Engineering5 jobs
Business and Financial Operations17 jobs
- Project Management Specialists$109K
- Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$104K
- Financial and Investment Analysts$97K
- Management Analysts$92K
- Accountants and Auditors$88K
- Compliance Officers$88K
- Business Operations Specialists, All Other$86K
- Fundraisers$85K
- Loan Officers$84K
- Logisticians$83K
- Human Resources Specialists$82K
- Buyers and Purchasing Agents$82K
- Cost Estimators$81K
- Financial Specialists, All Other$77K
- Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists$75K
- Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners$70K
- Training and Development Specialists$69K
Life, Physical, and Social Science4 jobs
Educational Instruction and Library21 jobs
- Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary$146K
- Instructional Coordinators$107K
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education$103K
- Librarians and Media Collections Specialists$103K
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$100K
- Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education$99K
- Special Education Teachers, Secondary School$96K
- Special Education Teachers, All Other$96K
- Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$94K
- Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School$92K
- Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School$92K
- Teachers and Instructors, All Other$86K
- Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary$70K
- Self-Enrichment Teachers$68K
- Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary$62K
- Substitute Teachers, Short-Term$60K
- Educational Instruction and Library Workers, All Other$58K
- Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education$54K
- Library Technicians$53K
- Tutors$48K
- Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary$44K
Construction and Extraction12 jobs
- First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$85K
- Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$84K
- Electricians$81K
- Carpenters$73K
- Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers$65K
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$63K
- Construction Laborers$60K
- Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$58K
- Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners$58K
- Painters, Construction and Maintenance$58K
- Roofers$58K
- Highway Maintenance Workers$55K
Protective Service6 jobs
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair15 jobs
- First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$96K
- Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$95K
- Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$78K
- Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$73K
- Industrial Machinery Mechanics$72K
- Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$70K
- Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$69K
- Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$63K
- Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All Other$63K
- Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service Technicians$62K
- Automotive Body and Related Repairers$62K
- Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics$58K
- Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$57K
- Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers$46K
- Tire Repairers and Changers$40K
Community and Social Service9 jobs
- Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors$88K
- Healthcare Social Workers$81K
- Health Education Specialists$73K
- Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors$67K
- Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers$66K
- Child, Family, and School Social Workers$60K
- Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other$57K
- Social and Human Service Assistants$51K
- Rehabilitation Counselors$46K
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media5 jobs
Office and Administrative Support33 jobs
- Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$81K
- First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$71K
- Postal Service Clerks$67K
- Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$65K
- Postal Service Mail Carriers$64K
- Public Safety Telecommunicators$63K
- Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks$62K
- Office and Administrative Support Workers, All Other$61K
- Interviewers, Except Eligibility and Loan$59K
- Information and Record Clerks, All Other$58K
- Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs$57K
- Court, Municipal, and License Clerks$57K
- Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$56K
- Bill and Account Collectors$56K
- Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance$55K
- Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$54K
- Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and Timekeeping$53K
- Word Processors and Typists$53K
- Loan Interviewers and Clerks$52K
- Billing and Posting Clerks$52K
- Insurance Claims and Policy Processing Clerks$50K
- Procurement Clerks$50K
- Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks$49K
- Office Clerks, General$49K
- Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants$48K
- Data Entry Keyers$48K
- Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, Recordkeeping$48K
- Customer Service Representatives$47K
- Library Assistants, Clerical$46K
- Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service$44K
- Tellers$44K
- Receptionists and Information Clerks$40K
- Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks$37K
Production24 jobs
- First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$80K
- Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$72K
- Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$59K
- Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$56K
- Production Workers, All Other$54K
- Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$53K
- Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$53K
- Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$52K
- Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators$51K
- Machinists$50K
- Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders$49K
- Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$49K
- Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$48K
- Food Batchmakers$48K
- Printing Press Operators$48K
- Food Processing Workers, All Other$46K
- Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders$46K
- Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders$45K
- Butchers and Meat Cutters$45K
- Bakers$43K
- Helpers--Production Workers$43K
- Sewing Machine Operators$42K
- Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$41K
- Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers$37K
Sales and Related11 jobs
- Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents$93K
- Insurance Sales Agents$90K
- Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$80K
- First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$76K
- Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$67K
- First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers$55K
- Sales and Related Workers, All Other$55K
- Counter and Rental Clerks$49K
- Parts Salespersons$44K
- Retail Salespersons$41K
- Cashiers$37K
Transportation and Material Moving16 jobs
- First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors$61K
- Bus Drivers, School$59K
- Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors$59K
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$58K
- Conveyor Operators and Tenders$57K
- Light Truck Drivers$56K
- Material Moving Workers, All Other$51K
- Driver/Sales Workers$50K
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators$47K
- Machine Feeders and Offbearers$44K
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$44K
- Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs$42K
- Stockers and Order Fillers$41K
- Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants$41K
- Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment$41K
- Packers and Packagers, Hand$36K
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance6 jobs
- First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers$67K
- First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial Workers$63K
- Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$46K
- Pest Control Workers$46K
- Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers$46K
- Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$38K
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry5 jobs
Food Preparation and Serving Related14 jobs
- Chefs and Head Cooks$66K
- First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$50K
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria$45K
- Bartenders$42K
- Cooks, Restaurant$41K
- Food Preparation Workers$40K
- Fast Food and Counter Workers$40K
- Cooks, Fast Food$40K
- Waiters and Waitresses$39K
- Cooks, Short Order$38K
- Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other$38K
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers$37K
- Dishwashers$37K
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop$36K
Personal Care and Service9 jobs
- First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Workers, Except Gambling Services$54K
- Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors$48K
- Residential Advisors$48K
- Recreation Workers$42K
- First-Line Supervisors of Personal Service Workers$40K
- Animal Caretakers$40K
- Childcare Workers$39K
- Manicurists and Pedicurists$38K
- Amusement and Recreation Attendants$36K
Healthcare Support11 jobs
- Psychiatric Aides$55K
- Phlebotomists$55K
- Dental Assistants$52K
- Medical Equipment Preparers$50K
- Healthcare Support Workers, All Other$49K
- Nursing Assistants$45K
- Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers$43K
- Medical Assistants$43K
- Physical Therapist Aides$40K
- Pharmacy Aides$40K
- Home Health and Personal Care Aides$35K
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Salary in Merced: questions
What is a good salary in Merced?
Half of all workers in the Merced metro earn less than $47,220 and the average is $61,520. Earning more than $71,210 puts you in the top quarter of local wages.
How much do you need to earn in Merced to match a $69,770 salary elsewhere?
About $68,566, because prices here are 2% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 98.3).
What are the highest-paying jobs in Merced?
Physicians, All Other ($309,600), Family Medicine Physicians ($256,250), Chief Executives ($218,910).
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. Area Merced, CA (32900), all occupations and 272 individual jobs. What a metro area includes.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Population and median household income: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2023.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index.
- 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.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.