Correctional Officers and Jailers pay range in Merced
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $59,070 a year or less, while the top 10% make $94,540 or more. The middle half of correctional officers and jailers in Merced earn between $67,430 and $87,610.
- $59K10th
- $67K25th
- $78KMedian
- $88K75th
- $95K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $77,060 | $6,422 | $37.05 |
| Median | $78,370 | $6,531 | $37.68 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $67,430 | $5,619 | $32.42 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $87,610 | $7,301 | $42.12 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Correctional Officers and Jailers pay in Merced vs. California and the U.S.
Correctional officers and jailers in Merced earn 17% less than the California average ($92,410) and 21% more than the U.S. average ($63,630). At the median the gap is +33% against the U.S. median of $58,940.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Merced | $77,060 | $78,370 | $59,070 | $94,540 | 270 |
| California | $92,410 | $96,370 | $63,380 | $114,730 | 37,860 |
| United States | $63,630 | $58,940 | $42,760 | $93,220 | 380,500 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Correctional Officers and Jailers salary after taxes in Merced
On the average salary of $77,060, a single filer in Merced takes home about $59,949 a year, or $4,996 a month and $2,306 every two weeks. Taxes take 22% 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 Merced a good place for correctional officers and jailers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Merced area are 2% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 98.3), so the average $77,060 buys what about $78,413 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Merced ($47,220). A typical home costs $419,171, or 5.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Correctional Officers and Jailers salary in other California cities
Merced ranks 13th of 14 California metro areas for this job; San Jose pays the most ($126,290).
- San Jose$126,290
- San Luis Obispo$102,510
- Salinas$99,160
- San Francisco$97,620
- Bakersfield$96,930
- Stockton$95,460
- Fresno$90,780
- Riverside$90,290
- Santa Cruz$87,850
- Merced$77,060
All Correctional Officers and Jailers salaries in California
Highest-paying cities for correctional officers and jailers
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($126,290).
- San Jose, CA$126,290
- San Luis Obispo, CA$102,510
- Salinas, CA$99,160
- San Francisco, CA$97,620
- Bakersfield, CA$96,930
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Correctional Officers and Jailers salary in Merced: questions
How much do correctional officers and jailers make an hour in Merced?
$37.05 an hour on average, and $37.68 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level correctional officers and jailers salary in Merced?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $59,070 a year and the 25th percentile is $67,430, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the correctional officers and jailers take-home pay in Merced?
About $59,949 a year ($4,996 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $77,060. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do correctional officers and jailers earn more in Merced than elsewhere?
The average here is 21% more than the U.S. average for this job ($63,630).
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 33-3012; area Merced, CA (32900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.1%.
- 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 1.37, this job is 1.4 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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