Dentists, General pay range in Merced
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $100,330 a year or less, while the top 10% make $274,060 or more. The middle half of dentists, general in Merced earn between $133,850 and $212,090.
- $100K10th
- $134K25th
- $170KMedian
- $212K75th
- $274K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $175,490 | $14,624 | $84.37 |
| Median | $170,200 | $14,183 | $81.83 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $133,850 | $11,154 | $64.35 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $212,090 | $17,674 | $101.97 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Dentists, General pay in Merced vs. California and the U.S.
Dentists, general in Merced earn about the same as the California average ($170,690) and 8% less than the U.S. average ($191,350). At the median the gap is -0% against the U.S. median of $170,950.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Merced | $175,490 | $170,200 | $100,330 | $274,060 | 40 |
| California | $170,690 | $165,950 | $74,510 | $272,730 | 16,770 |
| United States | $191,350 | $170,950 | $86,250 | $319,630 | 124,390 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Dentists, General salary after taxes in Merced
On the average salary of $175,490, a single filer in Merced takes home about $118,985 a year, or $9,915 a month and $4,576 every two weeks. Taxes take 32% 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 dentists, general? 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 $175,490 buys what about $178,570 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 3.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Merced ($47,220). A typical home costs $419,171, or 2.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Dentists, General salary in other California cities
Merced ranks 15th of 24 California metro areas for this job; Hanford pays the most ($229,860).
- Hanford$229,860
- El Centro$221,110
- San Francisco$211,930
- Salinas$202,730
- Fresno$201,700
- San Jose$191,900
- Bakersfield$191,640
- San Luis Obispo$190,280
- Oxnard$189,430
- Merced$175,490
Highest-paying cities for dentists, general
St. Louis, MO pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($261,250).
- St. Louis, MO$261,250
- Portland, ME$261,230
- St. Cloud, MN$249,890
- Macon, GA$244,000
- Mankato, MN$242,180
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Dentists, General salary in Merced: questions
How much do dentists, general make an hour in Merced?
$84.37 an hour on average, and $81.83 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level dentists, general salary in Merced?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $100,330 a year and the 25th percentile is $133,850, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the dentists, general take-home pay in Merced?
About $118,985 a year ($9,915 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $175,490. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do dentists, general earn more in Merced than elsewhere?
The average here is 8% less than the U.S. average for this job ($191,350).
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 29-1021; area Merced, CA (32900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.9%.
- 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 0.64, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.64).
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