Food Service Managers pay range in Merced
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $43,530 a year or less, while the top 10% make $121,950 or more. The middle half of food service managers in Merced earn between $47,870 and $82,650.
- $44K10th
- $48K25th
- $59KMedian
- $83K75th
- $122K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $72,300 | $6,025 | $34.76 |
| Median | $59,170 | $4,931 | $28.45 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $47,870 | $3,989 | $23.01 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $82,650 | $6,888 | $39.74 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Food Service Managers pay in Merced vs. California and the U.S.
Food service managers in Merced earn 14% less than the California average ($84,300) and 3% less than the U.S. average ($74,880). At the median the gap is -15% against the U.S. median of $69,390.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Merced | $72,300 | $59,170 | $43,530 | $121,950 | 110 |
| California | $84,300 | $78,260 | $47,690 | $127,340 | 33,180 |
| United States | $74,880 | $69,390 | $45,960 | $107,640 | 238,430 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Food Service Managers salary after taxes in Merced
On the average salary of $72,300, a single filer in Merced takes home about $56,981 a year, or $4,748 a month and $2,192 every two weeks. Taxes take 21% 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 food service managers? 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 $72,300 buys what about $73,569 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Merced ($47,220). A typical home costs $419,171, or 5.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Service Managers salary in other California cities
Merced ranks 23rd of 25 California metro areas for this job; San Jose pays the most ($98,230).
- San Jose$98,230
- Napa$96,840
- San Francisco$94,820
- Salinas$86,290
- Santa Rosa$85,080
- San Diego$84,680
- Los Angeles$84,570
- Santa Maria$82,980
- El Centro$82,240
- Merced$72,300
Highest-paying cities for food service managers
Seattle, WA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($104,480).
- Seattle, WA$104,480
- Kennewick, WA$104,110
- San Jose, CA$98,230
- Olympia, WA$97,450
- Napa, CA$96,840
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Food Service Managers salary in Merced: questions
How much do food service managers make an hour in Merced?
$34.76 an hour on average, and $28.45 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food service managers salary in Merced?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $43,530 a year and the 25th percentile is $47,870, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food service managers take-home pay in Merced?
About $56,981 a year ($4,748 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $72,300. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do food service managers earn more in Merced than elsewhere?
The average here is 3% less than the U.S. average for this job ($74,880).
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 11-9051; area Merced, CA (32900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 5.2%.
- 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 0.87, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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