Graphic Designers pay range in Merced
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $40,240 a year or less, while the top 10% make $93,370 or more. The middle half of graphic designers in Merced earn between $50,610 and $77,050.
- $40K10th
- $51K25th
- $63KMedian
- $77K75th
- $93K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $67,450 | $5,621 | $32.43 |
| Median | $63,340 | $5,278 | $30.45 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $50,610 | $4,218 | $24.33 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $77,050 | $6,421 | $37.04 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Graphic Designers pay in Merced vs. California and the U.S.
Graphic designers in Merced earn 22% less than the California average ($86,800) and 4% less than the U.S. average ($70,560). At the median the gap is +1% against the U.S. median of $62,960.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Merced | $67,450 | $63,340 | $40,240 | $93,370 | 30 |
| California | $86,800 | $75,130 | $46,190 | $129,560 | 27,390 |
| United States | $70,560 | $62,960 | $39,520 | $104,910 | 197,830 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Graphic Designers salary after taxes in Merced
On the average salary of $67,450, a single filer in Merced takes home about $53,958 a year, or $4,496 a month and $2,075 every two weeks. Taxes take 20% 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 graphic designers? 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 $67,450 buys what about $68,634 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 6.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Graphic Designers salary in other California cities
Merced ranks 17th of 20 California metro areas for this job; San Jose pays the most ($107,360).
- San Jose$107,360
- San Francisco$102,130
- Santa Maria$84,370
- Santa Rosa$82,320
- Los Angeles$81,680
- Vallejo$81,440
- Sacramento$80,000
- Napa$79,990
- Oxnard$79,010
- Merced$67,450
Highest-paying cities for graphic designers
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($107,360).
- San Jose, CA$107,360
- San Francisco, CA$102,130
- Portland, OR$92,530
- Washington, DC$89,540
- New York, NY$85,950
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Graphic Designers salary in Merced: questions
How much do graphic designers make an hour in Merced?
$32.43 an hour on average, and $30.45 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level graphic designers salary in Merced?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $40,240 a year and the 25th percentile is $50,610, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the graphic designers take-home pay in Merced?
About $53,958 a year ($4,496 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $67,450. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do graphic designers earn more in Merced than elsewhere?
The average here is 4% less than the U.S. average for this job ($70,560).
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 27-1024; area Merced, CA (32900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.9%.
- 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 0.34, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.34).
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