Healthcare Social Workers pay range in Merced
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $50,390 a year or less, while the top 10% make $109,990 or more. The middle half of healthcare social workers in Merced earn between $57,330 and $105,110.
- $50K10th
- $57K25th
- $75KMedian
- $105K75th
- $110K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $80,840 | $6,737 | $38.87 |
| Median | $74,880 | $6,240 | $36.00 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $57,330 | $4,778 | $27.56 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $105,110 | $8,759 | $50.53 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Healthcare Social Workers pay in Merced vs. California and the U.S.
Healthcare social workers in Merced earn 14% less than the California average ($93,840) and 13% more than the U.S. average ($71,790). At the median the gap is +10% against the U.S. median of $67,880.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Merced | $80,840 | $74,880 | $50,390 | $109,990 | 50 |
| California | $93,840 | $89,660 | $54,220 | $134,880 | 17,690 |
| United States | $71,790 | $67,880 | $46,220 | $100,360 | 187,630 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Healthcare Social Workers salary after taxes in Merced
On the average salary of $80,840, a single filer in Merced takes home about $62,275 a year, or $5,190 a month and $2,395 every two weeks. Taxes take 23% 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 healthcare social workers? 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 $80,840 buys what about $82,259 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Merced ($47,220). A typical home costs $419,171, or 5.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Healthcare Social Workers salary in other California cities
Merced ranks 21st of 25 California metro areas for this job; Napa pays the most ($129,130).
- Napa$129,130
- San Luis Obispo$112,750
- Vallejo$112,700
- San Jose$108,280
- Santa Rosa$106,760
- San Francisco$104,710
- Sacramento$100,600
- Visalia$95,810
- Modesto$93,250
- Merced$80,840
Highest-paying cities for healthcare social workers
Napa, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($129,130).
- Napa, CA$129,130
- San Luis Obispo, CA$112,750
- Vallejo, CA$112,700
- San Jose, CA$108,280
- Santa Rosa, CA$106,760
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Healthcare Social Workers salary in Merced: questions
How much do healthcare social workers make an hour in Merced?
$38.87 an hour on average, and $36.00 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level healthcare social workers salary in Merced?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $50,390 a year and the 25th percentile is $57,330, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the healthcare social workers take-home pay in Merced?
About $62,275 a year ($5,190 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $80,840. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do healthcare social workers earn more in Merced than elsewhere?
The average here is 13% more than the U.S. average for this job ($71,790).
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 21-1022; area Merced, CA (32900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.2%.
- 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 0.49, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.49).
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