Highway Maintenance Workers pay range in Merced
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $42,810 a year or less, while the top 10% make $78,000 or more. The middle half of highway maintenance workers in Merced earn between $49,240 and $55,330.
- $43K10th
- $49K25th
- $49KMedian
- $55K75th
- $78K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $55,400 | $4,617 | $26.63 |
| Median | $49,240 | $4,103 | $23.67 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $49,240 | $4,103 | $23.67 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $55,330 | $4,611 | $26.60 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Highway Maintenance Workers pay in Merced vs. California and the U.S.
Highway maintenance workers in Merced earn 12% less than the California average ($63,070) and 4% more than the U.S. average ($53,080). At the median the gap is -2% against the U.S. median of $50,260.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Merced | $55,400 | $49,240 | $42,810 | $78,000 | 60 |
| California | $63,070 | $59,580 | $44,780 | $84,520 | 8,150 |
| United States | $53,080 | $50,260 | $36,230 | $71,970 | 154,960 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Highway Maintenance Workers salary after taxes in Merced
On the average salary of $55,400, a single filer in Merced takes home about $45,177 a year, or $3,765 a month and $1,738 every two weeks. Taxes take 18% 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 highway maintenance 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 $55,400 buys what about $56,372 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Merced ($47,220). A typical home costs $419,171, or 7.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Highway Maintenance Workers salary in other California cities
Merced ranks 23rd of 24 California metro areas for this job; San Jose pays the most ($84,480).
- San Jose$84,480
- Vallejo$75,770
- Napa$71,140
- Santa Maria$70,200
- San Francisco$67,360
- San Luis Obispo$66,210
- Redding$65,830
- Santa Rosa$65,830
- Sacramento$64,730
- Merced$55,400
Highest-paying cities for highway maintenance workers
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($84,480).
- San Jose, CA$84,480
- Vallejo, CA$75,770
- Seattle, WA$75,480
- Springfield, IL$72,660
- Chicago, IL$72,470
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Highway Maintenance Workers salary in Merced: questions
How much do highway maintenance workers make an hour in Merced?
$26.64 an hour on average, and $23.67 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level highway maintenance workers salary in Merced?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $42,810 a year and the 25th percentile is $49,240, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the highway maintenance workers take-home pay in Merced?
About $45,177 a year ($3,765 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $55,400. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do highway maintenance workers earn more in Merced than elsewhere?
The average here is 4% more than the U.S. average for this job ($53,080).
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 47-4051; area Merced, CA (32900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.0%.
- 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 0.79, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.79).
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.