Nursing Assistants pay range in Merced
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $39,040 a year or less, while the top 10% make $50,880 or more. The middle half of nursing assistants in Merced earn between $43,590 and $46,910.
- $39K10th
- $44K25th
- $45KMedian
- $47K75th
- $51K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $45,300 | $3,775 | $21.78 |
| Median | $44,730 | $3,728 | $21.50 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $43,590 | $3,632 | $20.96 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $46,910 | $3,909 | $22.55 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Nursing Assistants pay in Merced vs. California and the U.S.
Nursing assistants in Merced earn 10% less than the California average ($50,190) and 6% more than the U.S. average ($42,700). At the median the gap is +6% against the U.S. median of $42,260.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Merced | $45,300 | $44,730 | $39,040 | $50,880 | 500 |
| California | $50,190 | $47,630 | $40,110 | $61,100 | 110,060 |
| United States | $42,700 | $42,260 | $33,940 | $51,980 | 1,448,910 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Nursing Assistants salary after taxes in Merced
On the average salary of $45,300, a single filer in Merced takes home about $37,631 a year, or $3,136 a month and $1,447 every two weeks. Taxes take 17% 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 nursing assistants? 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 $45,300 buys what about $46,095 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Merced ($47,220). A typical home costs $419,171, or 9.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Nursing Assistants salary in other California cities
Merced ranks 23rd of 25 California metro areas for this job; San Jose pays the most ($59,370).
- San Jose$59,370
- San Francisco$56,700
- Napa$51,930
- Vallejo$50,690
- Santa Rosa$50,260
- San Diego$49,780
- Los Angeles$49,700
- Salinas$49,390
- Santa Cruz$49,290
- Merced$45,300
Highest-paying cities for nursing assistants
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($59,370).
- San Jose, CA$59,370
- San Francisco, CA$56,700
- Seattle, WA$55,220
- Grants Pass, OR$52,720
- Portland, OR$52,660
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Nursing Assistants salary in Merced: questions
How much do nursing assistants make an hour in Merced?
$21.78 an hour on average, and $21.51 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level nursing assistants salary in Merced?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $39,040 a year and the 25th percentile is $43,590, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the nursing assistants take-home pay in Merced?
About $37,631 a year ($3,136 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $45,300. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do nursing assistants earn more in Merced than elsewhere?
The average here is 6% more than the U.S. average for this job ($42,700).
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 31-1131; area Merced, CA (32900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.3%.
- 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 0.67, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.67).
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