Retail Salespersons pay range in Merced
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $34,320 a year or less, while the top 10% make $48,060 or more. The middle half of retail salespersons in Merced earn between $34,980 and $43,720.
- $34K10th
- $35K25th
- $38KMedian
- $44K75th
- $48K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $40,580 | $3,382 | $19.51 |
| Median | $37,740 | $3,145 | $18.14 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $34,980 | $2,915 | $16.82 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $43,720 | $3,643 | $21.02 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Retail Salespersons pay in Merced vs. California and the U.S.
Retail salespersons in Merced earn 6% less than the California average ($42,950) and 9% more than the U.S. average ($37,310). At the median the gap is +7% against the U.S. median of $35,410.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Merced | $40,580 | $37,740 | $34,320 | $48,060 | 1,480 |
| California | $42,950 | $38,440 | $35,240 | $54,310 | 376,460 |
| United States | $37,310 | $35,410 | $27,210 | $47,890 | 3,897,860 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Retail Salespersons salary after taxes in Merced
On the average salary of $40,580, a single filer in Merced takes home about $34,027 a year, or $2,836 a month and $1,309 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% 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 retail salespersons? 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 $40,580 buys what about $41,292 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Merced ($47,220). A typical home costs $419,171, or 10.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Retail Salespersons salary in other California cities
Merced ranks 19th of 25 California metro areas for this job; San Jose pays the most ($47,420).
- San Jose$47,420
- San Francisco$47,290
- Napa$45,630
- Santa Rosa$44,180
- Los Angeles$43,010
- Vallejo$42,810
- Yuba City$42,450
- Sacramento$42,430
- Salinas$42,390
- Merced$40,580
Highest-paying cities for retail salespersons
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($47,420).
- San Jose, CA$47,420
- San Francisco, CA$47,290
- Napa, CA$45,630
- Seattle, WA$45,020
- Mount Vernon, WA$44,690
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Retail Salespersons salary in Merced: questions
How much do retail salespersons make an hour in Merced?
$19.51 an hour on average, and $18.14 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level retail salespersons salary in Merced?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $34,320 a year and the 25th percentile is $34,980, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the retail salespersons take-home pay in Merced?
About $34,027 a year ($2,836 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $40,580. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do retail salespersons earn more in Merced than elsewhere?
The average here is 9% more than the U.S. average for this job ($37,310).
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 41-2031; area Merced, CA (32900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.6%.
- 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 0.74, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.74).
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