Jobs in the United States → United States guide → Metro areas → Merced, CA

Jobs in Merced, CA

Pay, demand and occupations in this metropolitan area.

In short: Merced, CA: 79,510 jobs, median pay $47,220 a year.

By AtiveSite · Published 07/11/2026 · Updated 09/11/2026 · Every figure is linked to its source below.

$47,220median pay
79,510jobs
1cities listed
$106,690top (90th pct.)
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Overview

METRO Official statistic Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 · Data: May 2025

Merced, CA is a metropolitan area in California. BLS counts 79,510 wage-and-salary jobs here, with a median pay of $47,220 a year (the lowest-paid tenth earn under $34,320 and the highest-paid tenth more than $106,690).

Cities in our guides that belong to this area: Merced.

Private-sector jobs →Federal jobs →All metro areas

Largest occupations

METRO Official statistic Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 · Data: May 2025

The 40 largest occupations here (at least 100 jobs).

Sort:
Occupation ⇅Jobs ⇅Median pay ⇅Entry (10th pct.) ⇅Top (90th pct.) ⇅Location quotient ⇅
Home Health and Personal Care Aides4,990$34,320$34,320$36,1902.27
Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse3,820$36,350$34,350$51,92028.13
Fast Food and Counter Workers2,500$38,200$34,600$45,4601.27
Cashiers2,250$35,340$34,320$43,3801.43
Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary1,950$44,680$36,780$55,8902.69
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers1,710$55,630$36,470$83,8101.62
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education1,560$100,120$74,520$129,4102.19
Retail Salespersons1,480$37,740$34,320$48,0600.74
Substitute Teachers, Short-Term1,450$60,770$47,150$71,2105.42
Stockers and Order Fillers1,400$38,080$34,930$49,4400.97
Office Clerks, General1,250$46,830$35,380$62,6600.99
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners1,240$45,920$34,700$58,4001.10
Packers and Packagers, Hand1,160$34,320$34,320$39,8404.05
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand1,130$41,890$34,320$58,8800.75
Registered Nurses1,050$131,620$95,070$165,5800.61
General and Operations Managers1,020$94,990$51,470$203,1400.57
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education1,020$99,600$63,910$123,9601.87
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General930$56,700$36,400$78,3101.19
Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators720$44,520$35,770$62,6601.82
Medical Assistants700$39,800$35,600$50,5101.68
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks680$51,740$39,360$77,0400.96
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers660$45,490$39,170$70,6401.05
Cooks, Fast Food660$40,430$34,560$42,5602.00
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive620$51,710$37,850$74,5600.71
Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders620$45,280$35,060$64,0103.17
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers590$51,190$37,850$76,8401.04
Waiters and Waitresses560$34,320$34,320$51,1100.48
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers560$68,070$46,700$101,5100.76
Customer Service Representatives500$45,670$34,510$61,7500.37
Nursing Assistants500$44,730$39,040$50,8800.67
Child, Family, and School Social Workers500$60,200$47,730$74,5802.49
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers490$82,540$58,330$155,9801.42
Food Preparation Workers460$38,980$34,320$47,1101.02
Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers420$43,230$35,770$62,8400.87
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors420$60,780$43,680$99,2701.65
Cooks, Restaurant410$38,480$35,330$47,5100.57
Security Guards400$36,820$34,320$48,3800.62
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers400$78,490$48,720$120,8501.16
Childcare Workers390$36,590$34,320$47,8801.46
Protective Service Workers, All Other390$38,740$34,650$50,4809.44

Top pay

METRO Official statistic Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 · Data: May 2025

The 40 highest-paying occupations among those with at least 300 jobs.

Sort:
Occupation ⇅Jobs ⇅Median pay ⇅Entry (10th pct.) ⇅Top (90th pct.) ⇅Location quotient ⇅
Registered Nurses1,050$131,620$95,070$165,5800.61
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education1,560$100,120$74,520$129,4102.19
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education1,020$99,600$63,910$123,9601.87
General and Operations Managers1,020$94,990$51,470$203,1400.57
Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors350$83,020$54,670$130,6401.92
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers490$82,540$58,330$155,9801.42
Accountants and Auditors360$80,420$53,800$130,9300.49
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers400$78,490$48,720$120,8501.16
Business Operations Specialists, All Other300$77,330$43,450$142,7200.54
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses300$75,890$61,840$83,2000.91
Carpenters350$74,760$45,010$106,7501.01
Industrial Machinery Mechanics310$71,990$46,860$94,5901.38
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products360$71,170$41,530$132,5000.57
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers560$68,070$46,700$101,5100.76
Bus Drivers, School300$61,580$40,770$71,5401.44
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors420$60,780$43,680$99,2701.65
Substitute Teachers, Short-Term1,450$60,770$47,150$71,2105.42
Child, Family, and School Social Workers500$60,200$47,730$74,5802.49
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics330$59,390$36,670$77,5300.92
First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors350$57,400$36,130$84,0701.10
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General930$56,700$36,400$78,3101.19
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers1,710$55,630$36,470$83,8101.62
Construction Laborers380$54,440$37,780$99,2900.68
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks680$51,740$39,360$77,0400.96
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive620$51,710$37,850$74,5600.71
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers590$51,190$37,850$76,8401.04
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers310$50,340$43,330$62,5301.43
Driver/Sales Workers330$49,290$37,680$64,8101.59
Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel330$49,000$35,890$131,4800.51
Social and Human Service Assistants300$48,410$37,340$60,2201.33
Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators310$47,640$36,310$63,1000.43
Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks370$46,980$36,680$63,5200.88
Office Clerks, General1,250$46,830$35,380$62,6600.99
Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants350$46,660$37,750$59,9900.72
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners1,240$45,920$34,700$58,4001.10
Customer Service Representatives500$45,670$34,510$61,7500.37
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers660$45,490$39,170$70,6401.05
Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders620$45,280$35,060$64,0103.17
Nursing Assistants500$44,730$39,040$50,8800.67
Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary1,950$44,680$36,780$55,8902.69

Fields

METRO Official statistic Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 · Data: May 2025

Sort:

Cities

CITY Official statistic Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year (via Census Reporter) · Data: ACS 2020–2024

Sort:
City ⇅State ⇅Population ⇅Median rent ⇅
MercedCalifornia91,953$1,393

Open jobs

Open private-sector jobs by city of this area:

Merced

FAQ

How many jobs are there in Merced, CA?

BLS counts 79,510 wage-and-salary jobs (OEWS, May 2025).

What is the median pay in Merced, CA?

$47,220 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Which occupation pays most in Merced, CA?

Registered Nurses, with a median of $131,620 among occupations with at least 300 jobs.

Sources

Sources

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