Wages by Occupation in Merced, CA

Pay and jobs by occupation in the Merced, CA metropolitan area (BLS, May 2025). BLS counts about 79,510 jobs across all occupations here, with a median annual wage of $47,220 for all occupations combined. 272 occupations have a published median wage in this area.

Education and earnings of residents

Who lives in the Merced, CA area and what they earn, by education, from federal survey data (not a measure of any one employer or college).

15.3% of adults 25 and over in this area have a bachelor’s degree or higher (±0.7), compared with 35.7% nationally.

Prices of goods and services here run at 98.3 when the whole U.S. is 100 (housing 78.6; U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities, 2024; estimates are revised). A higher number means prices are higher on average, not that the area is better or worse.

About 21,708 residents (7.8% of those 3 and older; U.S. 6.6%) are enrolled in college or graduate school, at any school (±1,251; ACS 2020-2024, Table B14001).

The unemployment rate in this area averaged 10.2% in 2025, with a labor force of about 124,352 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, not seasonally adjusted annual average; estimates are model-based and revised).

18.6% of adults 25 to 34 have a bachelor’s degree or higher (±1.8), compared with 39.6% nationally (Table B15001).

Median yearly earnings by education, adults 25 and over who have earnings

Education	This area	United States
Less than high school	$32,313	$32,485
High school graduate	$41,824	$40,153
Some college or associate's degree	$45,388	$47,260
Bachelor's degree	$62,307	$70,044
Graduate or professional degree	$85,284	$90,720

Poverty rate by education, adults 25 and over

Education	This area	United States
Less than high school	21.5% (±1.9)	24.2%
High school graduate	17.1% (±1.5)	14.4%
Some college or associate's degree	13.4% (±1.2)	9.8%
Bachelor's degree or higher	7.0% (±1.8)	4.5%

Unemployment rate by education, ages 25 to 64

Education	This area	United States
Less than high school	10.2% (±1.8)	7.7%
High school graduate	10.6% (±1.6)	5.9%
Some college or associate's degree	8.0% (±1.5)	4.7%
Bachelor's degree or higher	3.7% (±0.9)	2.8%

What residents with a bachelor’s degree studied

Field of first major	This area	United States
Science and engineering	37.4%	36.1%
Science and engineering related fields	9.2%	10.0%
Business	14.7%	20.1%
Education	12.2%	10.9%
Arts, humanities and other	26.6%	23.0%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, Tables B15003, B20004 (earnings shown only when the margin of error is at most 20% of the value), B23006 (unemployment shown only when every margin is at most 3 points), B17003 (margins of error at the 90% level; poverty shown only when every margin is at most 8 points) and C15010 (the Census Bureau’s own field groups, in a fixed order, not ranked). Describes residents of the area, not a prediction for any person; the Census Bureau has not endorsed this presentation. MajorPays does not provide advice.

Wages by occupation

Occupation	Jobs	Median annual wage	Mean annual wage	Jobs per 1,000 jobs here	Concentration vs. U.S.
Accountants and Auditors	360	$80,420	$88,230	4.58	0.49
Administrative Services Managers	120	$103,840	$122,120	1.45	0.85
Agricultural Equipment Operators	200	$37,570	$42,050	2.58	14.06
Amusement and Recreation Attendants	200	$35,090	$35,880	2.52	0.99
Animal Caretakers	80	$36,480	$40,190	0.96	0.56
Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants	60	$36,940	$40,820	0.76	1.16
Automotive Body and Related Repairers	40	$61,090	$61,800	0.55	0.57
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics	330	$59,390	$58,310	4.16	0.92
Bakers	110	$42,900	$43,430	1.37	0.90
Bartenders	180	$34,680	$41,670	2.21	0.45
Bill and Account Collectors	30	$48,920	$55,540	0.40	0.39
Billing and Posting Clerks	150	$48,690	$51,790	1.85	0.71
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks	680	$51,740	$56,260	8.49	0.96
Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists	120	$62,970	$68,770	1.54	0.83
Bus Drivers, School	300	$61,580	$58,720	3.72	1.44
Business Operations Specialists, All Other	300	$77,330	$86,210	3.80	0.54
Butchers and Meat Cutters	170	$39,130	$44,980	2.10	2.40
Buyers and Purchasing Agents	130	$76,820	$81,680	1.68	0.53
Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary	70	$57,720	$70,090	0.85	1.16
Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School	40	$93,780	$92,330	0.45	0.63
Carpenters	350	$74,760	$72,930	4.35	1.01
Cashiers	2,250	$35,340	$37,450	28.32	1.43
Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers	330	$53,220	$58,200	4.13	3.11
Chefs and Head Cooks	90	$57,500	$65,520	1.11	0.86
Chief Executives	100	$181,660	$218,910	1.22	0.92
Child, Family, and School Social Workers	500	$60,200	$59,850	6.28	2.49
Childcare Workers	390	$36,590	$38,980	4.87	1.46
Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians	30	$74,620	$77,640	0.38	0.87
Civil Engineers	50	$102,930	$111,130	0.65	0.27
Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators	40	$110,910	$103,890	0.49	0.24
Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment	380	$38,860	$40,730	4.81	1.97
Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders	80	$47,540	$49,090	1.04	10.95
Coaches and Scouts	40	$47,470	$54,830	0.56	0.35
Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders	60	$48,890	$53,190	0.80	0.78
Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other	130	$53,620	$56,690	1.69	2.44
Compliance Officers	150	$84,020	$87,730	1.94	0.72
Computer and Information Systems Managers	80	$167,150	$179,640	1.06	0.25
Computer Network Support Specialists	40	$84,870	$84,260	0.52	0.55
Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators	40	$49,200	$50,840	0.45	0.41
Computer Occupations, All Other	70	$78,840	$89,900	0.86	0.31
Computer Programmers	30	$100,410	$102,030	0.43	0.72
Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary	50	$138,890	$146,440	0.59	2.59
Computer Systems Analysts	110	$95,390	$100,140	1.39	0.41
Computer User Support Specialists	110	$69,610	$68,150	1.43	0.31
Construction Laborers	380	$54,440	$60,320	4.81	0.68
Construction Managers	100	$119,150	$124,450	1.27	0.52
Conveyor Operators and Tenders	40	$62,970	$56,600	0.44	2.99
Cooks, Fast Food	660	$40,430	$39,880	8.24	2.00
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria	190	$44,410	$45,000	2.36	0.83
Cooks, Restaurant	410	$38,480	$40,920	5.12	0.57
Cooks, Short Order	140	$36,240	$38,400	1.72	1.93
Correctional Officers and Jailers	270	$78,370	$77,060	3.36	1.37
Cost Estimators	90	$72,880	$81,290	1.14	0.79
Counter and Rental Clerks	190	$43,540	$48,830	2.34	0.91
Court, Municipal, and License Clerks	160	$57,450	$57,300	2.00	1.73
Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders	50	$36,820	$41,080	0.58	3.48
Customer Service Representatives	500	$45,670	$47,190	6.24	0.37
Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic	40	$45,130	$48,410	0.48	0.44
Data Entry Keyers	40	$44,660	$48,070	0.48	0.59
Dental Assistants	250	$48,520	$52,050	3.14	1.26
Dental Hygienists	100	$117,400	$117,540	1.27	0.89
Dentists, General	40	$170,200	$175,490	0.51	0.64
Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers	170	$34,320	$36,940	2.14	0.61
Dishwashers	170	$35,210	$36,750	2.18	0.71
Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance	130	$51,550	$55,060	1.60	1.23
Driver/Sales Workers	330	$49,290	$50,370	4.19	1.59
Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers	80	$63,060	$65,270	1.04	1.94
Education Administrators, All Other	30	$128,210	$124,470	0.40	1.12
Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary	260	$157,180	$154,100	3.23	1.53
Education Administrators, Postsecondary	50	$165,620	$197,170	0.69	0.59
Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare	40	$68,440	$86,910	0.50	1.06
Educational Instruction and Library Workers, All Other	280	$47,620	$57,600	3.56	4.67
Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors	350	$83,020	$87,530	4.37	1.92
Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment	40	$74,270	$78,330	0.49	1.18
Electricians	180	$76,120	$81,490	2.28	0.47
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education	1,560	$100,120	$103,340	19.58	2.19
Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs	40	$47,230	$57,330	0.44	0.45
Engineers, All Other	30	$90,450	$97,870	0.43	0.44
Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants	150	$80,650	$80,620	1.86	0.63
Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors	70	$45,890	$48,480	0.93	0.45
Facilities Managers	80	$121,730	$119,210	0.95	0.95
Family Medicine Physicians	40	$270,880	$256,250	0.51	0.74
Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service Technicians	200	$61,360	$62,110	2.51	10.29
Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse	3,820	$36,350	$40,280	48.04	28.13
Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals	40	$35,900	$39,610	0.54	2.57
Fast Food and Counter Workers	2,500	$38,200	$39,970	31.41	1.27
Financial and Investment Analysts	70	$84,440	$97,050	0.86	0.37
Financial Managers	210	$134,170	$163,310	2.70	0.50
Financial Specialists, All Other	30	$72,840	$77,200	0.41	0.48
Firefighters	270	$63,940	$68,120	3.38	1.52
First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers	280	$79,250	$84,940	3.53	0.68
First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Workers, Except Gambling Services	50	$44,980	$53,790	0.59	0.89
First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers	200	$57,930	$63,540	2.48	13.79
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers	660	$45,490	$50,280	8.24	1.05
First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial Workers	100	$62,350	$62,670	1.31	1.14
First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers	30	$63,610	$66,770	0.43	0.51
First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers	290	$93,920	$96,150	3.60	0.91
First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers	70	$64,370	$75,580	0.87	0.63
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers	560	$68,070	$71,060	7.05	0.76
First-Line Supervisors of Personal Service Workers	120	$34,630	$40,330	1.54	2.09
First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives	100	$121,720	$132,600	1.31	1.31
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers	400	$78,490	$80,240	5.04	1.16
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers	590	$51,190	$55,310	7.48	1.04
First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors	350	$57,400	$61,060	4.41	1.10
Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders	60	$42,130	$45,470	0.76	5.82
Food Batchmakers	170	$45,760	$47,770	2.20	1.96
Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other	60	$34,720	$37,960	0.80	1.46
Food Preparation Workers	460	$38,980	$40,150	5.84	1.02
Food Processing Workers, All Other	60	$42,430	$46,140	0.71	1.69
Food Science Technicians	210	$50,750	$56,410	2.64	28.14
Food Scientists and Technologists	40	$96,430	$102,000	0.47	5.57
Food Service Managers	110	$59,170	$72,300	1.34	0.87
Fundraisers	40	$84,570	$85,160	0.46	0.65
General and Operations Managers	1,020	$94,990	$116,260	12.87	0.57
Graders and Sorters, Agricultural Products	170	$36,420	$38,460	2.11	13.04
Graphic Designers	30	$63,340	$67,450	0.43	0.34
Health Education Specialists	40	$79,830	$72,610	0.56	1.33
Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other	100	$52,570	$56,810	1.26	1.07
Healthcare Social Workers	50	$74,880	$80,840	0.59	0.49
Healthcare Support Workers, All Other	110	$48,230	$49,290	1.38	1.95
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers	190	$64,040	$70,140	2.44	0.93
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers	1,710	$55,630	$58,420	21.50	1.62
Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers	60	$46,220	$45,550	0.81	1.31
Helpers--Production Workers	140	$38,880	$43,250	1.82	1.71
Highway Maintenance Workers	60	$49,240	$55,400	0.79	0.79
Home Health and Personal Care Aides	4,990	$34,320	$34,980	62.81	2.27
Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop	110	$34,690	$36,390	1.39	0.50
Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks	90	$35,950	$37,110	1.14	0.68
Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and Timekeeping	60	$52,590	$53,270	0.74	1.28
Human Resources Managers	70	$153,210	$163,480	0.82	0.58
Human Resources Specialists	280	$76,820	$81,980	3.50	0.60
Industrial Engineers	40	$91,490	$101,150	0.51	0.22
Industrial Machinery Mechanics	310	$71,990	$71,670	3.91	1.38
Industrial Production Managers	130	$123,590	$129,310	1.64	1.04
Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators	720	$44,520	$46,590	9.08	1.82
Information and Record Clerks, All Other	160	$55,520	$58,130	2.05	2.36
Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers	220	$49,940	$55,930	2.82	0.73
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All Other	60	$52,980	$62,510	0.74	0.65
Instructional Coordinators	120	$106,710	$107,140	1.51	1.03
Insurance Claims and Policy Processing Clerks	50	$46,470	$49,970	0.58	0.42
Insurance Sales Agents	170	$70,220	$90,000	2.18	0.71
Interpreters and Translators	30	$52,710	$65,990	0.38	1.13
Interviewers, Except Eligibility and Loan	80	$61,650	$58,790	1.07	1.12
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners	1,240	$45,920	$46,050	15.56	1.10
Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education	140	$96,430	$98,880	1.70	2.43
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand	1,130	$41,890	$44,050	14.25	0.75
Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers	420	$43,230	$45,770	5.32	0.87
Lawyers	120	$139,010	$156,900	1.52	0.31
Librarians and Media Collections Specialists	50	$98,630	$102,870	0.68	0.79
Library Assistants, Clerical	60	$45,610	$45,620	0.73	1.33
Library Technicians	60	$47,570	$53,150	0.76	1.71
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses	300	$75,890	$73,720	3.80	0.91
Light Truck Drivers	270	$44,250	$56,460	3.38	0.54
Loan Interviewers and Clerks	70	$50,090	$52,280	0.91	0.86
Loan Officers	90	$78,940	$84,490	1.10	0.63
Logisticians	70	$74,820	$82,890	0.87	0.54
Machine Feeders and Offbearers	50	$41,930	$44,080	0.66	2.43
Machinists	40	$47,130	$49,800	0.49	0.27
Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners	270	$36,050	$38,130	3.42	0.62
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General	930	$56,700	$57,240	11.69	1.19
Management Analysts	260	$79,670	$91,630	3.28	0.57
Managers, All Other	150	$128,190	$142,860	1.83	0.46
Manicurists and Pedicurists	120	$35,600	$37,840	1.53	1.56
Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists	170	$65,640	$75,290	2.14	0.37
Marketing Managers	50	$148,670	$174,570	0.60	0.24
Material Moving Workers, All Other	30	$49,670	$50,650	0.43	2.87
Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers	370	$35,070	$36,820	4.69	5.00
Mechanical Engineers	40	$79,600	$92,180	0.55	0.29
Medical and Health Services Managers	290	$114,510	$134,260	3.61	0.94
Medical Assistants	700	$39,800	$42,600	8.82	1.68
Medical Equipment Preparers	40	$51,110	$49,800	0.46	0.93
Medical Records Specialists	70	$58,060	$59,350	0.83	0.66
Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants	350	$46,660	$48,230	4.43	0.72
Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners	30	$67,350	$69,500	0.43	0.47
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers	40	$59,500	$66,010	0.52	0.60
Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers	70	$42,270	$45,700	0.85	0.80
Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education	180	$101,770	$94,430	2.24	0.56
Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators	310	$47,640	$48,640	3.92	0.43
Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders	50	$57,250	$53,000	0.65	1.07
Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines	80	$64,490	$62,550	0.99	0.87
Network and Computer Systems Administrators	50	$98,060	$98,980	0.59	0.29
Nurse Practitioners	100	$158,750	$157,090	1.23	0.59
Nursing Assistants	500	$44,730	$45,300	6.28	0.67
Occupational Health and Safety Specialists	50	$94,470	$93,650	0.63	0.70
Occupational Therapists	30	$117,970	$115,270	0.39	0.38
Office and Administrative Support Workers, All Other	110	$52,500	$60,880	1.38	1.11
Office Clerks, General	1,250	$46,830	$48,920	15.75	0.99
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators	160	$74,800	$83,730	2.05	0.67
Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders	620	$45,280	$45,840	7.74	3.17
Packers and Packagers, Hand	1,160	$34,320	$36,070	14.58	4.05
Painters, Construction and Maintenance	80	$58,220	$58,070	1.02	0.71
Paralegals and Legal Assistants	90	$61,320	$62,440	1.08	0.43
Paramedics	30	$64,100	$62,670	0.38	0.59
Parts Salespersons	200	$42,260	$44,190	2.49	1.43
Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks	100	$60,350	$62,340	1.25	1.27
Pest Control Workers	70	$38,950	$45,830	0.87	1.32
Pharmacists	120	$154,870	$155,620	1.51	0.73
Pharmacy Aides	50	$37,900	$39,930	0.60	2.36
Pharmacy Technicians	170	$48,680	$51,600	2.19	0.72
Phlebotomists	90	$51,180	$55,330	1.13	1.22
Physical Therapist Aides	50	$35,870	$39,940	0.61	1.97
Physical Therapists	60	$126,000	$132,390	0.77	0.45
Physician Assistants	50	$164,080	$148,620	0.67	0.64
Physicians, All Other	90	$273,110	$309,600	1.16	0.52
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters	160	$60,230	$62,760	1.96	0.65
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers	490	$82,540	$90,990	6.14	1.42
Postal Service Clerks	40	$69,160	$66,630	0.53	1.11
Postal Service Mail Carriers	200	$64,250	$63,850	2.54	1.20
Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education	290	$48,120	$53,500	3.63	1.18
Printing Press Operators	90	$50,640	$47,600	1.14	1.23
Procurement Clerks	40	$46,570	$49,530	0.47	1.30
Production Workers, All Other	160	$63,550	$54,500	2.04	1.26
Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks	200	$57,760	$64,880	2.52	1.01
Project Management Specialists	190	$103,850	$108,820	2.36	0.34
Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers	100	$61,100	$73,810	1.20	0.60
Protective Service Workers, All Other	390	$38,740	$40,940	4.95	9.44
Psychiatric Aides	120	$49,590	$55,330	1.51	6.61
Public Relations Specialists	40	$77,380	$86,150	0.50	0.27
Public Safety Telecommunicators	120	$64,570	$62,900	1.46	2.21
Radiologic Technologists and Technicians	80	$101,400	$104,160	0.98	0.66
Receptionists and Information Clerks	290	$38,890	$40,430	3.64	0.62
Recreation Workers	160	$36,790	$42,280	1.99	0.93
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors	70	$68,530	$58,590	0.82	0.87
Registered Nurses	1,050	$131,620	$129,700	13.23	0.61
Rehabilitation Counselors	50	$39,640	$46,280	0.69	1.13
Residential Advisors	40	$44,880	$47,810	0.51	0.93
Respiratory Therapists	40	$101,810	$106,650	0.56	0.62
Retail Salespersons	1,480	$37,740	$40,580	18.66	0.74
Roofers	60	$60,800	$57,910	0.71	0.81
Sales and Related Workers, All Other	60	$42,250	$54,620	0.75	1.25
Sales Managers	280	$98,670	$118,690	3.50	0.85
Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel	330	$49,000	$66,830	4.12	0.51
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products	360	$71,170	$79,910	4.55	0.57
School Psychologists	90	$133,230	$127,050	1.13	2.75
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education	1,020	$99,600	$100,380	12.78	1.87
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive	620	$51,710	$54,030	7.74	0.71
Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents	100	$65,930	$93,390	1.28	0.41
Security Guards	400	$36,820	$40,660	5.08	0.62
Self-Enrichment Teachers	70	$50,660	$67,650	0.87	0.41
Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders	270	$61,920	$58,870	3.35	8.68
Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners	30	$61,150	$58,140	0.39	1.95
Sewing Machine Operators	30	$40,630	$42,110	0.38	0.57
Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks	370	$46,980	$49,130	4.61	0.88
Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs	140	$39,060	$42,210	1.72	1.08
Social and Community Service Managers	140	$76,760	$86,130	1.74	1.30
Social and Human Service Assistants	300	$48,410	$51,000	3.74	1.33
Software Developers	80	$132,120	$137,840	1.07	0.10
Special Education Teachers, All Other	70	$96,560	$95,730	0.89	4.07
Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School	160	$97,340	$91,780	2.07	1.23
Special Education Teachers, Secondary School	120	$98,040	$96,010	1.53	1.45
Speech-Language Pathologists	100	$114,220	$119,810	1.24	1.05
Stockers and Order Fillers	1,400	$38,080	$41,140	17.62	0.97
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors	420	$60,780	$66,760	5.22	1.65
Substitute Teachers, Short-Term	1,450	$60,770	$60,240	18.29	5.42
Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service	50	$44,190	$44,480	0.57	2.57
Teachers and Instructors, All Other	140	$93,400	$85,820	1.71	2.33
Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary	1,950	$44,680	$44,210	24.54	2.69
Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary	100	$63,220	$62,340	1.25	1.18
Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers	40	$71,700	$73,090	0.51	0.56
Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers	40	$96,520	$94,510	0.51	0.81
Tellers	170	$44,950	$44,420	2.18	1.03
Tire Repairers and Changers	90	$36,610	$40,450	1.07	1.54
Training and Development Specialists	190	$60,990	$69,120	2.40	0.82
Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers	70	$108,040	$115,090	0.94	0.66
Tutors	80	$43,360	$48,370	1.04	0.93
Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers	50	$40,040	$42,690	0.58	0.71
Veterinary Technologists and Technicians	40	$50,420	$50,480	0.54	0.64
Waiters and Waitresses	560	$34,320	$38,610	7.00	0.48
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators	110	$76,790	$72,340	1.34	1.63
Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, Recordkeeping	60	$46,210	$47,750	0.70	2.05
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers	310	$50,340	$52,470	3.84	1.43
Word Processors and Typists	50	$48,490	$52,630	0.62	2.75

Colleges in this area

4 colleges in the federal directory have a campus in this area, listed alphabetically; MajorPays does not rank colleges. Each name links to the college’s profile.

College	Type	Level	Students, fall 2024
Merced College	Public	2-year	12,472
Milan Institute-Merced	Private for-profit	Less than 2-year	359
Sierra College of Beauty	Private for-profit	Less than 2-year	220
University of California-Merced	Public	4-year or above	9,110

Source: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, IPEDS directory (HD 2024, core-based statistical area of the campus) and Fall Enrollment 2024 (total headcount). A count of students is the size of the college, not its quality; the Department has not endorsed this presentation.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025, metropolitan area estimates (cross-industry, all ownerships). Wages are pay for all workers in an occupation in this area, not any one person or employer; a dash means BLS does not publish the figure (often to protect privacy or because the estimate is unreliable), and “or more” marks a wage at or above BLS’s top reporting limit. Concentration is the BLS location quotient: the occupation's share of jobs in this area divided by its share nationally (1.00 = the same share as the U.S.; above 1.00 = a larger share); it says nothing about pay or openings. Jobs per 1,000 is the occupation's jobs per 1,000 jobs of all kinds in this area. Occupations that BLS reports only as hourly wages are not listed, and BLS shows some wages above its top limit as plain numbers while others read “or more”. Occupations are listed alphabetically; click a heading to sort. MajorPays does not rank places or occupations. MajorPays selected and reorganized these figures; the Bureau of Labor Statistics has not approved or endorsed this presentation. MajorPays does not provide advice. See Data sources.

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