Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Merced, CA

Each occupation's median wage in Merced, CA compared against the national median for the same occupation. Unlike a cost-of-living adjustment — which scales every job in a state by the same constant and so cannot change their order — this genuinely re-ranks, and it shows where Merced, CA pays a real premium. Limited to occupations with at least 1,000 workers in the state.

Cost of living: prices in Merced, CA run 1.7% below the national average (2024), so a Merced, CA salary is worth about 1.02× its face value in national terms. That scales every wage here by the same factor — it changes what the numbers mean, not their order.

Local wage estimates are suppressed more often than state ones — BLS withholds any figure too few local employers report — so an occupation missing here simply has no published local estimate.

Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Cost of living: BEA regional price parities, 2024

Find high paying jobs in Merced, CA

OccupationMedian, Merced, CA · vs. national

1Education Administrators, Postsecondary$165,620
Master's degree
$115,860 – $352,280+58.4%
2Production Workers, All Other$63,550
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,140 – $68,840+58.4%
3Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$101,770
Bachelor's degree
$67,390 – $120,810+58.1%
4Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education$100,120
Bachelor's degree
$74,520 – $129,410+56.5%
5Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education$96,430
Bachelor's degree
$61,640 – $130,090+53.8%
6Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School$97,340
Bachelor's degree
$61,600 – $123,710+49.5%
7Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary$157,180
Master's degree
$122,230 – $188,770+48.5%
8Conveyor Operators and Tenders$62,970
No formal educational credential
$44,730 – $62,970+48.4%
9Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary$63,220
Bachelor's degree
$44,600 – $74,600+47.3%
10Substitute Teachers, Short-Term$60,770
Bachelor's degree
$47,150 – $71,210+45.8%
11Librarians and Media Collections Specialists$98,630
Master's degree
$52,820 – $172,060+44.5%
12Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary$138,890
Doctoral or professional degree
$71,400 – $207,510+43.2%
13Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$110,910
High school diploma or equivalent
$62,250 – $136,640+42.2%
14Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School$93,780
Bachelor's degree
$61,430 – $125,930+41.5%
15Teachers and Instructors, All Other$93,400
Bachelor's degree
$48,290 – $120,140+41.2%
16School Psychologists$133,230
Master's degree
$104,670 – $150,460+38.8%
17Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$99,600
Bachelor's degree
$63,910 – $123,960+38.3%
18Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors$68,530
No formal educational credential
$35,370 – $68,530+37.9%
19Instructional Coordinators$106,710
Master's degree
$61,490 – $139,580+37.8%
20Registered Nurses$131,620
Bachelor's degree
$95,070 – $165,580+34.9%
21Education Administrators, All Other$128,210
Bachelor's degree
$57,990 – $174,400+34.7%
22Interviewers, Except Eligibility and Loan$61,650
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,340 – $77,220+34.3%
23Correctional Officers and Jailers$78,370
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,070 – $94,540+33.0%
24Special Education Teachers, Secondary School$98,040
Bachelor's degree
$61,990 – $124,760+32.0%
25Cooks, Fast Food$40,430
No formal educational credential
$34,560 – $42,560+30.9%
26Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$96,520
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,850 – $117,640+29.9%
27Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors$83,020
Master's degree
$54,670 – $130,640+29.1%
28Bus Drivers, School$61,580
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,770 – $71,540+28.5%
29Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$76,790
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,720 – $97,180+27.9%
30Driver/Sales Workers$49,290
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,680 – $64,810+27.1%
31First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial Workers$62,350
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,810 – $78,560+27.0%
32Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$101,400
Associate's degree
$57,070 – $159,200+26.6%
33Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education$48,120
Associate's degree
$37,000 – $71,020+26.2%
34Special Education Teachers, All Other$96,560
Bachelor's degree
$61,660 – $117,770+26.1%
35Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$74,800
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,940 – $126,770+25.0%
36Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$45,920
No formal educational credential
$34,700 – $58,400+24.6%
37Health Education Specialists$79,830
Bachelor's degree
$42,470 – $102,010+24.6%
38Respiratory Therapists$101,810
Associate's degree
$77,670 – $137,400+23.7%
39Library Assistants, Clerical$45,610
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,320 – $57,950+23.6%
40Carpenters$74,760
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,010 – $106,750+23.4%
41Physical Therapists$126,000
Doctoral or professional degree
$89,730 – $203,820+22.6%
42Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners$61,150
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,340 – $63,110+22.6%
43Fast Food and Counter Workers$38,200
No formal educational credential
$34,600 – $45,460+22.4%
44Public Safety Telecommunicators$64,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,860 – $85,950+21.7%
45Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary$44,680
Some college, no degree
$36,780 – $55,890+21.5%
46Physician Assistants$164,080
Master's degree
$86,070 – $199,140+20.8%
47Electricians$76,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,510 – $139,600+20.5%
48Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$61,920
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,410 – $83,140+20.0%
49Nurse Practitioners$158,750
Master's degree
$129,590 – $195,700+20.0%
50Dental Hygienists$117,400
Associate's degree
$102,760 – $130,100+19.7%

Bars run from the 10th to the 90th percentile; the middle half is shaded darker, and the tick is the median.

#	Occupation	MedianMerced, CA	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	vs. national
1	Education Administrators, PostsecondaryMaster's degree	$165,620	$115,860 – $352,280	+58.4%
2	Production Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,550	$35,140 – $68,840	+58.4%
3	Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationBachelor's degree	$101,770	$67,390 – $120,810	+58.1%
4	Elementary School Teachers, Except Special EducationBachelor's degree	$100,120	$74,520 – $129,410	+56.5%
5	Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special EducationBachelor's degree	$96,430	$61,640 – $130,090	+53.8%
6	Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary SchoolBachelor's degree	$97,340	$61,600 – $123,710	+49.5%
7	Education Administrators, Kindergarten through SecondaryMaster's degree	$157,180	$122,230 – $188,770	+48.5%
8	Conveyor Operators and TendersNo formal educational credential	$62,970	$44,730 – $62,970	+48.4%
9	Teaching Assistants, PostsecondaryBachelor's degree	$63,220	$44,600 – $74,600	+47.3%
10	Substitute Teachers, Short-TermBachelor's degree	$60,770	$47,150 – $71,210	+45.8%
11	Librarians and Media Collections SpecialistsMaster's degree	$98,630	$52,820 – $172,060	+44.5%
12	Computer Science Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$138,890	$71,400 – $207,510	+43.2%
13	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$110,910	$62,250 – $136,640	+42.2%
14	Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary SchoolBachelor's degree	$93,780	$61,430 – $125,930	+41.5%
15	Teachers and Instructors, All OtherBachelor's degree	$93,400	$48,290 – $120,140	+41.2%
16	School PsychologistsMaster's degree	$133,230	$104,670 – $150,460	+38.8%
17	Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationBachelor's degree	$99,600	$63,910 – $123,960	+38.3%
18	Refuse and Recyclable Material CollectorsNo formal educational credential	$68,530	$35,370 – $68,530	+37.9%
19	Instructional CoordinatorsMaster's degree	$106,710	$61,490 – $139,580	+37.8%
20	Registered NursesBachelor's degree	$131,620	$95,070 – $165,580	+34.9%
21	Education Administrators, All OtherBachelor's degree	$128,210	$57,990 – $174,400	+34.7%
22	Interviewers, Except Eligibility and LoanHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,650	$44,340 – $77,220	+34.3%
23	Correctional Officers and JailersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,370	$59,070 – $94,540	+33.0%
24	Special Education Teachers, Secondary SchoolBachelor's degree	$98,040	$61,990 – $124,760	+32.0%
25	Cooks, Fast FoodNo formal educational credential	$40,430	$34,560 – $42,560	+30.9%
26	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$96,520	$60,850 – $117,640	+29.9%
27	Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and AdvisorsMaster's degree	$83,020	$54,670 – $130,640	+29.1%
28	Bus Drivers, SchoolHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,580	$40,770 – $71,540	+28.5%
29	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,790	$47,720 – $97,180	+27.9%
30	Driver/Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,290	$37,680 – $64,810	+27.1%
31	First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,350	$40,810 – $78,560	+27.0%
32	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$101,400	$57,070 – $159,200	+26.6%
33	Preschool Teachers, Except Special EducationAssociate's degree	$48,120	$37,000 – $71,020	+26.2%
34	Special Education Teachers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$96,560	$61,660 – $117,770	+26.1%
35	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,800	$51,940 – $126,770	+25.0%
36	Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping CleanersNo formal educational credential	$45,920	$34,700 – $58,400	+24.6%
37	Health Education SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$79,830	$42,470 – $102,010	+24.6%
38	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$101,810	$77,670 – $137,400	+23.7%
39	Library Assistants, ClericalHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,610	$34,320 – $57,950	+23.6%
40	CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,760	$45,010 – $106,750	+23.4%
41	Physical TherapistsDoctoral or professional degree	$126,000	$89,730 – $203,820	+22.6%
42	Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe CleanersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,150	$47,340 – $63,110	+22.6%
43	Fast Food and Counter WorkersNo formal educational credential	$38,200	$34,600 – $45,460	+22.4%
44	Public Safety TelecommunicatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,570	$44,860 – $85,950	+21.7%
45	Teaching Assistants, Except PostsecondarySome college, no degree	$44,680	$36,780 – $55,890	+21.5%
46	Physician AssistantsMaster's degree	$164,080	$86,070 – $199,140	+20.8%
47	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,120	$44,510 – $139,600	+20.5%
48	Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,920	$39,410 – $83,140	+20.0%
49	Nurse PractitionersMaster's degree	$158,750	$129,590 – $195,700	+20.0%
50	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$117,400	$102,760 – $130,100	+19.7%

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Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Merced, CA

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