Carpenters pay range in Merced
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $45,010 a year or less, while the top 10% make $106,750 or more. The middle half of carpenters in Merced earn between $56,390 and $81,230.
- $45K10th
- $56K25th
- $75KMedian
- $81K75th
- $107K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $72,930 | $6,078 | $35.06 |
| Median | $74,760 | $6,230 | $35.94 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $56,390 | $4,699 | $27.11 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $81,230 | $6,769 | $39.05 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Carpenters pay in Merced vs. California and the U.S.
Carpenters in Merced earn 7% less than the California average ($78,810) and 11% more than the U.S. average ($65,630). At the median the gap is +23% against the U.S. median of $60,580.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Merced | $72,930 | $74,760 | $45,010 | $106,750 | 350 |
| California | $78,810 | $75,920 | $47,490 | $119,950 | 100,750 |
| United States | $65,630 | $60,580 | $40,410 | $99,910 | 670,090 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Carpenters salary after taxes in Merced
On the average salary of $72,930, a single filer in Merced takes home about $57,374 a year, or $4,781 a month and $2,207 every two weeks. Taxes take 21% 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 carpenters? 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 $72,930 buys what about $74,210 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Merced ($47,220). A typical home costs $419,171, or 5.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Carpenters salary in other California cities
Merced ranks 18th of 25 California metro areas for this job; San Francisco pays the most ($89,630).
- San Francisco$89,630
- San Jose$87,930
- Napa$86,890
- Santa Rosa$83,430
- Vallejo$80,420
- San Luis Obispo$80,200
- Los Angeles$78,600
- Santa Cruz$78,270
- Yuba City$77,830
- Merced$72,930
Highest-paying cities for carpenters
Fairbanks, AK pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($90,730).
- Fairbanks, AK$90,730
- San Francisco, CA$89,630
- Honolulu, HI$89,400
- Decatur, IL$88,510
- San Jose, CA$87,930
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Carpenters salary in Merced: questions
How much do carpenters make an hour in Merced?
$35.06 an hour on average, and $35.94 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level carpenters salary in Merced?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $45,010 a year and the 25th percentile is $56,390, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the carpenters take-home pay in Merced?
About $57,374 a year ($4,781 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $72,930. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do carpenters earn more in Merced than elsewhere?
The average here is 11% more than the U.S. average for this job ($65,630).
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 47-2031; area Merced, CA (32900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.3%.
- 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 1.01, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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