Childcare Workers pay range in Merced
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $34,320 a year or less, while the top 10% make $47,880 or more. The middle half of childcare workers in Merced earn between $34,540 and $43,280.
- $34K10th
- $35K25th
- $37KMedian
- $43K75th
- $48K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $38,980 | $3,248 | $18.74 |
| Median | $36,590 | $3,049 | $17.59 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $34,540 | $2,878 | $16.61 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $43,280 | $3,607 | $20.81 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Childcare Workers pay in Merced vs. California and the U.S.
Childcare workers in Merced earn 9% less than the California average ($42,790) and 11% more than the U.S. average ($35,030). At the median the gap is +5% against the U.S. median of $34,980.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Merced | $38,980 | $36,590 | $34,320 | $47,880 | 390 |
| California | $42,790 | $40,020 | $35,340 | $52,670 | 52,780 |
| United States | $35,030 | $34,980 | $24,260 | $46,010 | 518,910 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Childcare Workers salary after taxes in Merced
On the average salary of $38,980, a single filer in Merced takes home about $32,806 a year, or $2,734 a month and $1,262 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 childcare workers? 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 $38,980 buys what about $39,664 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 10.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Childcare Workers salary in other California cities
Merced ranks 23rd of 25 California metro areas for this job; San Jose pays the most ($48,450).
- San Jose$48,450
- San Francisco$46,100
- Santa Rosa$43,840
- El Centro$43,020
- Napa$42,870
- Riverside$42,870
- Modesto$42,600
- Salinas$42,380
- San Diego$42,370
- Merced$38,980
Highest-paying cities for childcare workers
Sarasota, FL pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($52,680).
- Sarasota, FL$52,680
- San Jose, CA$48,450
- San Francisco, CA$46,100
- Seattle, WA$44,390
- Boulder, CO$44,280
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Childcare Workers salary in Merced: questions
How much do childcare workers make an hour in Merced?
$18.74 an hour on average, and $17.59 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level childcare workers salary in Merced?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $34,320 a year and the 25th percentile is $34,540, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the childcare workers take-home pay in Merced?
About $32,806 a year ($2,734 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $38,980. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do childcare workers earn more in Merced than elsewhere?
The average here is 11% more than the U.S. average for this job ($35,030).
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 39-9011; area Merced, CA (32900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.0%.
- 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 1.46, this job is 1.5 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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