Health Education Specialists pay range in Merced
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $42,470 a year or less, while the top 10% make $102,010 or more. The middle half of health education specialists in Merced earn between $54,960 and $98,560.
- $42K10th
- $55K25th
- $80KMedian
- $99K75th
- $102K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $72,610 | $6,051 | $34.91 |
| Median | $79,830 | $6,652 | $38.38 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $54,960 | $4,580 | $26.42 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $98,560 | $8,213 | $47.38 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Health Education Specialists pay in Merced vs. California and the U.S.
Health education specialists in Merced earn about the same as the California average ($74,720) and about the same as the U.S. average ($73,280). At the median the gap is +25% against the U.S. median of $64,070.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Merced | $72,610 | $79,830 | $42,470 | $102,010 | 40 |
| California | $74,720 | $63,610 | $49,020 | $113,170 | 12,520 |
| United States | $73,280 | $64,070 | $42,990 | $118,200 | 65,690 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Health Education Specialists salary after taxes in Merced
On the average salary of $72,610, a single filer in Merced takes home about $57,175 a year, or $4,765 a month and $2,199 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 health education specialists? 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 $72,610 buys what about $73,885 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Merced ($47,220). A typical home costs $419,171, or 5.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Health Education Specialists salary in other California cities
Merced ranks 8th of 21 California metro areas for this job; San Francisco pays the most ($97,750).
- San Francisco$97,750
- San Jose$92,350
- Vallejo$84,470
- Santa Cruz$80,760
- Santa Rosa$79,210
- Modesto$74,330
- Stockton$73,530
- Merced$72,610
- Salinas$72,390
- Sacramento$70,810
Highest-paying cities for health education specialists
Washington, DC pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($120,000).
- Washington, DC$120,000
- Atlanta, GA$109,350
- San Francisco, CA$97,750
- Eugene, OR$96,470
- San Jose, CA$92,350
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Health Education Specialists salary in Merced: questions
How much do health education specialists make an hour in Merced?
$34.91 an hour on average, and $38.38 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level health education specialists salary in Merced?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $42,470 a year and the 25th percentile is $54,960, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the health education specialists take-home pay in Merced?
About $57,175 a year ($4,765 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $72,610. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do health education specialists earn more in Merced than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as the U.S. average for this job ($73,280).
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 21-1091; area Merced, CA (32900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.4%.
- 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 1.33, this job is 1.3 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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