Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education pay range in Merced
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $61,640 a year or less, while the top 10% make $130,090 or more. The middle half of kindergarten teachers (except special education) in Merced earn between $80,100 and $127,610.
- $62K10th
- $80K25th
- $96KMedian
- $128K75th
- $130K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $98,880 | $8,240 | — |
| Median | $96,430 | $8,036 | — |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $80,100 | $6,675 | — |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $127,610 | $10,634 | — |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year (BLS publishes this job's pay as annual only). Hourly to annual salary.
Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education pay in Merced vs. California and the U.S.
Kindergarten teachers (except special education) in Merced earn 12% more than the California average ($88,160) and 43% more than the U.S. average ($69,370). At the median the gap is +54% against the U.S. median of $62,680.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Merced | $98,880 | $96,430 | $61,640 | $130,090 | 140 |
| California | $88,160 | $82,550 | $53,210 | $124,400 | 7,430 |
| United States | $69,370 | $62,680 | $46,990 | $101,830 | 108,870 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education salary after taxes in Merced
On the average salary of $98,880, a single filer in Merced takes home about $73,288 a year, or $6,107 a month and $2,819 every two weeks. Taxes take 26% 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 kindergarten teachers (except special education)? 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 $98,880 buys what about $100,616 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Merced ($47,220). A typical home costs $419,171, or 4.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education salary in other California cities
Merced ranks 4th of 22 California metro areas for this job; Modesto pays the most ($107,550).
- Modesto$107,550
- El Centro$101,090
- Visalia$99,130
- Merced$98,880
- Santa Maria$98,850
- Sacramento$97,930
- Hanford$94,650
- Vallejo$93,580
- San Jose$92,890
- Oxnard$92,620
All Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education salaries in California
Highest-paying cities for kindergarten teachers (except special education)
Modesto, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($107,550).
- Modesto, CA$107,550
- Seattle, WA$101,370
- El Centro, CA$101,090
- Mount Vernon, WA$100,150
- Visalia, CA$99,130
Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education salary by city
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Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education salary in Merced: questions
What is the entry-level kindergarten teachers (except special education) salary in Merced?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $61,640 a year and the 25th percentile is $80,100, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the kindergarten teachers (except special education) take-home pay in Merced?
About $73,288 a year ($6,107 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $98,880. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do kindergarten teachers (except special education) earn more in Merced than elsewhere?
The average here is 43% more than the U.S. average for this job ($69,370).
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 25-2012; area Merced, CA (32900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 6.5%.
- 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 2.43, this job is 2.4 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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