Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education pay range in Merced
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $67,390 a year or less, while the top 10% make $120,810 or more. The middle half of middle school teachers (except special and career/technical education) in Merced earn between $77,570 and $111,820.
- $67K10th
- $78K25th
- $102KMedian
- $112K75th
- $121K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $94,430 | $7,869 | — |
| Median | $101,770 | $8,481 | — |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $77,570 | $6,464 | — |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $111,820 | $9,318 | — |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year (BLS publishes this job's pay as annual only). Hourly to annual salary.
Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education pay in Merced vs. California and the U.S.
Middle school teachers (except special and career/technical education) in Merced earn about the same as the California average ($94,680) and 31% more than the U.S. average ($72,030). At the median the gap is +58% against the U.S. median of $64,370.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Merced | $94,430 | $101,770 | $67,390 | $120,810 | 180 |
| California | $94,680 | $98,950 | $62,410 | $129,500 | 37,300 |
| United States | $72,030 | $64,370 | $48,080 | $102,540 | 620,090 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education salary after taxes in Merced
On the average salary of $94,430, a single filer in Merced takes home about $70,572 a year, or $5,881 a month and $2,714 every two weeks. Taxes take 25% 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 middle school teachers (except special and career/technical 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 $94,430 buys what about $96,088 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Merced ($47,220). A typical home costs $419,171, or 4.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education salary in other California cities
Merced ranks 7th of 23 California metro areas for this job; El Centro pays the most ($117,020).
- El Centro$117,020
- San Jose$109,140
- Riverside$101,660
- Napa$100,500
- Modesto$98,910
- Oxnard$94,810
- Merced$94,430
- San Francisco$92,730
- Fresno$92,720
- Los Angeles$92,660
All Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education salaries in California
Highest-paying cities for middle school teachers (except special and career/technical education)
El Centro, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($117,020).
- El Centro, CA$117,020
- San Jose, CA$109,140
- Mount Vernon, WA$106,790
- Seattle, WA$103,680
- Bremerton, WA$102,020
Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education salary by city
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Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education salary in Merced: questions
What is the entry-level middle school teachers (except special and career/technical education) salary in Merced?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $67,390 a year and the 25th percentile is $77,570, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the middle school teachers (except special and career/technical education) take-home pay in Merced?
About $70,572 a year ($5,881 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $94,430. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do middle school teachers (except special and career/technical education) earn more in Merced than elsewhere?
The average here is 31% more than the U.S. average for this job ($72,030).
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 25-2022; area Merced, CA (32900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.1%.
- 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 0.56, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.56).
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