Psychiatric Aides pay range in Merced
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $44,990 a year or less, while the top 10% make $75,240 or more. The middle half of psychiatric aides in Merced earn between $49,590 and $61,970.
- $45K10th
- $50K25th
- $50KMedian
- $62K75th
- $75K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $55,330 | $4,611 | $26.60 |
| Median | $49,590 | $4,132 | $23.84 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $49,590 | $4,132 | $23.84 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $61,970 | $5,164 | $29.79 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Psychiatric Aides salary after taxes in Merced
On the average salary of $55,330, a single filer in Merced takes home about $45,125 a year, or $3,760 a month and $1,736 every two weeks. Taxes take 18% 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 psychiatric aides? 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 $55,330 buys what about $56,301 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Merced ($47,220). A typical home costs $419,171, or 7.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Psychiatric Aides salary in other California cities
Merced ranks 4th of 8 California metro areas for this job; San Jose pays the most ($64,600).
- San Jose$64,600
- Fresno$55,970
- Riverside$55,900
- Merced$55,330
- San Diego$50,770
- Sacramento$49,470
- Los Angeles$49,030
- Redding$44,400
Highest-paying cities for psychiatric aides
Kiryas Joel, NY pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($70,000).
- Kiryas Joel, NY$70,000
- San Jose, CA$64,600
- Utica, NY$61,510
- Waterbury, CT$57,770
- Trenton, NJ$57,750
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Psychiatric Aides salary in Merced: questions
How much do psychiatric aides make an hour in Merced?
$26.60 an hour on average, and $23.84 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level psychiatric aides salary in Merced?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $44,990 a year and the 25th percentile is $49,590, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the psychiatric aides take-home pay in Merced?
About $45,125 a year ($3,760 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $55,330. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do psychiatric aides earn more in Merced than elsewhere?
The average here is 16% more than the U.S. metro average for this job ($47,707).
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 31-1133; area Merced, CA (32900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.6%.
- 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 6.61, this job is 6.6 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.