Rehabilitation Counselors pay range in Merced
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,880 a year or less, while the top 10% make $62,550 or more. The middle half of rehabilitation counselors in Merced earn between $39,640 and $46,640.
- $36K10th
- $40K25th
- $40KMedian
- $47K75th
- $63K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $46,280 | $3,857 | $22.25 |
| Median | $39,640 | $3,303 | $19.06 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $39,640 | $3,303 | $19.06 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $46,640 | $3,887 | $22.42 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Rehabilitation Counselors pay in Merced vs. California and the U.S.
Rehabilitation counselors in Merced earn 5% less than the California average ($48,570) and 11% less than the U.S. average ($51,820). At the median the gap is -15% against the U.S. median of $46,850.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Merced | $46,280 | $39,640 | $35,880 | $62,550 | 50 |
| California | $48,570 | $44,480 | $35,940 | $69,260 | 13,690 |
| United States | $51,820 | $46,850 | $35,060 | $77,170 | 94,740 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Rehabilitation Counselors salary after taxes in Merced
On the average salary of $46,280, a single filer in Merced takes home about $38,379 a year, or $3,198 a month and $1,476 every two weeks. Taxes take 17% 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 rehabilitation counselors? 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 $46,280 buys what about $47,092 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 9.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Rehabilitation Counselors salary in other California cities
Merced ranks 14th of 24 California metro areas for this job; San Jose pays the most ($64,670).
- San Jose$64,670
- San Francisco$57,510
- Santa Rosa$54,280
- Napa$50,710
- Vallejo$50,690
- Riverside$49,710
- Oxnard$48,450
- San Diego$47,840
- Santa Maria$47,280
- Merced$46,280
Highest-paying cities for rehabilitation counselors
New Orleans, LA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($80,030).
- New Orleans, LA$80,030
- Killeen, TX$75,610
- Olympia, WA$74,560
- Portland, ME$71,280
- Longview, WA$71,080
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Rehabilitation Counselors salary in Merced: questions
How much do rehabilitation counselors make an hour in Merced?
$22.25 an hour on average, and $19.06 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level rehabilitation counselors salary in Merced?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,880 a year and the 25th percentile is $39,640, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the rehabilitation counselors take-home pay in Merced?
About $38,379 a year ($3,198 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $46,280. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do rehabilitation counselors earn more in Merced than elsewhere?
The average here is 11% less than the U.S. average for this job ($51,820).
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 21-1015; area Merced, CA (32900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 5.9%.
- 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 1.13, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.