Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education pay range in Merced
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $63,910 a year or less, while the top 10% make $123,960 or more. The middle half of secondary school teachers (except special and career/technical education) in Merced earn between $80,200 and $120,910.
- $64K10th
- $80K25th
- $100KMedian
- $121K75th
- $124K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $100,380 | $8,365 | — |
| Median | $99,600 | $8,300 | — |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $80,200 | $6,683 | — |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $120,910 | $10,076 | — |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year (BLS publishes this job's pay as annual only). Hourly to annual salary.
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education pay in Merced vs. California and the U.S.
Secondary school teachers (except special and career/technical education) in Merced earn 5% less than the California average ($105,880) and 32% more than the U.S. average ($76,320). At the median the gap is +38% against the U.S. median of $72,040.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Merced | $100,380 | $99,600 | $63,910 | $123,960 | 1,020 |
| California | $105,880 | $101,370 | $64,600 | $132,600 | 99,230 |
| United States | $76,320 | $72,040 | $48,780 | $107,600 | 1,065,210 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education salary after taxes in Merced
On the average salary of $100,380, a single filer in Merced takes home about $74,204 a year, or $6,184 a month and $2,854 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 secondary 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 $100,380 buys what about $102,142 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.1 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.
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education salary in other California cities
Merced ranks 14th of 24 California metro areas for this job; San Francisco pays the most ($119,470).
- San Francisco$119,470
- San Diego$116,110
- San Jose$111,240
- Napa$107,690
- Los Angeles$106,820
- Oxnard$106,480
- Modesto$103,950
- Santa Rosa$103,360
- Fresno$103,120
- Merced$100,380
All Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education salaries in California
Highest-paying cities for secondary school teachers (except special and career/technical education)
San Francisco, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($119,470).
- San Francisco, CA$119,470
- San Diego, CA$116,110
- San Jose, CA$111,240
- Napa, CA$107,690
- Mount Vernon, WA$107,640
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education salary by city
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Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education salary in Merced: questions
What is the entry-level secondary school teachers (except special and career/technical education) salary in Merced?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $63,910 a year and the 25th percentile is $80,200, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the secondary school teachers (except special and career/technical education) take-home pay in Merced?
About $74,204 a year ($6,184 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $100,380. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do secondary school teachers (except special and career/technical education) earn more in Merced than elsewhere?
The average here is 32% more than the U.S. average for this job ($76,320).
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 25-2031; area Merced, CA (32900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.2%.
- 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 1.87, this job is 1.9 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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