Social and Human Service Assistants pay range in Merced
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,340 a year or less, while the top 10% make $60,220 or more. The middle half of social and human service assistants in Merced earn between $45,050 and $60,220.
- $37K10th
- $45K25th
- $48KMedian
- $60K75th
- $60K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $51,000 | $4,250 | $24.52 |
| Median | $48,410 | $4,034 | $23.27 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $45,050 | $3,754 | $21.66 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $60,220 | $5,018 | $28.95 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Social and Human Service Assistants pay in Merced vs. California and the U.S.
Social and human service assistants in Merced earn 7% less than the California average ($55,100) and 7% more than the U.S. average ($47,690). At the median the gap is +5% against the U.S. median of $45,930.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Merced | $51,000 | $48,410 | $37,340 | $60,220 | 300 |
| California | $55,100 | $51,090 | $39,040 | $74,250 | 58,730 |
| United States | $47,690 | $45,930 | $34,200 | $63,290 | 437,860 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Social and Human Service Assistants salary after taxes in Merced
On the average salary of $51,000, a single filer in Merced takes home about $41,906 a year, or $3,492 a month and $1,612 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 social and human service assistants? 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 $51,000 buys what about $51,895 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Merced ($47,220). A typical home costs $419,171, or 8.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Social and Human Service Assistants salary in other California cities
Merced ranks 21st of 25 California metro areas for this job; San Jose pays the most ($63,980).
- San Jose$63,980
- Santa Rosa$62,010
- San Francisco$60,490
- Santa Cruz$58,750
- San Luis Obispo$58,730
- Salinas$58,690
- Santa Maria$58,180
- Napa$57,950
- Sacramento$57,150
- Merced$51,000
All Social and Human Service Assistants salaries in California
Highest-paying cities for social and human service assistants
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($63,980).
- San Jose, CA$63,980
- Santa Rosa, CA$62,010
- San Francisco, CA$60,490
- Seattle, WA$59,590
- Santa Cruz, CA$58,750
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Social and Human Service Assistants salary in Merced: questions
How much do social and human service assistants make an hour in Merced?
$24.52 an hour on average, and $23.28 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level social and human service assistants salary in Merced?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,340 a year and the 25th percentile is $45,050, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the social and human service assistants take-home pay in Merced?
About $41,906 a year ($3,492 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $51,000. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do social and human service assistants earn more in Merced than elsewhere?
The average here is 7% more than the U.S. average for this job ($47,690).
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 21-1093; area Merced, CA (32900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.7%.
- 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 1.33, this job is 1.3 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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