Benchmark Salary Information

  • The number of Social Workers currently employed in Merced is 450.
  • Social Workers in Merced earn an average of $49,540 per year or $23.82 per hour.
  • The percentage of California Social Workers who work in Merced is 1%.
  • The percentage of U.S. Social Workers who work in Merced is less than 1%.

Rankings for Merced

  • Ranks #28 in California for salary and #25 when adjusted for cost-of-living.
  • Ranks #13 in California for the number of psychologists employed.
  • Ranks #220 in the nation for salary and #92 when adjusted for cost-of-living.
  • Ranks #150 in the nation for the number of psychologists employed.

Compared to California

Merced Social Workers earn an average of $49,540 or $23.82 per hour which is 23% less than the California average salary of $64,940.

AverageMercedCalifornia% Difference
Hourly Wage$23.82$31.22-23.70%
Annual Salary$49,540$64,940-23.71%
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Department of Commerce – 2022*

Compared to the U.S.

Merced Social Workers earn an average of $49,540 or $23.82 per hour which is 9% less than the U.S. average salary of $54,880.

AverageMercedU.S.%
Hourly Wage$23.82$26.39-9.74%
Annual Salary$49,540$54,880-9.73%
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Department of Commerce – 2022*

Salary Adjusted for Cost-of-Living

When adjusted for cost-of-living, Social Workers in Merced earns an average annual salary of $49,960 which compares to the California average annual salary of $64,940. per year.

Cost-of-living in Merced is 1% less than the California average, which means Merced residents have an overall less cost for food, housing, utilities and transportation compared to California average.

  • California average salary is $64,940.
  • California cost-of-living adjusted salary is $58,833.
  • Merced average salary is $49,540.
  • Merced cost-of-living adjusted salary is $49,960.
LocationAverage Annual WageCost of LivingAdjusted COL Wage
Merced$49,54099.16%$49,960
California$64,940110.38%$58,833
U.S.$54,880–$54,880
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Department of Commerce – 2022*

Salary Ranges for Education and Experience

In Merced, 50% of Social Workers earn between $39,380 and $60,040 a year, depending on factors such as level of education, experience, location and place of employment.

About 10% of Social Workers earn more than $60,040, which is a rate for highly skilled, experienced and educated Social Workers.

Approximately 10% of Social Workers earn under $37,300, a rate generally reserved for less experienced or entry level Social Workers.

PercentExperienceEmployedAnnual Salary
10%Less than a Year45Under $37,300
15%2 – 4 years68$37,300 – $39,380
25%5 – 9 years112$39,380 – $47,310
25%10 – 14 years112$47,310 – $60,040
15%15 – 20 years68$47,310 – $60,040
10%20+ years45Above $60,040
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Department of Commerce – 2022*

Salary Compared to Related Professions

With an average annual salary of $49,540, Merced Social Workers tend to earn less than School Psychologists ($112,890), Health Care Social Workers ($74,390), and Substance Abuse Counselors ($55,280).

TitleAnnual Salary
School Psychologists$112,890
Health Care Social Workers$74,390
Substance Abuse Counselors$55,280
Social Workers$49,540
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Department of Commerce – 2022*

FAQ for Merced Social Workers

The number of Social Workers currently employed in Merced is 450.

Social Workers earn an average of $49,540 per year or $23.82 per hour in Merced.

When adjusted for Cost of Living in Merced Social Workers earn an average of $49,960 per year or $24 per hour.

The types of psychologists that are paid the highest annual salary in Merced are School Psychologists($112,890), Health Care Social Workers($74,390), Substance Abuse Counselors($55,280).

Additional Salary Reports for Social Workers in California cities and Metros and U.S. States.

Official Data Sources for Social Workers: Salary Data | Projected Employment | Cost of Living Data