SOC 21-1022 · Community and Social Service Occupations · May 2025

How much do Healthcare Social Workers make in Merced, CA?

In the May 2025 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates, released May 15, 2026, the median annual wage for Healthcare Social Workers in Merced, CA is $74,880. The 10th percentile is $50,390 and the 90th percentile is $109,990. Employment is 50.

Median annual wage

$74,880

10th percentile
$50,390
25th percentile
$57,330
Median
$74,880
75th percentile
$105,110
90th percentile
$109,990
Mean
$80,840

Annual wage from the May 2025 OEWS estimates.

A dental hygienist treating a patient
A dental hygienist at work. Photograph by baskyes. Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0

Percentile spread

For Healthcare Social Workers, the published 10th percentile is $50,390 and the 90th percentile is $109,990. The difference is $59,600, which is 79.6% of the median. Ten percent of measured wages fall below the 10th percentile and ten percent fall above the 90th. How to read a percentile.

The middle half of the distribution, from the 25th percentile at $57,330 to the 75th at $105,110, covers $47,780.

The mean annual wage is $80,840, which sits above the median of $74,880. Median and mean measure different points in the same distribution.

National and state comparison

The Merced, CA median is 10.3% higher than the national median of $67,880 for Healthcare Social Workers. In 2024 national prices the local median is $76,194, which is 12.2% higher than that same national median. The national figure is already in national prices because the United States parity is 100.

It is 16.5% lower than the California median of $89,660.

Price-adjusted pay

The 2024 all-items regional price parity for Merced, CA is 98.275, with the United States at 100. The Bureau of Economic Analysis released those parities on February 19, 2026. Dividing the May 2025 median of $74,880 by that parity and multiplying by 100 puts Healthcare Social Workers at $76,194 in national prices. The wage year and the price year are different. Compare this wage after prices.

Nearby metros

19 other metropolitan areas within 200 miles publish a annual median for Healthcare Social Workers. Merced, CA ranks 19th of 20 on that median, counting itself. Distance is the great-circle mileage between Census Bureau internal points (U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Gazetteer Files, Core Based Statistical Areas, internal points (INTPTLAT, INTPTLONG).).

  • Modesto, CA is 30 miles away, with a median of $95,250 and employment of 220. That median is 27.2% higher than the median here. In 2024 national prices it is $91,492, against $76,194 here.
  • San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA is 41 miles away, with a median of $107,170 and employment of 770. That median is 43.1% higher than the median here. In 2024 national prices it is $97,054, against $76,194 here.
  • Stockton-Lodi, CA is 59 miles away, with a median of $91,820 and employment of 200. That median is 22.6% higher than the median here. In 2024 national prices it is $87,374, against $76,194 here.

Employment share

Healthcare Social Workers accounts for 0.06% of wage-and-salary employment in Merced, CA (50 of 79,510). Nationally the occupation is 0.12% of employment (187,630 of 155,495,730). The local share is 0.52 times the national share. That ratio is the location quotient computed from these May 2025 employment counts. It is not copied from the location-quotient column in the BLS bulk file.

Highest-paying jobs in Merced, CA · Healthcare Social Workers by metro · How to read these percentiles · Median and mean · When a wage is not published · How the figures are made · Compare this wage after prices

Questions this page answers

How much do Healthcare Social Workers make in Merced, CA?

In the May 2025 OEWS estimates, released May 15, 2026, the median annual wage for Healthcare Social Workers in Merced, CA is $74,880. The 10th percentile is $50,390 and the 90th percentile is $109,990. Employment is 50.

How does that compare with the national median for Healthcare Social Workers?

The local median is 10.3% higher than the national median of $67,880.

What is Healthcare Social Workers pay in Merced, CA after local prices?

The 2024 all-items regional price parity for Merced, CA is 98.275, with the United States at 100. In those national prices, the May 2025 median of $74,880 is $76,194. The wage is May 2025 and the parity is 2024.

How does Merced, CA compare with nearby metros for Healthcare Social Workers?

Modesto, CA is the closest metropolitan area within 200 miles with a published annual median, 30 miles away, at $95,250. Merced, CA ranks 19th of 20 metros within 200 miles on that median. Distances use Census Bureau internal points.