Health Education Specialist salary in Merced, CA
Health Education Specialists in the Merced, CA metro area earn a median of $79,830 a year ($38.38 an hour), based on BLS data for 40 workers.
Pay ranges from $42,470 for the lowest-paid 10% to $102,010 for the top 10%. That is 25% higher than the national median of $64,070. Pay here is 25% higher than the California statewide median of $63,610. There are 0.56 health education specialists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.3× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $72,610, close to the median.
Pay range for health education specialists in Merced, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $42,470 | $20.42 |
| 25th percentile | $54,960 | $26.43 |
| Median | $79,830 | $38.38 |
| 75th percentile | $98,560 | $47.39 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $102,010 | $49.04 |
| Average (mean) | $72,610 | $34.91 |
Half of health education specialists earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $6,652.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,326.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,070.38 |
| Weekly | $1,535.19 |
| Hourly | $38.38 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Health Education Specialist salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $99,260 | 1,850 |
| Vallejo, CA | $81,630 | 130 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $78,640 | 80 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $75,810 | 610 |
| Redding, CA | $69,640 | 60 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $65,230 | 150 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $65,000 | 110 |
| Salinas, CA | $62,760 | 130 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $62,510 | 1,020 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $62,500 | 1,080 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $62,390 | 120 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $62,380 | 4,320 |
| Visalia, CA | $62,090 | 110 |
| Modesto, CA | $61,670 | 160 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $61,660 | 260 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $61,390 | 140 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $61,190 | 700 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $59,350 | 210 |
| Chico, CA | $59,120 | 210 |
| Fresno, CA | $58,840 | 430 |
Highest-paying states for health education specialists
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Maryland | $104,470 |
| District of Columbia | $103,330 |
| Georgia | $99,400 |
| Pennsylvania | $80,670 |
| Minnesota | $78,400 |
| Washington | $77,420 |
| Iowa | $75,750 |
| Oregon | $75,500 |
| Rhode Island | $75,360 |
| Colorado | $74,150 |
See Health Education Specialist pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in Merced, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Child, Family, and School Social Workers | $60,200 | $28.94 |
| Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors | $60,780 | $29.22 |
| Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors | $83,020 | $39.91 |
| Social and Human Service Assistants | $48,410 | $23.28 |
| Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other | $53,620 | $25.78 |
| Healthcare Social Worker | $74,880 | $36.00 |
| Rehabilitation Counselor | $39,640 | $19.06 |
| Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers | $59,500 | $28.61 |
More: Community and Social Service Occupations · all salaries in Merced, CA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 21-1091. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a health education specialist make in Merced, CA?
The median salary for health education specialists in the Merced, CA metro area is $79,830 a year, or $38.38 an hour. Pay ranges from $42,470 for the lowest-paid 10% to $102,010 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid health education specialists make in Merced, CA?
The top 10% of health education specialists in the Merced, CA metro area earn at least $102,010 a year. The top 25% earn $98,560 or more.
What is the starting pay for health education specialists in Merced, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $42,470 a year, and a quarter of health education specialists earn $54,960 or less.
How many health education specialists work in Merced, CA?
About 40 health education specialists are employed in the Merced, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.