Highway Maintenance Worker salary in Merced, CA
Highway Maintenance Workers in the Merced, CA metro area earn a median of $49,240 a year ($23.67 an hour), based on BLS data for 60 workers.
Pay ranges from $42,810 for the lowest-paid 10% to $78,000 for the top 10%. That is 2% lower than the national median of $50,260. Pay here is 17% lower than the California statewide median of $59,580. There are 0.79 highway maintenance workers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.79). The average (mean) salary is $55,400, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for highway maintenance workers in Merced, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $42,810 | $20.58 |
| 25th percentile | $49,240 | $23.67 |
| Median | $49,240 | $23.67 |
| 75th percentile | $55,330 | $26.60 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $78,000 | $37.50 |
| Average (mean) | $55,400 | $26.64 |
Half of highway maintenance workers 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 | $4,103.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,051.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,893.85 |
| Weekly | $946.92 |
| Hourly | $23.67 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Highway Maintenance Worker salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $79,000 | 360 |
| Vallejo, CA | $76,510 | 100 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $68,720 | 130 |
| Napa, CA | $66,830 | 60 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $66,550 | 90 |
| Salinas, CA | $64,160 | 160 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $63,880 | 490 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $61,190 | 660 |
| Redding, CA | $60,010 | 170 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $59,500 | 1,080 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $59,500 | 70 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $59,500 | 120 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $58,540 | 2,330 |
| Modesto, CA | $56,670 | 140 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $56,670 | 100 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $56,670 | 320 |
| Chico, CA | $54,480 | 100 |
| El Centro, CA | $54,480 | 50 |
| Fresno, CA | $54,480 | 200 |
| Visalia, CA | $53,360 | 40 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $50,200 | 340 |
| Yuba City, CA | $50,180 | 100 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $47,500 | 40 |
Highest-paying states for highway maintenance workers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Oregon | $65,330 |
| Washington | $65,300 |
| Connecticut | $64,870 |
| Minnesota | $63,150 |
| Illinois | $61,700 |
| Massachusetts | $61,500 |
| Montana | $60,960 |
| North Dakota | $60,630 |
| California | $59,580 |
| Iowa | $58,490 |
See Highway Maintenance Worker pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in Merced, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners | $61,150 | $29.40 |
| Construction Laborer | $54,440 | $26.17 |
| Carpenter | $74,760 | $35.94 |
| Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers | $53,220 | $25.59 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $79,250 | $38.10 |
| Electrician | $76,120 | $36.60 |
| Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators | $74,800 | $35.96 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $60,230 | $28.96 |
| Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers | $63,060 | $30.32 |
| Painters, Construction and Maintenance | $58,220 | $27.99 |
| Roofer | $60,800 | $29.23 |
More: Construction and Extraction Occupations · all salaries in Merced, CA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 47-4051. 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 highway maintenance worker make in Merced, CA?
The median salary for highway maintenance workers in the Merced, CA metro area is $49,240 a year, or $23.67 an hour. Pay ranges from $42,810 for the lowest-paid 10% to $78,000 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid highway maintenance workers make in Merced, CA?
The top 10% of highway maintenance workers in the Merced, CA metro area earn at least $78,000 a year. The top 25% earn $55,330 or more.
What is the starting pay for highway maintenance workers in Merced, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $42,810 a year, and a quarter of highway maintenance workers earn $49,240 or less.
How many highway maintenance workers work in Merced, CA?
About 60 highway maintenance workers are employed in the Merced, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.