Nursing Assistant salary in Merced, CA
Nursing Assistants in the Merced, CA metro area earn a median of $44,730 a year ($21.51 an hour), based on BLS data for 500 workers.
Pay ranges from $39,040 for the lowest-paid 10% to $50,880 for the top 10%. That is 6% higher than the national median of $42,260. Pay here is 6% lower than the California statewide median of $47,630. There are 6.3 nursing assistants per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.67). The average (mean) salary is $45,300, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for nursing assistants in Merced, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $39,040 | $18.77 |
| 25th percentile | $43,590 | $20.96 |
| Median | $44,730 | $21.51 |
| 75th percentile | $46,910 | $22.55 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $50,880 | $24.46 |
| Average (mean) | $45,300 | $21.78 |
Half of nursing assistants 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 | $3,727.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,863.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,720.38 |
| Weekly | $860.19 |
| Hourly | $21.51 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Nursing Assistant salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $56,840 | 5,350 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $56,080 | 11,790 |
| Napa, CA | $50,370 | 460 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $49,240 | 1,250 |
| Vallejo, CA | $48,900 | 940 |
| Salinas, CA | $48,870 | 1,070 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $48,070 | 9,670 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $47,940 | 440 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $47,510 | 5,650 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $47,380 | 43,090 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $47,130 | 1,090 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $46,840 | 610 |
| Visalia, CA | $46,810 | 1,530 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $46,800 | 2,070 |
| Modesto, CA | $46,550 | 1,500 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $46,530 | 2,560 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $46,430 | 9,940 |
| Chico, CA | $46,380 | 790 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $46,130 | 1,720 |
| Yuba City, CA | $46,130 | 520 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $45,980 | 290 |
| Redding, CA | $44,880 | 760 |
| Fresno, CA | $44,710 | 3,880 |
| El Centro, CA | $44,670 | 240 |
Highest-paying states for nursing assistants
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Oregon | $49,830 |
| Washington | $49,180 |
| New York | $48,590 |
| New Hampshire | $47,870 |
| District of Columbia | $47,700 |
| California | $47,630 |
| Colorado | $47,380 |
| Vermont | $47,130 |
| Maine | $47,070 |
| New Jersey | $46,830 |
See Nursing Assistant pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in Merced, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | $34,320 | $16.50 |
| Psychiatric Aide | $49,590 | $23.84 |
| Medical Assistant | $39,800 | $19.13 |
| Dental Assistant | $48,520 | $23.33 |
| Healthcare Support Workers, All Other | $48,230 | $23.19 |
| Phlebotomist | $51,180 | $24.61 |
| Pharmacy Aide | $37,900 | $18.22 |
| Physical Therapist Aide | $35,870 | $17.25 |
| Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers | $40,040 | $19.25 |
| Medical Equipment Preparer | $51,110 | $24.57 |
More: Healthcare Support Occupations · all salaries in Merced, CA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 31-1131. 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 nursing assistant make in Merced, CA?
The median salary for nursing assistants in the Merced, CA metro area is $44,730 a year, or $21.51 an hour. Pay ranges from $39,040 for the lowest-paid 10% to $50,880 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid nursing assistants make in Merced, CA?
The top 10% of nursing assistants in the Merced, CA metro area earn at least $50,880 a year. The top 25% earn $46,910 or more.
What is the starting pay for nursing assistants in Merced, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $39,040 a year, and a quarter of nursing assistants earn $43,590 or less.
How many nursing assistants work in Merced, CA?
About 500 nursing assistants are employed in the Merced, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.