Registered Nurse salary in Merced, CA
Registered Nurses in the Merced, CA metro area earn a median of $131,620 a year ($63.28 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,050 workers.
Pay ranges from $95,070 for the lowest-paid 10% to $165,580 for the top 10%. That is 35% higher than the national median of $97,550. Pay here is 6% lower than the California statewide median of $140,270. There are 13 registered nurses per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.61). The average (mean) salary is $129,700, close to the median.
Pay range for registered nurses in Merced, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $95,070 | $45.71 |
| 25th percentile | $118,890 | $57.16 |
| Median | $131,620 | $63.28 |
| 75th percentile | $151,880 | $73.02 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $165,580 | $79.61 |
| Average (mean) | $129,700 | $62.35 |
Half of registered nurses 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 | $10,968.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,484.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $5,062.31 |
| Weekly | $2,531.15 |
| Hourly | $63.28 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Registered Nurse salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $216,740 | 22,930 |
| Vallejo, CA | $203,290 | 4,120 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $186,610 | 41,750 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $174,550 | 3,720 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $171,460 | 23,590 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $170,960 | 1,750 |
| Yuba City, CA | $149,320 | 1,080 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $139,520 | 28,680 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $138,820 | 2,180 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $137,360 | 3,280 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $135,560 | 109,360 |
| Salinas, CA | $134,910 | 3,180 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $134,580 | 5,460 |
| Redding, CA | $134,350 | 1,720 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $133,940 | 35,290 |
| Modesto, CA | $132,590 | 4,850 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $131,160 | 5,710 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $128,810 | 5,620 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $128,160 | 710 |
| Chico, CA | $127,360 | 2,170 |
| Fresno, CA | $125,420 | 11,030 |
| Visalia, CA | $125,180 | 2,990 |
| El Centro, CA | $103,450 | 950 |
Highest-paying states for registered nurses
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $140,270 |
| Hawaii | $136,320 |
| Oregon | $129,010 |
| Washington | $124,200 |
| Alaska | $109,480 |
| New York | $109,440 |
| New Jersey | $106,500 |
| Massachusetts | $104,550 |
| Nevada | $103,670 |
| Connecticut | $102,740 |
See Registered Nurse pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in Merced, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Pharmacist | $154,870 | $74.46 |
| Dental Hygienist | $117,400 | $56.44 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $158,750 | $76.32 |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | $114,220 | $54.91 |
| Physicians, All Other | $273,110 | $131.30 |
| Physical Therapist | $126,000 | $60.58 |
| Physician Assistant | $164,080 | $78.88 |
| Dentists, General | $170,200 | $81.83 |
| Family Medicine Physician | $270,880 | $130.23 |
| Respiratory Therapist | $101,810 | $48.95 |
| Occupational Therapist | $117,970 | $56.72 |
| Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | $75,890 | $36.49 |
| Pharmacy Technician | $48,680 | $23.40 |
| Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other | $52,570 | $25.27 |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · all salaries in Merced, CA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 29-1141. 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 registered nurse make in Merced, CA?
The median salary for registered nurses in the Merced, CA metro area is $131,620 a year, or $63.28 an hour. Pay ranges from $95,070 for the lowest-paid 10% to $165,580 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid registered nurses make in Merced, CA?
The top 10% of registered nurses in the Merced, CA metro area earn at least $165,580 a year. The top 25% earn $151,880 or more.
What is the starting pay for registered nurses in Merced, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $95,070 a year, and a quarter of registered nurses earn $118,890 or less.
How many registered nurses work in Merced, CA?
About 1,050 registered nurses are employed in the Merced, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.