SOC 45-2093 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals — Merced
Merced, CA · 10 metro areas compared
The median wage for Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals in Merced, CA is $35,900 per year, close to the national median of $36,670 for the same occupation.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals in Merced, CA is $35,900 per year, close to the national median of $36,670 for the same occupation. Pay ranges from under $34,320 at the tenth percentile to more than $45,030 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $34,320 to $44,290.
The area has 40 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 0.5 of every thousand jobs. Salinas leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $62,540. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 258th of 272 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $34,320 | −6.4% |
| 25th | $34,320 | −6.4% |
| Median (50th) | $35,900 | −2.1% |
| 75th | $44,290 | +20.8% |
| 90th | $45,030 | +22.8% |
| Mean | $39,610 | +8.0% |
Other metro areas in California
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Salinas | $62,540 | 70 | |
| 2 | Santa Rosa | $45,970 | 100 | |
| 3 | San Jose | $45,140 | 130 | |
| 4 | San Francisco | $44,300 | 380 | |
| 5 | San Diego | $42,910 | 370 | |
| 6 | Sacramento | $39,810 | 140 | |
| 7 | Oxnard | $37,870 | 140 | |
| 8 | Los Angeles | $37,720 | 610 | |
| 9 | Modesto | $36,980 | 90 | |
| 10 | Santa Maria | $36,940 | 130 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Merced run 10.7% above the national average, so the median of $35,900 buys what $32,430 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 11.6% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$35,900as reported by BLSLocal price level
110.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$32,430US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $35,900 a year, 2.1% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $34,320 to $45,030 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 40 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Salinas, at $62,540.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals in Merced, CA?
The median annual wage is $35,900, or $17.26 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $36,670, so pay in Merced, CA is 2.1% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Merced, CA earns more than $45,030 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $34,320 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Salinas, at $62,540 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 40 jobs in this occupation in Merced, CA. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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