Merced, CA · BLS OEWS & BEA Regional Data

Home Health or Personal Care Aide Salary in Merced, CA

In the Merced, CA metropolitan area, home health or personal care aides earned a median annual wage of $30,500 ($14.66/hour) in the BLS May 2025 OEWS survey. The 10th percentile was $30,500/year and the 90th was $34,800/year; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and California tax rules to the survey median leaves an estimated $26,455 in take-home pay. The metro price index is 98.3 against a national baseline of 100.

Wage Benchmark Overview

Median Annual Salary

$30,500$14.66 per hour · $2,542 monthly
10th Percentile$30,500$14.66/hr base
25th Percentile$30,500$14.66/hr base
75th Percentile$32,400$15.58/hr base
90th Percentile$34,800$16.73/hr base

Run the numbers on your own pay

Same U.S. tax tables as the rest of the site. Change the salary, state, or filing status.

Take-Home Pay Explorer

$30,500
$15,000$65,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$30,500
Net 87%
Fed 5%
CA 1%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$26,455After all taxes
Monthly deposit$2,205Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$1,017Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate13.3%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$1,480 / yr
California state income tax$232 / yr
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$2,333 / yr

Home Health and Personal Care Aides Wage Percentiles in Merced, CA

Official survey estimates from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Full-time calculations assume standard 2,080 annual working hours.

Wage Distribution for Home Health and Personal Care Aides in the Merced, CA Metropolitan Area
Earning TierHourly WageMonthly GrossAnnual GrossEst. Annual Net (CA)
10th Percentile$14.66/hr$2,542$30,500$26,455
25th Percentile$14.66/hr$2,542$30,500$26,455
Median (50th Percentile)Metro Benchmark$14.66/hr$2,542$30,500$26,455
75th Percentile$15.58/hr$2,700$32,400$27,935
90th Percentile$16.73/hr$2,900$34,800$29,767

Cost of Living & Purchasing Power in Merced, CA

A dollar does not buy the same basket of goods everywhere. Compare how $$30,500 measures up against local economic conditions:

Metro Median Household Income$65,510Census Bureau ACS
BEA Price Parity Index98.31.7% below national average
Individual vs Household Ratio46.6%of area median income

Compare home health or personal care aides salaries statewide and examine overall earnings in California:

Frequently Asked Questions About Home Health and Personal Care Aides Pay in Merced, CA

What is the median salary for home health or personal care aides in Merced, CA?

The official BLS median annual wage for home health or personal care aides in Merced, CA is $30,500, which equates to approximately $2,542 per month or $14.66 per hour for a 2,080-hour work year.

What is the hourly pay for home health or personal care aides in Merced, CA?

The median hourly wage for home health or personal care aides in Merced, CA is $14.66 per hour based on the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $14.66/hour and one in ten earned more than $16.73/hour.

What is the pay range for home health or personal care aides in Merced, CA?

BLS wage estimates for home health or personal care aides in Merced, CA span from $30,500 at the 10th percentile to $30,500 at the 25th, $32,400 at the 75th, and $34,800 at the 90th. These are wage distribution points, not experience levels.

How much do home health or personal care aides take home after taxes in Merced, CA?

On a median gross salary of $30,500, an estimated $26,455 lands in net take-home pay per year ($1,017 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in California in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $4,045 (an effective rate of 13.3%).

How much do home health or personal care aides make per month in Merced, CA?

On the median annual salary of $30,500, gross monthly income is $2,542. After federal, FICA, and California state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $2,205 per month (or $1,017 every two weeks).

Is $30,500 a good salary in Merced, CA?

At $30,500, the median salary for home health or personal care aides is 46.6% of the Merced, CA median household income ($65,510). According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), the metropolitan price parity index is 98.3, making regional consumer goods and services 1.7% cheaper than the U.S. average.