Registered Nurse Salary in Merced, CA
Registered Nurses in the Merced, CA metro area earn a median $131,620 a year — 35% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $91,506 take-home, or $7,626 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median registered nurse salary in Merced, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$20,323
- Social Security (6.2%)$8,160
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,908
- California income tax$8,011
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,711
- Take-home pay$91,506
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 9.30% state
Registered Nurse pay by experience in Merced, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $95,070 | $45.71 | $69,864 | $5,822 |
| 25th percentile | $118,890 | $57.16 | $84,096 | $7,008 |
| Median (50th) | $131,620 | $63.28 | $91,506 | $7,626 |
| 75th percentile | $151,880 | $73.02 | $103,206 | $8,601 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $165,580 | $79.61 | $111,118 | $9,260 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $131,620 buys in Merced, CA
Prices in Merced, CA are 1.7% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 21% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median registered nurse's $91,506 take-home pay has the buying power of $93,112 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Registered Nurse jobs are less concentrated in Merced, CA than nationally (location quotient 0.61), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for registered nurses, adjusted for cost of living
Merced, CA ranks #9 of 370 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $216,740 | $142,511 | $129,059 |
| 2 | Vallejo, CA | $203,290 | $134,031 | $123,555 |
| 3 | Santa Rosa, CA | $174,550 | $116,298 | $107,899 |
| 4 | Sacramento, CA | $171,460 | $114,514 | $107,353 |
| 5 | San Francisco, CA | $186,610 | $123,394 | $106,730 |
| 6 | Santa Cruz, CA | $170,960 | $114,225 | $103,939 |
| 7 | Yuba City, CA | $149,320 | $101,728 | $97,597 |
| 8 | Olympia, WA | $125,020 | $96,717 | $93,293 |
| 9 | Merced, CA | $131,620 | $91,506 | $93,112 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 370 metros →
Registered Nurse salaries elsewhere in California
- San Jose, CA — $216,740
- Vallejo, CA — $203,290
- Santa Rosa, CA — $174,550
- Sacramento, CA — $171,460
- San Francisco, CA — $186,610
- Santa Cruz, CA — $170,960
- Yuba City, CA — $149,320
- Redding, CA — $134,350
Frequently asked questions
How much does a registered nurse make in Merced, CA?
The median registered nurse salary in the Merced, CA metro area is $131,620 a year, or about $63.28 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $118,890 and $151,880.
What is a registered nurse’s take-home pay in Merced, CA?
On the median $131,620 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $91,506 a year ($7,626 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $9,722 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Merced, CA a good place to work as a registered nurse?
Pay here is 35% above the national median of $97,550. Local prices are 1.7% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $93,112 would in a typical U.S. city. Merced, CA ranks #9 of 370 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a registered nurse afford rent in Merced, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Merced, CA is $1,213 a month ($1,503 for two bedrooms) — 16% of a median registered nurse’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.