Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary Salary in Merced, CA
Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary in the Merced, CA metro area earn a median $44,680 a year — 21% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $36,723 take-home, or $3,060 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median teaching assistants, except postsecondary salary in Merced, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,182
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,770
- Medicare (1.45%)$648
- California income tax$777
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$581
- Take-home pay$36,723
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.00% state
Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary pay by experience in Merced, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,780 | $17.68 | $30,794 | $2,566 |
| 25th percentile | $37,810 | $18.18 | $31,567 | $2,631 |
| Median (50th) | $44,680 | $21.48 | $36,723 | $3,060 |
| 75th percentile | $46,520 | $22.37 | $38,104 | $3,175 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $55,890 | $26.87 | $44,958 | $3,747 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $44,680 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 teaching assistants, except postsecondary's $36,723 take-home pay has the buying power of $37,368 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Merced, CA has 2.7× the national concentration of teaching assistants, except postsecondary jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for teaching assistants, except postsecondary, adjusted for cost of living
Merced, CA ranks #20 of 337 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mount Vernon, WA | $57,950 | $48,743 | $47,580 |
| 2 | Decatur, IL | $48,480 | $38,879 | $43,969 |
| 3 | Bellingham, WA | $51,670 | $43,697 | $42,287 |
| 4 | Yakima, WA | $47,380 | $40,250 | $42,127 |
| 5 | Olympia, WA | $51,350 | $43,440 | $41,902 |
| 6 | Pueblo, CO | $46,280 | $38,038 | $41,453 |
| 7 | Bismarck, ND | $44,110 | $37,622 | $41,332 |
| 8 | Seattle, WA | $53,950 | $45,529 | $40,968 |
| 20 | Merced, CA | $44,680 | $36,723 | $37,368 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 337 metros →
Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary salaries elsewhere in California
- El Centro, CA — $43,970
- Modesto, CA — $47,990
- Visalia, CA — $45,230
- Chico, CA — $45,660
- Hanford, CA — $45,780
- Santa Rosa, CA — $48,270
- Fresno, CA — $45,340
- Redding, CA — $44,430
Frequently asked questions
How much does a teaching assistants, except postsecondary make in Merced, CA?
The median teaching assistants, except postsecondary salary in the Merced, CA metro area is $44,680 a year, or about $21.48 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $37,810 and $46,520.
What is a teaching assistants, except postsecondary’s take-home pay in Merced, CA?
On the median $44,680 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $36,723 a year ($3,060 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,357 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Merced, CA a good place to work as a teaching assistants, except postsecondary?
Pay here is 21% above the national median of $36,780. Local prices are 1.7% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $37,368 would in a typical U.S. city. Merced, CA ranks #20 of 337 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a teaching assistants, except postsecondary 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) — 40% of a median teaching assistants, except postsecondary’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.