Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators pay range in Merced
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $62,250 a year or less, while the top 10% make $136,640 or more. The middle half of claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators in Merced earn between $82,880 and $120,140.
- $62K10th
- $83K25th
- $111KMedian
- $120K75th
- $137K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $103,890 | $8,658 | $49.95 |
| Median | $110,910 | $9,242 | $53.32 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $82,880 | $6,907 | $39.85 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $120,140 | $10,012 | $57.76 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators pay in Merced vs. California and the U.S.
Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators in Merced earn 13% more than the California average ($91,860) and 29% more than the U.S. average ($80,470). At the median the gap is +42% against the U.S. median of $78,000.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Merced | $103,890 | $110,910 | $62,250 | $136,640 | 40 |
| California | $91,860 | $91,790 | $60,020 | $124,990 | 24,290 |
| United States | $80,470 | $78,000 | $48,850 | $117,040 | 324,230 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators salary after taxes in Merced
On the average salary of $103,890, a single filer in Merced takes home about $76,347 a year, or $6,362 a month and $2,936 every two weeks. Taxes take 27% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is Merced a good place for claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Merced area are 2% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 98.3), so the average $103,890 buys what about $105,714 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Merced ($47,220). A typical home costs $419,171, or 4.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators salary in other California cities
Merced ranks 3rd of 20 California metro areas for this job; San Francisco pays the most ($105,960).
- San Francisco$105,960
- San Jose$105,400
- Merced$103,890
- Salinas$102,060
- Santa Cruz$97,770
- Santa Rosa$96,480
- San Luis Obispo$94,090
- Stockton$93,930
- Vallejo$92,940
- Santa Maria$92,200
All Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators salaries in California
Highest-paying cities for claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
San Francisco, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($105,960).
- San Francisco, CA$105,960
- San Jose, CA$105,400
- Merced, CA$103,890
- Bridgeport, CT$102,710
- Salinas, CA$102,060
Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators salary by city
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Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators salary in Merced: questions
How much do claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators make an hour in Merced?
$49.95 an hour on average, and $53.32 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators salary in Merced?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $62,250 a year and the 25th percentile is $82,880, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators take-home pay in Merced?
About $76,347 a year ($6,362 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $103,890. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators earn more in Merced than elsewhere?
The average here is 29% more than the U.S. average for this job ($80,470).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 13-1031; area Merced, CA (32900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.0%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.24, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.24).
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