Human Resources Specialists pay range in Merced
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $49,610 a year or less, while the top 10% make $118,050 or more. The middle half of human resources specialists in Merced earn between $63,300 and $98,590.
- $50K10th
- $63K25th
- $77KMedian
- $99K75th
- $118K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $81,980 | $6,832 | $39.41 |
| Median | $76,820 | $6,402 | $36.93 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $63,300 | $5,275 | $30.43 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $98,590 | $8,216 | $47.40 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Human Resources Specialists pay in Merced vs. California and the U.S.
Human resources specialists in Merced earn 14% less than the California average ($95,180) and about the same as the U.S. average ($81,990). At the median the gap is +1% against the U.S. median of $75,940.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Merced | $81,980 | $76,820 | $49,610 | $118,050 | 280 |
| California | $95,180 | $83,500 | $52,770 | $151,410 | 104,000 |
| United States | $81,990 | $75,940 | $47,180 | $128,720 | 912,430 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Human Resources Specialists salary after taxes in Merced
On the average salary of $81,980, a single filer in Merced takes home about $62,971 a year, or $5,248 a month and $2,422 every two weeks. Taxes take 23% 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 human resources specialists? 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 $81,980 buys what about $83,419 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Merced ($47,220). A typical home costs $419,171, or 5.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Human Resources Specialists salary in other California cities
Merced ranks 15th of 25 California metro areas for this job; San Jose pays the most ($122,290).
- San Jose$122,290
- San Francisco$113,530
- Santa Cruz$93,190
- Vallejo$92,480
- Santa Maria$91,880
- San Diego$91,760
- Napa$91,260
- Oxnard$90,570
- Los Angeles$89,780
- Merced$81,980
Highest-paying cities for human resources specialists
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($122,290).
- San Jose, CA$122,290
- San Francisco, CA$113,530
- Washington, DC$105,580
- Lexington Park, MD$104,240
- Boulder, CO$99,420
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Human Resources Specialists salary in Merced: questions
How much do human resources specialists make an hour in Merced?
$39.41 an hour on average, and $36.93 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level human resources specialists salary in Merced?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $49,610 a year and the 25th percentile is $63,300, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the human resources specialists take-home pay in Merced?
About $62,971 a year ($5,248 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $81,980. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do human resources specialists earn more in Merced than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as the U.S. average for this job ($81,990).
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 13-1071; area Merced, CA (32900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.3%.
- 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 0.60, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.60).
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.