SOC 53-7062 · Merced, CA metro

Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand Salary in Merced, CA

The average salary for laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand in Merced, California is $44,050 a year ($21.18 an hour), according to BLS estimates for May 2025. The median is $41,890: half of the 1,130 people in this job in the Merced, CA metro area earn more than that, half earn less. That average is 4% more than the U.S. average for this job ($42,260).

$44,050average per year

$21.18 / hourMedian $41,890Take-home ≈ $36,676

  • $34K10th
  • $36K25th
  • $42KMedian
  • $49K75th
  • $59K90th

median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it

1,130people in this job
+4%vs U.S. average
#16 of 25California metros
98cost of living (U.S. = 100)
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Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand pay range in Merced

New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $34,320 a year or less, while the top 10% make $58,880 or more. The middle half of laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand in Merced earn between $35,960 and $48,830.

  • $34K10th
  • $36K25th
  • $42KMedian
  • $49K75th
  • $59K90th

median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it

Pay levelPer yearPer monthPer hour*
Average$44,050$3,671$21.18
Median$41,890$3,491$20.14
Entry level (25th percentile)$35,960$2,997$17.29
Experienced (75th percentile)$48,830$4,069$23.48

*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.

Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand pay in Merced vs. California and the U.S.

Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand in Merced earn 3% less than the California average ($45,590) and 4% more than the U.S. average ($42,260). At the median the gap is +4% against the U.S. median of $40,240.

AreaAverageMedian10th pct.90th pct.Jobs
Merced$44,050$41,890$34,320$58,8801,130
California$45,590$44,710$36,060$57,700355,500
United States$42,260$40,240$31,270$55,1402,950,280

State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.

Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand salary after taxes in Merced

On the average salary of $44,050, a single filer in Merced takes home about $36,676 a year, or $3,056 a month and $1,411 every two weeks. Taxes take 17% 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.

California paycheck calculator: try your own salary

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Is Merced a good place for laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand? 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 $44,050 buys what about $44,823 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Merced ($47,220). A typical home costs $419,171, or 9.5 years of this average salary before tax.

See what $44,050 is worth in another city

Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand salary in other California cities

Merced ranks 16th of 25 California metro areas for this job; San Francisco pays the most ($51,280).

All Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand salaries in California

Highest-paying cities for laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand

San Francisco, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($51,280).

Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand salary by city

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Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand salary in Merced: questions

How much do laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand make an hour in Merced?

$21.18 an hour on average, and $20.14 at the median (BLS, May 2025).

What is the entry-level laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand salary in Merced?

The lowest-paid 10% earn about $34,320 a year and the 25th percentile is $35,960, a fair guide to starting pay.

What is the laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand take-home pay in Merced?

About $36,676 a year ($3,056 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $44,050. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.

Do laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand earn more in Merced than elsewhere?

The average here is 4% more than the U.S. average for this job ($42,260).

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 53-7062; area Merced, CA (32900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.9%.
  • 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 0.75, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.75).

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