Career Atlas USA

Careers in Merced, CA

Part of California.

Merced, CA’s regional price level is below the national average (index 98.275, where 100 = U.S. average, 2024 BEA data).

Unemployment rate: 9.2% · 111,756 people employed (2026-06, BLS LAUS, not seasonally adjusted).

Highest-Paying Careers

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  1. 1Physicians, All Other$273,110
  2. 2Family Medicine Physicians$270,880
  3. 3Chief Executives$181,660
  4. 4Dentists, General$170,200
  5. 5Computer and Information Systems Managers$167,150

Largest Occupations

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  1. 1Home Health and Personal Care Aides4,990 employed
  2. 2Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse3,820 employed
  3. 3Fast Food and Counter Workers2,500 employed
  4. 4Cashiers2,250 employed
  5. 5Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary1,950 employed

Highest Concentration

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  1. 1Food Science Technicians28.14× national avg
  2. 2Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse28.13× national avg
  3. 3Agricultural Equipment Operators14.06× national avg
  4. 4First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers13.79× national avg
  5. 5Graders and Sorters, Agricultural Products13.04× national avg

Best Purchasing Power

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cost-of-living adjusted

  1. 1Physicians, All Other$277,904
  2. 2Family Medicine Physicians$275,635
  3. 3Chief Executives$184,849
  4. 4Dentists, General$173,187
  5. 5Computer and Information Systems Managers$170,084

Sources

Wage and employment data: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Cost of living: BEA Regional Price Parities. Unemployment rate: BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS). Opportunity Score isn’t available at the metro level yet — see California state page.