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An internet presentation of the Occupational Outlook Handbook plus related career guidance information

Highest paying to lowest paying occupations

Merced, CA

This list of OES earnings and employment estimates for occupations in the Merced, California, area is ordered by average earnings. The occupation title is a link to the section of the Occupational Outlook Handbook that includes the occupation. (In some cases two or more OES occupations are included together in one OOH article.)

Occupations ranked by mean annual earnings

Merced, California

Metropolitian area, all industries, May 2005

Mean annual wageOccupationMedian annual wageEmployment
$176,250Family and general practitioners
(area) (ind)
>$145Kn.a.
$164,360Physicians and surgeons, all other
(area) (ind)
>$145Kn.a.
$129,110Chief executives
(area) (ind)
$118,770 90
$116,320Pharmacists
(area) (ind)
$109,470 70
$89,180Education administrators, elementary and secondary school
(area) (ind)
$87,300 130
$86,200Engineering managers
(area) (ind)
$86,940 30
$85,130General and operations managers
(area) (ind)
$74,210 670
$84,150Physician assistants
(area) (ind)
$84,680 30
$83,120Financial managers
(area) (ind)
$81,490 140
$82,080Securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents
(area) (ind)
$60,330 30
$81,770Sales managers
(area) (ind)
$80,220 80
$79,380Industrial production managers
(area) (ind)
$74,240 60
$77,140Instructional coordinators
(area) (ind)
$72,350 60
$76,340Management occupations
(area) (ind)
$71,010 2,000
$74,210Computer and information systems managers
(area) (ind)
$71,880 30
$73,270Construction managers
(area) (ind)
$60,800 40
$73,260Clinical, counseling, and school psychologists
(area) (ind)
$73,940 60
$72,620Medical and health services managers
(area) (ind)
$77,600 80
$71,080Healthcare practitioners and technical occupations
(area) (ind)
$60,190 1,670
$70,540Dental hygienists
(area) (ind)
$73,250n.a.
$70,160Civil engineers
(area) (ind)
$67,760 40
$69,580First-line supervisors/managers of police and detectives
(area) (ind)
$68,550 30
$66,810Managers, all other
(area) (ind)
$68,780 60
$66,770Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
(area) (ind)
$67,000 30
$66,480Network and computer systems administrators
(area) (ind)
$59,870 60
$66,230Speech-language pathologists
(area) (ind)
$57,710n.a.
$65,950Medical and clinical laboratory technologists
(area) (ind)
$66,280 30
$65,760Registered nurses
(area) (ind)
$64,850 580
$64,060Accountants and auditors
(area) (ind)
$56,080 210
$63,610Mechanical engineers
(area) (ind)
$61,070 40
$63,230Loan officers
(area) (ind)
$49,140 170
$62,780Special education teachers, secondary school
(area) (ind)
$63,720 50
$62,180Librarians
(area) (ind)
$64,490 40
$59,820Administrative services managers
(area) (ind)
$43,470 80
$59,540Educational, vocational, and school counselors
(area) (ind)
$56,290 80
$59,370Vocational education teachers, secondary school
(area) (ind)
$58,360 40
$57,640Respiratory therapists
(area) (ind)
$57,250 50
$57,150Architecture and engineering occupations
(area) (ind)
$57,150 330
$57,120Cost estimators
(area) (ind)
$52,580 50
$55,910Radiologic technologists and technicians
(area) (ind)
$55,450 40
$55,610Wholesale and retail buyers, except farm products
(area) (ind)
$50,400n.a.
$55,590Secondary school teachers, except special and vocational education
(area) (ind)
$53,820n.a.
$55,410Life, physical, and social science occupations
(area) (ind)
$51,210 340
$55,050Purchasing agents and buyers, farm products
(area) (ind)
$51,910n.a.
$54,650First-line supervisors/managers of non-retail sales workers
(area) (ind)
$49,530 40
$53,870Social and community service managers
(area) (ind)
$52,770 70
$52,730Middle school teachers, except special and vocational education
(area) (ind)
$53,250 460
$52,650Occupational therapists
(area) (ind)
$44,630 30
$52,230Business and financial operations occupations
(area) (ind)
$44,010 1,260
$51,940Power plant operators
(area) (ind)
$52,390 50
$51,940Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers
(area) (ind)
$52,700 60
$51,920Special education teachers, middle school
(area) (ind)
$52,950 50
$51,820First-line supervisors/managers of mechanics, installers, and repairers
(area) (ind)
$52,300 240
$51,520First-line supervisors/managers of transportation and material-moving machine and vehicle operators
(area) (ind)
$51,980 80
$51,470Computer systems analysts
(area) (ind)
$51,680 30
$51,150First-line supervisors/managers of production and operating workers
(area) (ind)
$49,850 370
$49,860First-line supervisors/managers of construction trades and extraction workers
(area) (ind)
$47,950 230
$49,620Police and sheriff's patrol officers
(area) (ind)
$48,540 390
$49,190Editors
(area) (ind)
$47,170n.a.
$48,970Special education teachers, preschool, kindergarten, and elementary school
(area) (ind)
$51,080 120
$48,370Elementary school teachers, except special education
(area) (ind)
$48,330 1,830
$48,140Adult literacy, remedial education, and GED teachers and instructors
(area) (ind)
$47,930n.a.
$48,080Education, training, and library occupations
(area) (ind)
$43,570 6,540
$47,420Business operations specialists, all other
(area) (ind)
$40,530 250
$47,270Kindergarten teachers, except special education
(area) (ind)
$47,940 170
$47,200Computer and mathematical occupations
(area) (ind)
$42,840n.a.
$47,050Refuse and recyclable material collectors
(area) (ind)
$48,910n.a.
$47,020Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products
(area) (ind)
$39,350 260
$46,960Electrical and electronics repairers, commercial and industrial equipment
(area) (ind)
$48,860n.a.
$46,680Medical and public health social workers
(area) (ind)
$46,300 50
$45,850Human resources, training, and labor relations specialists, all other
(area) (ind)
$41,090 40
$45,750Water and liquid waste treatment plant and system operators
(area) (ind)
$45,150n.a.
$45,440Fiberglass laminators and fabricators
(area) (ind)
$31,710 40
$44,880Soil and plant scientists
(area) (ind)
$45,960 40
$44,480Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines
(area) (ind)
$43,630 50
$44,100Network systems and data communications analysts
(area) (ind)
$44,010 30
$43,580Postal service clerks
(area) (ind)
$44,170 50
$43,450Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses
(area) (ind)
$42,850 180
$43,060Industrial machinery mechanics
(area) (ind)
$45,170 200
$42,920Purchasing agents, except wholesale, retail, and farm products
(area) (ind)
$39,440 50
$42,800Drywall and ceiling tile installers
(area) (ind)
$42,030 150
$42,770Painters, transportation equipment
(area) (ind)
$46,190 30
$42,610Postal service mail carriers
(area) (ind)
$43,550 190
$42,460Electricians
(area) (ind)
$41,640 150
$42,420Roofers
(area) (ind)
$42,240 30
$42,420Carpenters
(area) (ind)
$46,150 290
$42,290Health educators
(area) (ind)
$41,990 50
$41,620Public relations specialists
(area) (ind)
$41,540 30
$41,090Correctional officers and jailers
(area) (ind)
$41,400 280
$41,010Tile and marble setters
(area) (ind)
$40,020 40
$40,220Dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance
(area) (ind)
$40,420 60
$39,970Sales representatives, services, all other
(area) (ind)
$38,380 140
$39,680Compliance officers, except agriculture, construction, health and safety, and transportation
(area) (ind)
$39,550 80
$39,490Maintenance workers, machinery
(area) (ind)
$39,820n.a.
$39,470Advertising sales agents
(area) (ind)
$40,040n.a.
$39,420First-line supervisors/managers of office and administrative support workers
(area) (ind)
$37,430 710
$39,300Executive secretaries and administrative assistants
(area) (ind)
$35,390 350
$39,140Food service managers
(area) (ind)
$38,280 110
$38,930Statistical assistants
(area) (ind)
$40,070n.a.
$38,370First-line supervisors/managers of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers
(area) (ind)
$33,570 50
$38,350Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators
(area) (ind)
$39,930 170
$38,220Insurance sales agents
(area) (ind)
$35,040 70
$38,200Electrical and electronics drafters
(area) (ind)
$34,580n.a.
$38,080Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers
(area) (ind)
$37,570 50
$38,040First-line supervisors/managers of helpers, laborers, and material movers, hand
(area) (ind)
$36,700 50
$37,510Automotive body and related repairers
(area) (ind)
$35,700 80
$37,460Human resources assistants, except payroll and timekeeping
(area) (ind)
$36,240 80
$37,360Education administrators, preschool and child care center/program
(area) (ind)
$33,330 70
$37,220Community and social services occupations
(area) (ind)
$35,300 950
$37,090Painters, construction and maintenance
(area) (ind)
$38,030 80
$37,080Agricultural inspectors
(area) (ind)
$39,190n.a.
$36,660Chefs and head cooks
(area) (ind)
$33,010n.a.
$36,620Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations
(area) (ind)
$34,790 2,630
$36,470Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers
(area) (ind)
$37,490 170
$36,430Agricultural and food science technicians
(area) (ind)
$36,910 30
$36,290Production, planning, and expediting clerks
(area) (ind)
$29,920 40
$36,280Teachers and instructors, all other
(area) (ind)
$32,320n.a.
$35,770Computer support specialists
(area) (ind)
$33,790 120
$35,400Property, real estate, and community association managers
(area) (ind)
$31,220 70
$35,020First-line supervisors/managers of housekeeping and janitorial workers
(area) (ind)
$34,880 40
$34,740Protective service occupations
(area) (ind)
$34,730 1,630
$34,730First-line supervisors/managers of personal service workers
(area) (ind)
$36,570 30
$34,290Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
(area) (ind)
$30,990 170
$34,170Opticians, dispensing
(area) (ind)
$36,140n.a.
$33,960Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists
(area) (ind)
$34,400 130
$33,900Industrial truck and tractor operators
(area) (ind)
$34,550 490
$33,710Installation, maintenance, and repair workers, all other
(area) (ind)
$22,070 40
$33,500New accounts clerks
(area) (ind)
$32,690 30
$33,460Construction and extraction occupations
(area) (ind)
$30,960 2,890
$33,280First-line supervisors/managers of retail sales workers
(area) (ind)
$30,860 540
$33,010Maintenance and repair workers, general
(area) (ind)
$34,340 540
$32,850Plasterers and stucco masons
(area) (ind)
$30,500 70
$32,720All Occupations
(area) (ind)
$25,190 60,950
$32,710Arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media occupations
(area) (ind)
$31,080 410
$32,460Interpreters and translators
(area) (ind)
$30,270 60
$32,250Legal secretaries
(area) (ind)
$31,650 70
$32,070Truck drivers, heavy and tractor-trailer
(area) (ind)
$27,410 1,320
$31,440Electronic home entertainment equipment installers and repairers
(area) (ind)
$31,970n.a.
$31,300Graphic designers
(area) (ind)
$31,430 70
$31,270Reporters and correspondents
(area) (ind)
$31,570n.a.
$31,190Pharmacy technicians
(area) (ind)
$31,820 70
$30,940Automotive service technicians and mechanics
(area) (ind)
$28,520 570
$30,860Meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers
(area) (ind)
$32,820n.a.
$30,780All other information and record clerks
(area) (ind)
$25,780 90
$30,750Police, fire, and ambulance dispatchers
(area) (ind)
$29,360 60
$30,510Payroll and timekeeping clerks
(area) (ind)
$31,060 140
$30,500Loan interviewers and clerks
(area) (ind)
$27,600 70
$30,470Fitness trainers and aerobics instructors
(area) (ind)
$24,960 60
$30,260Order clerks
(area) (ind)
$28,230 100
$30,040Conveyor operators and tenders
(area) (ind)
$32,290n.a.
$29,980Farm equipment mechanics
(area) (ind)
$29,010 110
$29,870Substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors
(area) (ind)
$29,280 50
$29,380Pesticide handlers, sprayers, and applicators, vegetation
(area) (ind)
$30,100n.a.
$29,060First-line supervisors/managers of farming, fishing, and forestry workers
(area) (ind)
$26,010 110
$29,010Coating, painting, and spraying machine setters, operators, and tenders
(area) (ind)
$23,700 30
$28,900Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks
(area) (ind)
$28,550 820
$28,890Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers
(area) (ind)
$28,220 180
$28,810Interviewers, except eligibility and loan
(area) (ind)
$25,620 70
$28,630Mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service
(area) (ind)
$30,540 30
$28,490Preschool teachers, except special education
(area) (ind)
$28,140 460
$28,320Butchers and meat cutters
(area) (ind)
$26,350 140
$28,290Food batchmakers
(area) (ind)
$18,750 470
$28,110Library technicians
(area) (ind)
$27,500 60
$28,060Cabinetmakers and bench carpenters
(area) (ind)
$24,950 80
$27,870Office and administrative support occupations
(area) (ind)
$25,800 9,550
$27,730Shipping, receiving, and traffic clerks
(area) (ind)
$26,770 280
$27,630Production occupations
(area) (ind)
$22,170 7,140
$27,580Pest control workers
(area) (ind)
$27,620 50
$27,560Transportation and material moving occupations
(area) (ind)
$23,330 4,900
$27,530Farm labor contractors
(area) (ind)
$25,600n.a.
$27,460Medical equipment preparers
(area) (ind)
$24,250n.a.
$27,450Cutting, punching, and press machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic
(area) (ind)
$26,030 40
$27,210Dental assistants
(area) (ind)
$26,420 210
$27,010Bill and account collectors
(area) (ind)
$28,930 110
$26,960Healthcare support workers, all other
(area) (ind)
$26,140 120
$26,960Rehabilitation counselors
(area) (ind)
$20,530 80
$26,890Insurance claims and policy processing clerks
(area) (ind)
$26,300 120
$26,840Outdoor power equipment and other small engine mechanics
(area) (ind)
$25,900n.a.
$26,330Parts salespersons
(area) (ind)
$22,590 110
$26,330Coaches and scouts
(area) (ind)
$24,630n.a.
$26,300Secretaries, except legal, medical, and executive
(area) (ind)
$24,870 480
$26,280Bus drivers, school
(area) (ind)
$24,950 210
$26,000Sales and related workers, all other
(area) (ind)
$25,120 30
$25,690Farmworkers, farm and ranch animals
(area) (ind)
$20,020 70
$25,320Truck drivers, light or delivery services
(area) (ind)
$22,820 200
$25,160Teacher assistants
(area) (ind)
$24,250 1,400
$24,990Sales and related occupations
(area) (ind)
$18,920 5,390
$24,960First-line supervisors/managers of food preparation and serving workers
(area) (ind)
$22,660 380
$24,910Medical records and health information technicians
(area) (ind)
$22,240 50
$24,820Billing and posting clerks and machine operators
(area) (ind)
$22,560 200
$24,800Medical secretaries
(area) (ind)
$24,270 190
$24,570Medical assistants
(area) (ind)
$24,190 320
$24,530Cutting and slicing machine setters, operators, and tenders
(area) (ind)
$22,320n.a.
$24,440Cooks, institution and cafeteria
(area) (ind)
$24,250 130
$24,230Cement masons and concrete finishers
(area) (ind)
$21,430 440
$24,120Team assemblers
(area) (ind)
$20,660 280
$23,930File clerks
(area) (ind)
$22,690 230
$23,730Packaging and filling machine operators and tenders
(area) (ind)
$19,090 1,010
$23,640Tellers
(area) (ind)
$22,520 200
$23,640Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations
(area) (ind)
$21,540 1,770
$23,630Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners
(area) (ind)
$22,500 820
$23,350Landscaping and groundskeeping workers
(area) (ind)
$20,580 500
$23,340Office clerks, general
(area) (ind)
$21,970 1,260
$23,150Healthcare support occupations
(area) (ind)
$22,080 1,440
$23,090Motor vehicle operators, all other
(area) (ind)
$19,670n.a.
$23,050Electrical and electronic equipment assemblers
(area) (ind)
$23,740 40
$23,040Agricultural workers, all other
(area) (ind)
$20,850 40
$22,990Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand
(area) (ind)
$21,870 1,240
$22,930Social and human service assistants
(area) (ind)
$22,120 190
$22,650Switchboard operators, including answering service
(area) (ind)
$22,700 50
$22,540Weighers, measurers, checkers, and samplers, recordkeeping
(area) (ind)
$20,430 50
$22,350Driver/sales workers
(area) (ind)
$18,470 270
$22,170Taxi drivers and chauffeurs
(area) (ind)
$20,080 30
$22,170Construction laborers
(area) (ind)
$20,700 640
$22,120Helpers--brickmasons, blockmasons, stonemasons, and tile and marble setters
(area) (ind)
$20,210 50
$22,110Office and administrative support workers, all other
(area) (ind)
$20,140 250
$22,100Retail salespersons
(area) (ind)
$18,830 1,730
$22,050Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists
(area) (ind)
$20,890 110
$21,880Bakers
(area) (ind)
$19,160 70
$21,730Nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants
(area) (ind)
$21,060 360
$21,650Child care workers
(area) (ind)
$20,310 270
$21,640Stock clerks and order fillers
(area) (ind)
$18,610 680
$21,520Counter and rental clerks
(area) (ind)
$17,600 320
$21,500Food cooking machine operators and tenders
(area) (ind)
$17,930n.a.
$21,110Personal care and service occupations
(area) (ind)
$18,700 900
$21,100Receptionists and information clerks
(area) (ind)
$20,660 430
$20,830Security guards
(area) (ind)
$19,060 280
$20,240Cooks, restaurant
(area) (ind)
$20,060n.a.
$20,190Nonfarm animal caretakers
(area) (ind)
$16,950n.a.
$19,730Tire repairers and changers
(area) (ind)
$19,390 40
$19,720Massage therapists
(area) (ind)
$19,930n.a.
$19,660Assemblers and fabricators, all other
(area) (ind)
$17,320 60
$19,490Production workers, all other
(area) (ind)
$19,550n.a.
$19,440Helpers--installation, maintenance, and repair workers
(area) (ind)
$17,560 80
$19,370Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks
(area) (ind)
$19,070 40
$19,230Physical therapist aides
(area) (ind)
$19,280 40
$18,940Cashiers
(area) (ind)
$16,890 2,010
$18,910Cooks, short order
(area) (ind)
$18,430 100
$18,860Residential advisors
(area) (ind)
$18,880n.a.
$18,840Agricultural equipment operators
(area) (ind)
$18,570 350
$18,240Service station attendants
(area) (ind)
$17,240 40
$18,170Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers
(area) (ind)
$17,810 50
$18,160Food preparation and serving related occupations
(area) (ind)
$17,010 5,040
$18,070Recreation workers
(area) (ind)
$16,790 180
$17,940Counter attendants, cafeteria, food concession, and coffee shop
(area) (ind)
$17,280 210
$17,710Cleaners of vehicles and equipment
(area) (ind)
$16,600 200
$17,710Maids and housekeeping cleaners
(area) (ind)
$16,960 250
$17,490Combined food preparation and serving workers, including fast food
(area) (ind)
$16,920 1,170
$17,400Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations
(area) (ind)
$16,600 3,730
$17,390Home health aides
(area) (ind)
$16,860 240
$17,300Food preparation workers
(area) (ind)
$16,870 560
$17,160Food servers, nonrestaurant
(area) (ind)
$16,740 140
$16,990Graders and sorters, agricultural products
(area) (ind)
$16,650 680
$16,980Waiters and waitresses
(area) (ind)
$16,420n.a.
$16,810Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop
(area) (ind)
$16,540n.a.
$16,460Packers and packagers, hand
(area) (ind)
$16,370 490
$16,340Cooks, fast food
(area) (ind)
$16,430 510
$16,230Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers
(area) (ind)
$16,270n.a.
$16,230Bartenders
(area) (ind)
$16,330n.a.
$16,210Farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse
(area) (ind)
$16,350 2,430
$16,180Dishwashers
(area) (ind)
$16,270n.a.
$16,140Crossing guards
(area) (ind)
$16,380 30
$15,990Amusement and recreation attendants
(area) (ind)
$16,110 90
n.a.Market research analysts
(area) (ind)
n.a. 40

source: Occupational Employment Statistics Program; about these estimates

The Merced, California metropolitan area consists of:

Merced County