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Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA, STNA, LNA) salary in Merced, CA

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The median annual wage for Nursing Assistants in Merced, CA was $44,730 in BLS OEWS May 2025, and the middle half of workers earned between $43,590 and $46,910.

Direct match · SOC 31-1131

BLS occupation: Nursing Assistants.

The published occupation matches Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA, STNA, LNA). BLS wages are not a specific employer offer.

Merced, CA versus the nation

Merced, CA median is $2,470 (5.8%) above the national median of $42,260.

Merced, CA

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · OEWS May 2025Nursing Assistants, Merced, CA
Pay range for Nursing Assistants, Merced, CAMedian $44,730$28,849$56,138
  • P10 to P90 published range
  • P25 to P75 middle range
  • P50 median
Each mark uses wages published by BLS for this occupation and area. See the percentile table below for exact values.
Nursing Assistants, Merced, CA, BLS OEWS May 2025.
PointAnnual wage
10th percentile$39,040
25th percentile$43,590
Median$44,730
75th percentile$46,910
90th percentile$50,880
Mean (average)$45,300

United States

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · OEWS May 2025Nursing Assistants, United States
Pay range for Nursing Assistants, United StatesMedian $42,260$28,849$56,138
  • P10 to P90 published range
  • P25 to P75 middle range
  • P50 median
Each mark uses wages published by BLS for this occupation and area. See the percentile table below for exact values.
Nursing Assistants, United States, BLS OEWS May 2025.
PointAnnual wage
10th percentile$33,940
25th percentile$37,260
Median$42,260
75th percentile$47,220
90th percentile$51,980
Mean (average)$42,700

For Nursing Assistants in Merced, CA, BLS reports a median of $44,730; the middle half of workers earned between $43,590 and $46,910 (BLS OEWS May 2025).

Merced, CA

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · OEWS May 2025Nursing Assistants, Merced, CA
Pay range for Nursing Assistants, Merced, CAMedian $21.51$13.87$26.99
  • P10 to P90 published range
  • P25 to P75 middle range
  • P50 median
Each mark uses wages published by BLS for this occupation and area. See the percentile table below for exact values.
Nursing Assistants, Merced, CA, BLS OEWS May 2025.
PointHourly wage
10th percentile$18.77
25th percentile$20.96
Median$21.51
75th percentile$22.55
90th percentile$24.46
Mean (average)$21.78

United States

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · OEWS May 2025Nursing Assistants, United States
Pay range for Nursing Assistants, United StatesMedian $20.32$13.87$26.99
  • P10 to P90 published range
  • P25 to P75 middle range
  • P50 median
Each mark uses wages published by BLS for this occupation and area. See the percentile table below for exact values.
Nursing Assistants, United States, BLS OEWS May 2025.
PointHourly wage
10th percentile$16.32
25th percentile$17.91
Median$20.32
75th percentile$22.70
90th percentile$24.99
Mean (average)$20.53

For Nursing Assistants in Merced, CA, BLS reports a median of $21.51; the middle half of workers earned between $20.96 and $22.55 (BLS OEWS May 2025).

What BLS wages include and exclude

Included

  • Base rates
  • Commissions
  • Cost-of-living allowances
  • Deadheading pay
  • Guaranteed pay
  • Hazard pay
  • Incentive pay
  • Longevity pay
  • Over-the-road pay (Mileage)
  • Piece rates
  • Portal-to-portal rates
  • Production bonuses
  • Tips

Excluded

  • Attendance bonuses
  • Back pay
  • Clothing allowances
  • Discount
  • Draw
  • Holiday bonus
  • Holiday premium pay
  • Jury duty pay
  • Meal and lodging payments
  • Merchandise discounts
  • Non-production bonuses
  • On-call pay
  • Overtime pay
  • Perquisites
  • Profit-sharing payments
  • Relocation allowances
  • Severance pay
  • Shift differentials
  • Stock bonuses
  • Tool/equipment allowances
  • Tuition repayment
  • Uniform allowance
  • Weekend premium pay
  • Year-end bonuses

Employment: 500 jobs. Location quotient: 0.67.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, BLS OEWS May 2025. SOC 31-1131 Nursing Assistants, Merced, CA. BLS page for this occupation. BLS page for Merced, CA. CSV

How has published pay changed since the last BLS release?

These are separate BLS estimates, not a wage growth forecast. Survey coverage and area boundaries can change. The table places the published median for Nursing Assistants in Merced, CA from BLS OEWS May 2024 next to BLS OEWS May 2025. A top-coded value is a floor, not an exact median.

Nursing Assistants, SOC 31-1131, Merced, CA. Published medians from both reference periods.
Pay basisBLS OEWS May 2024BLS OEWS May 2025
annual$44,040$44,730
hourly$21.17$21.51

Prior release: 2024-05, published 2025-04-02. Current release: 2025-05, published 2026-05-15. A top-coded value is a floor, not an exact median.

What does this pay include, and what does it leave out?

OEWS counts base rates, guaranteed pay and production incentives. It describes pay reported for employees, not an offer for this vacancy. Benefits and self-employed earnings are outside these wage estimates. Compare the regular pay for the duties you need covered.

A BLS occupation can include different settings, shifts and levels; it does not price your exact schedule.

OEWS excludes overtime, shift differentials and on-call pay. For a night, weekend or call assignment, discuss those payments separately from the published wage.

Meal and lodging payments and relocation allowances are excluded. A travel per diem for those costs is not part of this wage. Keep it separate from the pay comparison.

Non-production bonuses are excluded. A sign-on or retention payment that is not tied to production should be discussed separately. BLS does not publish an amount to add for that payment.

BLS pay definitions. These notes do not add an estimated bonus or premium.

How does clinical pay compare with management pay here?

These duties map to different BLS occupations. A manager's median is not a promised raise for a clinician. Read the mapping on each page. Each link below opens a related occupation with its own SOC code, published percentiles and source line. Compare the duties before comparing medians, because a title change can mean a different occupation.

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