PermanentPosted 9 days ago
RN
CommonSpirit Health · Merced, CA
$60.22–$79.24/ hour
Top 25% pay
Registered Nurse jobs in Merced, CA
Pay for registered nurses in the Merced area centers on $61.00 per hour, or about $126,880 a year. The lower quarter earns under $52.34 and the upper quarter over $65.47. The CMS hospital directory lists 1 hospital in Merced. That ranks 25th of 379 U.S. metro areas for registered nurse pay, and 10th of 335 once local prices are factored in. The free report below lists employers near Merced and what they pay.
- $61.00median pay per hour, Merced
- $52–$65typical range per hour
- 930registered nurses employed in the metro area
- 1open roles with published pay
Open Registered Nurse roles in Merced
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Named employers near Merced, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportRegistered Nurse pay in Merced, CA
The metro median is 10% below the California statewide median of $67.47 per hour. Nationally the median is $45.00 per hour. BLS counts about 930 registered nurses employed in the Merced metro area, 11.8 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.55).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $46.14 | $95,970 | 3% above U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $52.34 | $108,870 | 16% above U.S. median |
| Median | $61.00 | $126,880 | 36% above U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $65.47 | $136,180 | 45% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $76.74 | $159,620 | 71% above U.S. median |
How Merced ranks
- 25th of 379 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 10th of 335 after adjusting for local prices
- 20th of 23 California metro areas
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024, Registered Nurses (SOC 29-1141), all industries. This is what employers report paying, not an offer for a specific role.
What your pay buys in Merced
- Overall prices in Merced run 2% below the U.S. average (index 98.3, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 21% below the U.S. average (index 78.6).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $61.00 median hour buys what $62.07 buys at the national price level, 38% above the national median.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024. Prices are for the metro area, not for a single neighborhood.
Estimate your Merced paycheck
Estimated weekly gross$2,196
- Per year: $109,800
- Per month: $9,150
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Merced metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Travel assignment per diem in Merced
| Item | Federal rate |
|---|---|
| Lodging per night | $110 |
| Meals and incidentals per day | $68 |
| Per week (7 nights, 7 days) | $1,246 |
| 13-week assignment | $16,198 |
Travel registered nurse assignments commonly pay housing and meals stipends. The GSA per diem is the federal benchmark for what those stipends can be tax-free (this is the standard rate that applies here). Whether a stipend is tax-free for you depends on keeping a valid tax home, so confirm with your recruiter and a tax professional. Compare with your offer in the travel pay calculator.
Source: U.S. General Services Administration per diem rates, fiscal year 2026 (average across months).
Hospitals in Merced
CMS lists 1 hospital in Merced, 0 of the 1 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of registered nurses.
| Hospital | Type | Ownership | CMS rating | Emergency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mercy Medical Center Merced, CA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 3 of 5 | Yes |
Source: CMS Hospital General Information, public data. A directory of hospitals, not a list of our clients.
Primary care shortage areas in Merced County
HRSA lists 9 active primary care shortage designations that include Merced County (2 geographic, 2 population-group, 5 facility). The highest-scoring one rates 20 on a 0 to 25 scale, where a higher score means a greater shortage.
Shortage areas are where demand for nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and other clinicians is greatest. Federal loan repayment programs such as the NHSC and Nurse Corps cover some clinicians who work at eligible shortage-area sites. Eligibility is set by each program and by the site, so ask your recruiter before you plan around it.
Source: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas data warehouse, designated areas only. A designation can cover part of a county.
Registered Nurse pay in nearby cities
| City | Distance | Median pay | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turlock, CA | 25 mi | $81.47/hr | 72,888 |
| Madera, CA | 32 mi | $60.88/hr | 69,094 |
| Modesto, CA | 37 mi | $81.47/hr | 220,592 |
| Fresno, CA | 52 mi | $60.88/hr | 550,105 |
| Manteca, CA | 53 mi | $63.39/hr | 94,292 |
| Clovis, CA | 55 mi | $60.88/hr | 127,993 |
Registered Nurse jobs in California · Registered Nurse jobs nationwide
License and tax basics in California
California is not in the Nurse Licensure Compact as of October 15, 2026, so a nurse licensed elsewhere applies to the California board for a license by endorsement before working here.
California taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.
Other healthcare roles in Merced
Merced city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do registered nurses make in Merced, CA?
Registered Nurses in the Merced metro area have a median pay of $61.00 per hour, about $126,880 a year. The middle half earn between $52.34 and $65.47 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Merced a good place for registered nurses once cost of living is counted?
Merced ranks 10th of 335 metro areas for registered nurse pay after adjusting for local prices, and 25th of 379 before adjusting. Overall prices run 2% below the U.S. average.
Who is hiring registered nurses in Merced?
We list 1 open role with published pay from 1 employer in Merced. Your free report adds named employers and pay near Merced.
Do I need a California license to work in Merced as a registered nurse?
California is not in the Nurse Licensure Compact as of October 15, 2026, so a nurse licensed elsewhere applies to the California board for a license by endorsement before working here. Confirm with the board before you accept a role.
Is Merced in a shortage area?
HRSA lists 9 active primary care shortage designations that include Merced County. Shortage areas often have more openings, and some loan repayment programs cover clinicians who work at eligible sites.
What is the per diem for a travel assignment in Merced?
The federal per diem benchmark in Merced is $110 a night for lodging and $68 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,246 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.
Does Valorem Health place registered nurses in Merced?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Merced and across California. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Merced.
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What do employers near Merced pay registered nurses? Get the report.
Tell us your role and city. Within 24 hours you get an email with three things, by employer name. It costs you nothing, because employers pay us.
- 1Pay for your role at other hospitals
The hourly pay at named employers near you, so you see who pays most.
- 2What they are offering now
The pay range and median across current postings, and how many were posted this month.
- 3Roles open for you right now
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Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]
Your RN pay reportMerced, CA · pay published by hospitals, collected October 15, 2026
1Pay for your role at other hospitals
- El Camino HealthMountain View, CA · 3 postings$108.25/ hr$94–$123
- MarinHealthGreenbrae, CA · 16 postings$106.18/ hr$59–$119
- Stanford Children's HealthPALO ALTO, CA · 8 postings$103.75/ hr$90–$113
- Montage HealthMonterey, CA · 7 postings$85.12/ hr$73–$111
Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published.
2What they are offering now
Low$50Median$66.48High$79
536 RN postings with published pay in California, 518 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.
3Open now: 536 RN roles
- RN Float PoolPer diem$103.83–$112.14/ hour
- RN Physical RehabilitationPer diem$103.83–$112.14/ hour
+ 534 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.
I'm interestedOne click. A recruiter writes only after you reply.