Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers salary in Merced, CA

The median veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers in Merced, CA earns $40,040 a year, 5% above the US median. After tax that is roughly $2,629 a month.

10th percentile: $36,620
25th percentile: $36,620
Median percentile: $40,040
75th percentile: $46,510
90th percentile: $51,850

Based on 50 employed. Data period: BLS OEWS May 2025. Percentiles show the spread of pay, not experience; reading the 25th percentile as "entry level" is only an approximation.

What you keep

$31,549 take-home a year

Gross pay	$40,040
Federal income tax	−$2,625
Social Security + Medicare	−$3,063
California income tax (approx.)	−$2,803
Monthly take-home	$2,629
Every two weeks	$1,213

Does it go far here?

$40,743Median pay in Merced, CA is worth this at average US prices (local price level 98.3 vs 100).

51%of take-home pay goes to the median rent ($1,343 a month, Census ACS).

Top-paying jobs in Merced, CA

Job	Median pay
Registered Nurses	$131,620
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education	$100,120
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education	$99,600
General and Operations Managers	$94,990
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers	$68,070
Substitute Teachers, Short-Term	$60,770
Child, Family, and School Social Workers	$60,200
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General	$56,700

All veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers salaries · Take-home pay in California