Recruiter salary in Merced, CA
The median recruiter in Merced earned $76,820 a year in May 20251. That is 1.2% above the US median of $75,940, even though it is 8.0% below the California statewide median of $83,500. That is in the top quarter of US areas (#77 of 521). BLS counts about 280 recruiters here: a small pool for a local search.
BLS occupation 13-1071, area Merced, CA. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Merced against California and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Merced, CA | $49,610 | $76,820 | $118,050 | |
| California | $52,770 | $83,500 | $151,410 | |
| United States | $47,180 | $75,940 | $128,720 |
The middle half of recruiters in Merced earns $63,300–$98,590. Pay is tightly grouped: the top tenth starts at $118,050, only 2.4 times the bottom tenth, against 2.7 times across the US, so the going rate is easier to read. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $35,290 wide, against $51,370 across California and $40,770 nationally: employers in Merced pay within a narrower band.
What to budget for a recruiter here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $49,610 | $4,134 | $23.85 | $64,013 |
| 25th percentile | $63,300 | $5,275 | $30.43 | $81,677 |
| Median | $76,820 | $6,402 | $36.93 | $99,123 |
| 75th percentile | $98,590 | $8,216 | $47.40 | $127,213 |
| 90th percentile | $118,050 | $9,838 | $56.75 | $152,323 |
Pay climbs faster above the median than below it here: the 75th percentile is $21,770 over the median, the 25th only $13,520 under it. An offer at the 75th percentile adds about $28,090 a year in employer cost. These percentiles describe what people in the job earn locally, not experience levels, so place your offer by the tasks and seniority you need.
For scale, the US median of $75,940 falls between the 25th percentile and the median in Merced, and the California statewide median of $83,500 falls between the median and the 75th percentile.
What a hire really costs in Merced
Pay is only part of it. Benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, which adds about $22,303 to the $76,820 median and brings it to $99,123 a year. Recruiting, equipment and office space come on top. Benefit levels vary by employer, so treat this as an estimate.
We place executive assistants, customer support and e-commerce staff today; for recruiters we answer within one business day whether we can help. Enter the monthly pay you have in mind to compare it with a local hire. The fee field shows our standard fee3; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool4.
Other roles in Merced
Of the 16 roles we track in Merced, this one ranks #4 by median pay, between accountants ($80,420) and office managers ($68,070). Project Coordinator is the highest at $103,850.
| Role | Median | vs recruiter | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Executive Assistant | +5.0% | 150 | |
| Accountant | +4.7% | 360 | |
| Recruiter | this role | 280 | |
| Office Manager | -11.4% | 560 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -14.6% | 170 |
Measured against the US median, recruiters rank #11 of the 16 roles we track in Merced (+1.2%), between project coordinators (+1.5%) and office managers (-2.1%). The typical role here is at +1.8%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Recruiters hold 5.9% of the jobs in these 16 roles in Merced, 6.3% across California and 5.8% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
Other areas in California
Across the 28 areas of California with data for this job, the median runs from $70,830 in Redding to $112,140 in San Jose-Sunnyvale, a gap of $41,310 a year. Of the 22 areas in California with more recruiters than Merced, 8 pay less, the largest of them Riverside-San Bernardino, CA ($76,570), Fresno, CA ($74,170) and Bakersfield-Delano, CA ($76,700).
| Area | Median | vs Merced | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salinas, CA | +4.3% | 630 | |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | +1.6% | 610 | |
| Modesto, CA | +0.3% | 730 | |
| Merced, CA | this area | 280 | |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | -0.2% | 1,240 | |
| Riverside-San Bernardino, CA | -0.3% | 7,210 | |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | -0.3% | 1,160 |
Merced against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Merced is #377 of 521 US areas for this job. It is a mid-sized market, and its pay is in the top quarter of US areas. Outside California, Providence-Warwick and Albany-Schenectady pay just above Merced and Norwich-New London and Philadelphia-Camden just below. All four are within $180 a year of the median in Merced. Of the three markets with about as many recruiters, none pays as much.
| Metro area | Median | vs Merced | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albany-Schenectady, NY | +0.2% | 2,970 | pay | |
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | +0.1% | 4,180 | pay | |
| Merced, CA | this area | 280 | ||
| Norwich-New London, CT | -0.0% | 440 | pay | |
| Philadelphia-Camden, PA-NJ | -0.2% | 16,000 | pay | |
| Burlington, NC | -9.5% | 280 | jobs | |
| Grand Junction, CO | -13.2% | 280 | jobs | |
| Coeur d'Alene, ID | -17.4% | 280 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a recruiter in Merced, CA?
About $99,123 a year at the median, or $8,260 a month: $76,820 in pay plus about $22,303 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for recruiters in Merced?
Pay here is higher than in three quarters of US areas. The median was $76,820 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $49,610, the 90th $118,050, and the middle half earned $63,300 to $98,590.
Is Merced cheaper than the rest of California for recruiters?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $76,820 against $83,500 statewide. The next area up in California is Modesto at $77,070, the next down Bakersfield-Delano at $76,700.
How many recruiters work in Merced?
BLS counts about 280 in the May 2025 survey. 22 areas in California have more; the closest in size is Napa, with about 310.
Does a recruiter cost more than an office manager in Merced?
Yes: $8,750 a year more at the median. The medians are $76,820 and $68,070.
Sources
4 sources, with links
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 13-1071: bls.gov
- BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, private industry, June 2026: bls.gov
- Stafka pricing: stafka.com
- Deel pricing, contractor management: deel.com
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-13.