Plumber Salary in Merced, CA: $61,748 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time plumber in Merced, CA earns a median $61,748/year (≈ $29.69/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 47-2152). Once you factor in Merced's price level (2% below national, BEA RPP 98.3), that paycheck buys what $62,832 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 5.8% below the California state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In 2026, leveraging specialized skills such as medical gas installation or underground utility work can elevate a plumber's earnings in Merced, CA, to a projected median annual salary of $61,748. This figure reflects a competitive salary range from $46,657 at the lower end to $82,416 for top earners. These estimates, based on 2025 BLS OEWS data projected to 2026, illustrate the earning potential for plumbers in this region while revealing a slight dip when compared to the national median salary of $65,408. With growing demand driven by an aging infrastructure and a workforce that's also nearing retirement, the job market for plumbing professionals is poised for steady growth.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $46,657 | $22.43 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $49,650 | $23.87 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $61,748 | $29.69 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $75,065 | $36.09 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $82,416 | $39.62 |
Median Salary Position
5.6% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Merced
In Merced, CA, the plumber salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $35,759 (2026 est.). At $61,748, the local median is 5.6% below the national median of $65,408.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Merced: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Merced Plumber Pay Compares
Merced median: $61,748/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Merced Pays |
|---|---|---|
| California Average | $65,550 | -5.80% less |
| National Average | $65,408 | -5.60% less |
Plumbers in Merced, CA earn a median of $61,748 per year (2026 est.), which is 5.60% lower than the national median of $65,408 and 5.80% below the California state average of $65,550.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Merced has a cost of living 1.72% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Merced, CA has a cost-of-living index of 98.275 (below the national average of 100). A plumber earning $61,748 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $62,832 in an average-cost city — an effective 1.76% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$38,930
2025 BLS Actual
$60,230
2026 Current Est.
$61,748
2019–2027 Growth
+62.6%
Salary Trajectory for Plumbers in Merced (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.52% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $38,930 | Actual |
| 2020 | $42,140 | Actual |
| 2021 | $56,930 | Actual |
| 2022 | $54,660 | Actual |
| 2023 | $56,790 | Actual |
| 2024 | $56,590 | Actual |
| 2025 | $60,230 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $61,748 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $63,304 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Merced metropolitan area, the median plumber salary grew 54.7% from $38,930 (2019) to $60,230 (2025). At a 2.52% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $63,304 by 2027 — a total increase of $24,374 (62.61%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Merced metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 2.52% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Salary by Experience Level
| Experience | Estimated Salary Range |
|---|---|
| 0-2 years (New Graduate) | $46,657 – $49,650 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $49,650 – $61,748 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $61,748 – $75,065 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $75,065 – $82,416 |
Plumber salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual plumber compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Plumber Job Market in Merced
In Merced, where approximately 160 plumbers are employed, professionals must consider the local cost of living, which stands at a CoL index of 98.275. This slightly below-average figure means that although plumber pay in Merced, CA, may be lower than the national median, it provides a reasonable standard of living. Employers such as union plumbing contractors offer the most lucrative compensation, as the union pipefitter wages typically command a premium compared to non-union positions. The disparity in pay arises from various factors, including specialized skills, such as medical gas or industrial plumbing, and the difference between service work and new construction projects. To maximize earnings, plumbers should focus on obtaining relevant credentials, like a contractor’s license, and consider pursuing positions with high-upside commission structures in service plumbing companies. Understanding market nuances is vital for enhancing income potential in Merced's plumbing sector.
More salary data for Merced, CA:
Frequently Asked Questions
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Can plumbers make $100K in Merced?
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Written by Samuel Torres, CWP
Career Analyst
Samuel Torres has 10 years of experience in plumbing. He specializes in residential plumbing systems. He has worked with several home improvement companies.
Methodology & Data Source
Salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. The BLS reported a median annual salary of $60,230 for plumbersin the Merced metropolitan area. A 2.52% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 compensation. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (–). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.52%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for plumbers (SOC 47-2152).
Compiled and verified by Samuel Torres, CWP, a licensed plumber with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov