Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs Salary
In Merced, CA, eligibility interviewers, government programs earn $47,230 at the median, or about $22.71 an hour. The range runs from $40K at the entry level to $78K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 98.28), that's roughly $48,057 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,503/month, about 46.1% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $47K get you in Merced?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Merced’s Regional Price Parity (98.28). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About eligibility interviewers, government programs
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What this looks like in Merced
Pay for eligibility interviewers, government programs in Merced runs about 13% below the U.S. median of $54K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,503/month, which is 46.4% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 98.28) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for eligibility interviewers, government programss.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for eligibility interviewers, government programs in metros near Merced, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Chico | $59K | $58K |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $64K | $56K |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $57K | $54K |
| Fresno | $59K | $58K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Merced, CA
Entry-level eligibility interviewers, government programs (10th percentile) start around $40K. Mid-career wages sit at $47K. Top earners bring in $78K or more, a $38K spread from bottom to top.
Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $74K | +37% | 640 |
| Connecticut | $72K | +33% | 1,250 |
| Michigan | $67K | +23% | 5,060 |
| Washington | $66K | +22% | 3,880 |
| Massachusetts | $65K | +19% | 1,700 |
| Rhode Island | $65K | +19% | 570 |
| California | $64K | +17% | 30,960 |
| Minnesota | $63K | +16% | 2,910 |
| Illinois | $62K | +14% | 1,740 |
| Alaska | $62K | +14% | 400 |
| Iowa | $61K | +13% | 1,040 |
| Montana | $59K | +9% | 550 |
| Pennsylvania | $59K | +9% | 10,280 |
| Colorado | $59K | +8% | 3,140 |
| Vermont | $59K | +8% | 310 |
| New Hampshire | $57K | +6% | 240 |
| Maryland | $57K | +5% | 3,710 |
| Oregon | $56K | +3% | 1,740 |
| Nevada | $55K | +2% | N/A |
| Hawaii | $55K | +1% | 610 |
| Alabama | $54K | -0% | 2,720 |
| New York | $53K | -1% | 10,220 |
| New Mexico | $53K | -2% | 790 |
| Utah | $53K | -3% | 1,960 |
| Idaho | $53K | -3% | 240 |
| South Dakota | $52K | -3% | 470 |
| Kentucky | $52K | -4% | 1,710 |
| North Dakota | $52K | -4% | 410 |
| Wisconsin | $51K | -5% | 1,610 |
| New Jersey | $51K | -5% | 920 |
| Virginia | $51K | -6% | 4,290 |
| Maine | $51K | -6% | 620 |
| Nebraska | $50K | -7% | 220 |
| Ohio | $50K | -8% | 4,300 |
| Kansas | $50K | -8% | 810 |
| Tennessee | $49K | -9% | 4,060 |
| Oklahoma | $49K | -9% | 520 |
| Louisiana | $48K | -11% | 740 |
| North Carolina | $47K | -13% | 7,740 |
| Texas | $47K | -14% | 12,020 |
| Arkansas | $45K | -16% | 610 |
| Georgia | $45K | -18% | 6,120 |
| West Virginia | $44K | -19% | 250 |
| Delaware | $43K | -21% | 120 |
| Missouri | $43K | -21% | 4,130 |
| Arizona | $42K | -23% | 3,440 |
| Indiana | $40K | -26% | 3,000 |
| South Carolina | $39K | -29% | 1,750 |
| Florida | $37K | -31% | 5,880 |
| Mississippi | $37K | -32% | 1,760 |
Showing 1–10 of 50 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track eligibility interviewers, government programs salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Merced numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a eligibility interviewers, government program afford a 2BR apartment alone in Merced?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $47K, rent takes 46.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,503/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,000/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for eligibility interviewers, government programs in Merced?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new eligibility interviewers, government programs typically earn — is $40K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,394/month. At HUD’s $1,503/month FMR, rent would take 63% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is eligibility interviewers, government program a high-paying job in Merced?
Local pay runs 13% below the national median — $47K here vs. $54K nationally.
How does Merced compare to the national average for eligibility interviewers, government programs?
Merced pays $47K median vs. the U.S. average of $54K — that’s -13%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 98.28), the purchasing-power equivalent is $48K — below the national median.
How much do eligibility interviewers, government programs make in Merced, CA?
The median is $47,230 a year, that works out to about $23 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $39,900, and experienced eligibility interviewers, government programs can clear $78,370. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $47K enough to live in Merced?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,239/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,503/month, which eats 46.4% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a eligibility interviewers, government programs salary go in Merced?
Merced has a Regional Price Parity of 98.28 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median eligibility interviewers, government programs salary is worth about $48,057 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do eligibility interviewers, government programs get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.