Fundraisers Salary
Fundraisers in Merced, CA make a median of $84,570 a year, or about $40.66 an hour. The range runs from $51K at the entry level to $131K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 98.28), that's roughly $86,050 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,503/month, or 28.3% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $85K 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 fundraisers
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Merced
Merced sits well above the national pay line for fundraisers, local pay runs about 17% higher than the U.S. median of $73K. Rent runs $1,503/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 28.2% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 98.28) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for fundraisers in metros near Merced, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $78K | $68K |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $83K | $72K |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $76K | $68K |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $107K | $97K |
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 fundraisers (10th percentile) start around $51K. Mid-career wages sit at $85K. Top earners bring in $131K or more, a $80K spread from bottom to top.
Fundraisers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Fundraisers salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $81K | +11% | 2,350 |
| New York | $81K | +11% | 11,600 |
| Maryland | $80K | +10% | 2,010 |
| California | $80K | +10% | 12,860 |
| Massachusetts | $79K | +9% | 6,160 |
| Washington | $79K | +9% | 3,870 |
| Connecticut | $78K | +7% | 1,350 |
| New Jersey | $77K | +6% | 1,950 |
| Minnesota | $77K | +6% | 3,190 |
| North Dakota | $76K | +5% | 340 |
| Rhode Island | $75K | +4% | 1,000 |
| Colorado | $74K | +3% | 2,470 |
| Virginia | $73K | +0% | 4,010 |
| Vermont | $73K | -0% | 510 |
| Louisiana | $72K | -1% | 330 |
| Georgia | $72K | -1% | 2,690 |
| Wyoming | $71K | -2% | 90 |
| Delaware | $71K | -2% | 320 |
| Nevada | $69K | -6% | 310 |
| Kentucky | $68K | -6% | 1,030 |
| Nebraska | $68K | -6% | 770 |
| South Dakota | $67K | -8% | 80 |
| Maine | $67K | -8% | 930 |
| Illinois | $66K | -8% | 4,470 |
| New Hampshire | $66K | -9% | 810 |
| Indiana | $66K | -9% | 2,080 |
| Michigan | $66K | -9% | 3,170 |
| North Carolina | $66K | -9% | 3,700 |
| Wisconsin | $66K | -9% | 2,130 |
| New Mexico | $65K | -10% | 330 |
| Kansas | $65K | -11% | 1,100 |
| Florida | $64K | -11% | N/A |
| Arizona | $64K | -12% | 1,580 |
| Ohio | $64K | -12% | 3,460 |
| Oregon | $64K | -12% | 2,090 |
| Oklahoma | $64K | -12% | 950 |
| Iowa | $64K | -12% | 1,230 |
| Missouri | $64K | -12% | 1,670 |
| Hawaii | $64K | -12% | 440 |
| Pennsylvania | $64K | -12% | 6,180 |
| Alaska | $63K | -14% | 290 |
| South Carolina | $63K | -14% | 1,200 |
| Utah | $62K | -15% | 920 |
| Tennessee | $61K | -15% | 1,930 |
| Montana | $61K | -16% | 700 |
| Idaho | $61K | -16% | 380 |
| Texas | $60K | -17% | 4,020 |
| Alabama | $60K | -17% | 1,120 |
| Mississippi | $58K | -21% | 230 |
| West Virginia | $55K | -25% | 260 |
| Arkansas | $50K | -31% | 360 |
Showing 1–10 of 51 states
Track fundraisers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Merced numbers change.
Related careers in Business & Finance
Frequently asked questions
Can a fundraiser afford a 2BR apartment alone in Merced?
Yes — at the median salary of $85K, rent takes 28.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,503/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for fundraisers in Merced?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new fundraisers typically earn — is $51K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,038/month. At HUD’s $1,503/month FMR, rent would take 49% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is fundraiser a high-paying job in Merced?
Local pay is 17% above the national median — $85K here vs. $73K nationally.
How does Merced compare to the national average for fundraisers?
Merced pays $85K median vs. the U.S. average of $73K — that’s +17%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 98.28), the purchasing-power equivalent is $86K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do fundraisers make in Merced, CA?
The median is $84,570 a year, that works out to about $41 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $50,640, and experienced fundraisers can clear $130,900. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $85K enough to live in Merced?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,323/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,503/month, which eats 28.2% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a fundraisers 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 fundraisers salary is worth about $86,050 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do fundraisers 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.