Human Resources Managers Salary
In Merced, CA, human resources managers earn $153,210 at the median, or about $73.66 an hour. The range runs from $91K at the entry level to $265K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 98.28), that's roughly $155,891 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,503/month, or 16.6% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $153K 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 human resources managers
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What this looks like in Merced
Human resources managers pay in Merced tracks closely to the national median, $153K locally vs. $149K nationwide, a 3% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,503/month, 17.2% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. 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 human resources managers in metros near Merced, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $168K | $148K |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $209K | $181K |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $220K | $200K |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $163K | $146K |
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 human resources managers (10th percentile) start around $91K. Mid-career wages sit at $153K. Top earners bring in $265K or more, a $174K spread from bottom to top.
Human Resources Managers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Human Resources Managers salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $184K | +23% | 2,250 |
| Massachusetts | $182K | +22% | 7,540 |
| New York | $177K | +18% | 17,920 |
| New Jersey | $172K | +16% | 6,400 |
| California | $170K | +14% | 27,450 |
| Rhode Island | $167K | +12% | 530 |
| Colorado | $166K | +11% | 3,620 |
| Virginia | $166K | +11% | 5,770 |
| Connecticut | $166K | +11% | 3,020 |
| Washington | $166K | +11% | 4,560 |
| Delaware | $154K | +3% | 580 |
| Minnesota | $154K | +3% | 4,370 |
| Maryland | $153K | +2% | 3,820 |
| Illinois | $151K | +1% | 13,520 |
| Georgia | $151K | +1% | 7,270 |
| North Carolina | $143K | -4% | 6,480 |
| Oregon | $141K | -6% | 2,810 |
| Arizona | $140K | -6% | 3,950 |
| North Dakota | $139K | -7% | 290 |
| Michigan | $139K | -7% | 5,890 |
| Florida | $138K | -8% | 11,570 |
| Texas | $137K | -9% | 23,220 |
| New Hampshire | $135K | -10% | 1,150 |
| Kansas | $134K | -10% | 1,290 |
| Wisconsin | $133K | -11% | 3,730 |
| Pennsylvania | $133K | -11% | 8,230 |
| Vermont | $132K | -12% | 360 |
| Tennessee | $132K | -12% | 4,310 |
| Utah | $131K | -12% | 2,240 |
| Missouri | $131K | -12% | 3,510 |
| Ohio | $130K | -13% | 8,040 |
| Indiana | $130K | -13% | 3,030 |
| Maine | $130K | -13% | 700 |
| Alaska | $130K | -13% | 610 |
| Nebraska | $129K | -13% | 1,660 |
| Hawaii | $129K | -14% | 710 |
| Nevada | $129K | -14% | 1,520 |
| Wyoming | $128K | -15% | 140 |
| Iowa | $126K | -15% | 1,620 |
| South Carolina | $124K | -17% | 2,400 |
| Kentucky | $121K | -19% | 1,960 |
| West Virginia | $120K | -20% | 510 |
| Idaho | $120K | -20% | 1,040 |
| New Mexico | $118K | -21% | 820 |
| South Dakota | $118K | -21% | 420 |
| Oklahoma | $116K | -22% | 1,750 |
| Montana | $115K | -23% | 530 |
| Alabama | $113K | -24% | 2,160 |
| Arkansas | $109K | -27% | 1,290 |
| Louisiana | $108K | -28% | 1,390 |
| Mississippi | $106K | -29% | 720 |
Showing 1–10 of 51 (all 50 states + DC)
Track human resources managers salary changes
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Related careers in Management
Frequently asked questions
Can a human resources manager afford a 2BR apartment alone in Merced?
Yes — at the median salary of $153K, rent takes 17.2% 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 human resources managers in Merced?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new human resources managers typically earn — is $91K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,488/month. At HUD’s $1,503/month FMR, rent would take 27% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is human resources manager a high-paying job in Merced?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $153K locally vs. $149K nationally, a 3% difference.
How does Merced compare to the national average for human resources managers?
Merced pays $153K median vs. the U.S. average of $149K — that’s +3%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 98.28), the purchasing-power equivalent is $156K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do human resources managers make in Merced, CA?
The median is $153,210 a year, that works out to about $74 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $91,470, and experienced human resources managers can clear $264,970. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $153K enough to live in Merced?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $8,757/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,503/month, which eats 17.2% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a human resources managers 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 human resources managers salary is worth about $155,891 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do human resources managers 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.
