2025 Compare Cities Economy:
Salinas, CA vs Merced, CA

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Highlights
- Household income in Merced, is 31% less than it is in Salinas and is 32% below the National Average.
- Salinas unemployment rate is 14.3%.
- Merced unemployment rate is 9.3%.
 Salinas, CAMerced, CAUnited States
 Unemployment Rate  Unlock9.3%6.0%
 Recent Job Growth  Unlock2.5%1.6%
 Future Job Growth23.3%  Unlock33.5%
 Sales Taxes9.3%  Unlock6.2%
 Income Taxes  Unlock8.0%4.6%
 Income per Cap.$25,061  Unlock$37,638
 Household Income  Unlock$52,305$69,021
 Family Median Income$75,396  Unlock$85,028
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 Est. Households By Income
 Salinas, CAMerced, CAUnited States
 Income Less Than 15K  Unlock14.3%9.4%
 Income between 15K and 20K3.0%  Unlock3.8%
 Income between 20K and 30K  Unlock10.4%8.1%
 Income between 30K and 40K7.3%  Unlock8.0%
 Income between 40K and 50K  Unlock8.8%7.6%
 Income between 50K and 60K8.3%  Unlock7.2%
 Income between 60K and 75K  Unlock10.6%9.6%
 Income between 75K and 100K17.2%  Unlock12.8%
 Income between 100K and 150K  Unlock13.4%16.3%
 Income between 150K and 200K7.7%  Unlock7.8%
 Income greater than 200K  Unlock4.5%9.5%
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 Population By Occupation
 Salinas, CAMerced, CAUnited States
 Management, business, finance9.2%  Unlock16.4%
 Engineering, computers, science  Unlock2.9%6.5%
 Community, social services1.2%  Unlock1.8%
 Legal  Unlock0.5%1.2%
 Education, library4.3%  Unlock6.2%
 Arts, design, media, sports, entertainment  Unlock1.4%2.0%
 Healthcare practitioners and technology3.7%  Unlock6.2%
 Healthcare support  Unlock5.3%3.3%
 Firefighters, law enforcement2.7%  Unlock2.1%
 Food preparation, serving  Unlock6.2%5.4%
 Building maintenance5.1%  Unlock3.6%
 Personal care  Unlock3.7%2.6%
 Sales, office, administrative support18.8%  Unlock20.9%
 Farming, fishing, forestry  Unlock8.1%0.6%
 Construction, extraction, maintenance/repair8.8%  Unlock8.1%
 Production, transportation, material moving  Unlock15.8%13.1%
Reviews for Salinas    15 Reviews

Over 11 years ago

Sacred Heart School is a fine Catholic school in the heart of Salinas, Ca. Victoria Torcolini was principal of this PK-8 school from 2006-2009. Under her leadership, SHS  More

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Over 13 years ago

I Was born and raise in salinas. In 2006 my family moved to the central valley. I moved back to salinas in 2011. I moved back Because I got a better job in Carmel. I  More

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Salinas, California has some of the best weather in Central California. I love looking out at the mountain ranges that line the Salinas River Valley. It's a shame that  More

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Reviews for Merced    44 Reviews

Merced is totally slept on - you want a little bit of everything CA has to offer, at a fraction of the price of other CA cities? Merced is the place to go. The town  More

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Over 5 years ago

Good place to live. More affordable than most of california. The city is growing and there is alot of business and growth here. Moved from the Bay area years ago and  More

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Great place to live. Lots of progress and changes coming to the city. Great place to raise a family. UC Merced is expanding and businesses are investing. Downtown is  More

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