Salary guide, May 2025
Foundry Molder / Melt Operator pay in Merced, CA
Manufacturing Headhunters uses the published BLS OEWS figures below. They describe the mapped occupation and area, not an individual offer.
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The median annual wage for Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers in Merced, CA was $50,340 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $45,410 and $58,340.
The Merced, CA median is $3,410 below the national median of $53,750, both from BLS May 2025.
Direct match · SOC 51-4121 Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers
The Foundry Molder / Melt Operator title maps to the published occupation. The duties align, but BLS combines employers and industries.
What should you know about merced, CA?
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $43,330 | $45,410 | $50,340 | $58,340 | $62,530 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $20.83 | $21.83 | $24.20 | $28.05 | $30.06 |
BLS estimated 310 workers employed in this occupation in Merced, CA. Location quotient: 1.43.
What should you know about united States?
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $39,240 | $46,790 | $53,750 | $63,010 | $77,530 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $18.87 | $22.50 | $25.84 | $30.29 | $37.28 |
What should you know about role pay against all occupations here?
The published Foundry Molder / Melt Operator median is $50,340. The all-occupations median in Merced, CA is $47,220. Ratio: 1.07 (role median divided by all-occupations median, same units, BLS May 2025). Location quotient 1.43 measures how concentrated this occupation's employment is here against the nation. It is not a wage index.
What should you know about two BLS releases?
| Release period | 25th | Median | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2024 | $44,510 | $48,710 | $57,190 |
| May 2025 | $45,410 | $50,340 | $58,340 |
These are two separate BLS estimates from different survey panels. The workers and employers behind them differ, so the gap is not like-for-like pay for the same workers and is not a growth rate. We show no percentage change.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. SOC 51-4121 Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers, Merced, CA. Official occupation data · Official area tables. Released 2026-05-15.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. SOC 51-4121 Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers, U.S.. Official occupation data · Official area tables. Released 2026-05-15.
What should you know about nearby areas?
| Area | Median | 25th to 75th |
|---|---|---|
| Modesto, CA | $52,590 | $47,390 to $62,050 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $64,140 | $57,420 to $76,730 |
All roles in Merced, CA · National page · Foundry Molder / Melt Operator ranked across metros