NAICS 52

Finance and Insurance in Merced, CA

Metro Market Score 34.4 (Favorable), ranked #73 of 331 metros. 127 establishments, 1,066 jobs.

Metro Market Assessment

Metro Market Score 34.4
Favorable 0-35
Moderate 35-48
Challenging 48-60
Difficult 60+
Favorable

ⓘ Lower is better. Relative to national finance and insurance average.

Finance and Insurance wages in Merced run well below the metro average (competitiveness index: 15.4), and year-over-year wage pressure is low at 19.3. For labor-intensive operations, this cost advantage could improve unit economics significantly.

Industry Concentration
3.6
LQ: 0.31
Rank #12 of 331 metros
Wage Competitiveness
15.4
$71,790 avg wage
Growth Trend
↓ 14.2
Employment growth index
Rank #285 of 331 metros
Wage Pressure
19.3
YoY wage change index

127 Finance and Insurance Firms in Merced

127
Establishments
-8.0% YoY
1,066
Total Employment
-5.4% YoY
$71,790
Average Annual Wage
-4.2% YoY
0.31
Location Quotient
Below national avg

Merced vs California Statewide

How this metro's finance and insurance market compares to California overall. The state ranks #12/51 for entry risk.

Measure Merced CA Statewide
Overall Score 34.4 Favorable 46.9 Elevated
Score Type Metro Market Score Entry Risk Score
Rank #73 of 331 metros #12 of 51 states

Metro and state scores use different methodologies (metro has 4 QCEW-based metrics; state adds BDS survival and momentum data). Direct score comparisons are approximate.

Other Industries in Merced

Information 16.0 Healthcare and Social Assistance 17.5 Administrative and Support Services 19.7 Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services 29.9 Construction 30.0 Real Estate and Rental and Leasing 38.3 Other Services 43.0 Retail Trade 56.2 Accommodation and Food Services 64.8

Finance and Insurance in Other California Metros

Bakersfield-Delano 19.0 #5/331 El Centro 28.6 #36/331 Redding 32.8 #63/331 Visalia 39.7 #101/331 Fresno 42.2 #121/331 Santa Maria-Santa Barbara 42.6 #124/331 Vallejo 43.3 #130/331 Napa 43.5 #131/331 Modesto 43.8 #135/331 Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario 43.9 #136/331

+ 13 more metros. View all in California →

About Metro Market Score: A weighted composite of industry concentration (25%), wage competitiveness (25%), wage pressure (20%), and employment growth trend (30%). Lower scores indicate more favorable conditions. For Merced's finance and insurance sector, the employment growth component (85.8) has the strongest pull on the composite. Metro scores use QCEW data only (no BDS survival data at metro level). Read full methodology →

Data Sources

Data period: 2024. Last updated: April 2026.