NAICS 62

Healthcare and Social Assistance in Merced, CA

Metro Market Score 17.5 (Favorable), ranked #6 of 248 metros. 4,467 establishments, 11,851 jobs.

Metro Market Assessment

Metro Market Score 17.5
Favorable 0-35
Moderate 35-48
Challenging 48-60
Difficult 60+
Favorable

ⓘ Lower is better. Relative to national healthcare and social assistance average.

📈Rapid Growth✓Favorable Market

Merced ranks in the top 10% for healthcare and social assistance market conditions, driven by above-average employment growth. With a market score of 17.5, conditions are relatively favorable compared to most metros.

Industry Concentration
34.7
LQ: 0.97
Rank #86 of 248 metros
Wage Competitiveness
8.5
$51,004 avg wage
Growth Trend
↑ 96.8
Employment growth index
Rank #9 of 248 metros
Wage Pressure
28.6
YoY wage change index

4,467 Healthcare and Social Assistance Firms in Merced

4,467
Establishments
+20.5% YoY
11,851
Total Employment
+12.2% YoY
$51,004
Average Annual Wage
+0.5% YoY
0.97
Location Quotient
Below national avg

Merced vs California Statewide

How this metro's healthcare and social assistance market compares to California overall. The state ranks #49/51 for entry risk.

Measure Merced CA Statewide
Overall Score 17.5 Favorable 54.6 Elevated
Score Type Metro Market Score Entry Risk Score
Rank #6 of 248 metros #49 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 Administrative and Support Services 19.7 Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services 29.9 Construction 30.0 Finance and Insurance 34.4 Real Estate and Rental and Leasing 38.3 Other Services 43.0 Retail Trade 56.2 Accommodation and Food Services 64.8

Healthcare and Social Assistance in Other California Metros

Visalia 15.8 #4/248 Bakersfield-Delano 18.6 #7/248 El Centro 21.7 #8/248 Stockton-Lodi 26.8 #14/248 Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura 26.9 #15/248 Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario 27.0 #16/248 Hanford-Corcoran 31.8 #26/248 Salinas 32.3 #30/248 San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles 34.9 #41/248 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim 36.2 #49/248

+ 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 healthcare and social assistance sector, the industry concentration component (34.7) 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.