NAICS 51

Information in Merced, CA

Metro Market Score 16.0 (Favorable), ranked #10 of 294 metros. 32 establishments, 269 jobs.

Metro Market Score 16.0

Favorable 0-35

Moderate 35-48

Challenging 48-60

Difficult 60+

Favorable

ⓘ Lower is better. Relative to national information average.

📈Rapid Growth✓Favorable Market🌱Emerging Market

Merced ranks in the top 10% for information market conditions, driven by above-average employment growth. With a market score of 16.0, conditions are relatively favorable compared to most metros.

Industry Concentration

2.7

LQ: 0.17

Rank #8 of 294 metros

Wage Competitiveness

23.8

$64,074 avg wage

Growth Trend

↑ 85.7

Employment growth index

Rank #43 of 294 metros

Wage Pressure

25.3

YoY wage change index

32 Information Firms in Merced

Establishments

+3.2% YoY

269

Total Employment

+3.9% YoY

$64,074

Average Annual Wage

+8.8% YoY

0.17

Location Quotient

Below national avg

Within California

#2 of 24

information metros in state

California state rank

#51 of 51

for information entry risk

vs State Median

-28.5

better than median (44.5)

Merced vs California Statewide

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

Measure	Merced	CA Statewide
Overall Score	16.0 Favorable	56.6 High
Score Type	Metro Market Score	Entry Risk Score
Rank	#10 of 294 metros	#51 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

Healthcare and Social Assistance 17.5 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

Information in Other California Metros

El Centro 12.3 #4/294 Vallejo 26.8 #43/294 Bakersfield-Delano 28.7 #54/294 Napa 31.3 #67/294 Santa Cruz-Watsonville 31.9 #71/294 Salinas 32.5 #75/294 Modesto 33.7 #79/294 Visalia 37.0 #100/294 Stockton-Lodi 40.2 #117/294 Redding 41.3 #124/294

+ 13 more metros. View all in California →

Information Metros With Similar Conditions

Metros within 5 points of Merced's 16.0 score. Useful when comparing markets with comparable entry profiles.

Monroe, MI 15.5 #9/294 Anniston-Oxford, AL 15.4 #8/294 Weirton-Steubenville, WV 16.8 #11/294 Dalton, GA 15.1 #7/294 Odessa, TX 17.1 #12/294 Eagle Pass, TX 17.1 #13/294 Elkhart-Goshen, IN 17.4 #14/294 Reading, PA 17.4 #15/294 Gettysburg, PA 14.4 #6/294 Decatur, IL 14.3 #5/294

Information in States Bordering California

State-level entry risk for information in adjacent states. Use this to weigh cross-border options.

Arizona 49.2 #41/51 Oregon 52.0 #45/51 Nevada 56.3 #50/51

Browse Information in Other States

State-level entry risk reports for information across all 51 markets, sorted by rank.

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 information sector, the wage competitiveness component (23.8) 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

Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW), Bureau of Labor Statistics. MSA-level establishment counts, employment, wages, and location quotients for the Merced, CA MSA area.

Data period: 2024. Last updated: April 2026.

Metro Market Assessment