Shower pan cost in Merced, CA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (1 pan)
- $940 – $2,850
- Per pan
- $908 – $2,350
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +1%
- US $1,850
- Rank of 300 metros
- #107
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to install a shower pan in Merced, plan on $940 to $2,850 for 1 pan, all in. Per pan, that is $908 to $2,350 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint lands close to the national one. Building materials run about 5% above the US average here (BEA goods price index 105.2).
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Estimated cost for 1 pan in Merced, CA, standard level
$1,500 to $2,250
About $1,341 to $1,918 per pan before permits. Labor is about 56% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $410 | $750 |
| Labor | $930 | $1,150 |
| Permits and fees | $170 | $350 |
| Total | $1,500 | $2,250 |
Cost breakdown for 1 pan in Merced, CA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $160 | $580 | $1,000 | 31% |
| Labor | $750 | $1,050 | $1,350 | 56% |
| Permits and fees | $30 | $260 | $490 | 14% |
| Total | $940 | $1,900 | $2,850 | 100% |
What is behind the Merced number
Labor is 56% of the midpoint bill here, against 56% nationally. The mix of trades behind this job is plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (50%), tile and stone setters (50%). We weight each trade's local median wage by that share and compare it with the national median. In Merced the blended ratio comes out at 1.00.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Merced metro is 105.2 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 1 pan comes to $580, compared with $550 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (98.3) and land at $30 to $490.
Data note: 50% of the labor weighting for this project uses a statewide median because BLS has no published metro figure for that trade in Merced. The wage table below marks each row.
Is Merced cheap or dear? The local comparison
Of the five closest metros, 1 is cheaper than Merced. Modesto is the lowest at about $1,850 (midpoint, 1 pan), 30 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Merced, CAthis page | $940 – $2,850 | $1,900 | |
| Modesto, CA30 miles | $900 – $2,800 | $1,850 | −2% |
| San Jose, CA40 miles | $1,250 – $3,450 | $2,350 | +24% |
| Stockton, CA60 miles | $960 – $2,900 | $1,950 | +2% |
| Fresno, CA60 miles | $930 – $2,850 | $1,900 | level |
| Santa Cruz, CA70 miles | $990 – $3,000 | $2,000 | +5% |
| California (statewide) | $1,000 – $3,050 | $2,050 | +7% |
| United States | $930 – $2,800 | $1,850 | −1% |
Across 300 US metros, Merced comes in at #107 from the top. The priciest is Bellingham, WA at $2,450; the cheapest is Jonesboro, AR at $1,500 (midpoints, 1 pan). Statewide, Merced is 7% below the California figure.
Other California metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles, CA | 6,271,560 jobs | $1,000 – $3,050 | $2,050 | +7% |
| San Francisco, CA | 2,373,920 jobs | $1,100 – $3,200 | $2,150 | +14% |
| Riverside, CA | 1,716,760 jobs | $930 – $2,850 | $1,900 | level |
| San Diego, CA | 1,538,060 jobs | $1,000 – $3,050 | $2,050 | +8% |
| San Jose, CA | 1,134,970 jobs | $1,250 – $3,450 | $2,350 | +24% |
| Sacramento, CA | 1,080,590 jobs | $950 – $2,900 | $1,950 | +2% |
Cities with a workforce like Merced's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Merced against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saginaw, MI | 80,000 jobs | $960 – $2,800 | $1,850 | −1% |
| Chico, CA | 78,220 jobs | $870 – $2,750 | $1,800 | −5% |
| Las Cruces, NM | 80,000 jobs | $730 – $2,350 | $1,550 | −18% |
| Napa, CA | 77,860 jobs | $970 – $2,950 | $1,950 | +4% |
Related projects, priced for Merced
Because every project leans on different trades, Merced's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, kitchen cabinets runs +12% and kitchen backsplash +6%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $5,050 – $25,000 | +7% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $4,600 – $15,700 | +12% |
| Window replacement | 10 windows | $4,900 – $16,200 | +8% |
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $19,800 – $33,600 | +7% |
| Kitchen backsplash | 30 sq ft | $320 – $1,600 | +6% |
Shower pan: what moves the price in Merced
Pre-made versus custom
Pre-made trays are $500-$1,550 installed; a custom tile pan is $900-$3,500; a custom stone pan is $1,200-$2,000 or more (HomeGuide).
Extras
Benches, trench drains and curb changes add $100-$600.
Tile
Tile for the shower costs $10-$50 per square foot installed, and that comes on top of the pan.
Cost by quality level and size in Merced
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Merced wages and prices. They overlap on purpose: a good standard job and a modest premium job can cost the same. The grid below prices the same bands at 1 common sizes.
Basic
$940 to $1,700
Pre-made acrylic or fiberglass pan
Standard
$1,500 to $2,250
Tile-ready pan with tile finish
Premium
$2,100 to $2,850
Custom mud or stone pan
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| one shower pan | $940 – $1,700 | $1,500 – $2,250 | $2,100 – $2,850 |
Merced labor market for shower pan
Wages are the part of this estimate that changes most from town to town. 2 trades carry the job here, and each is compared with its US median. The weighted result for Merced is 1.00 times the national level.
For plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152, weighted 50%) the local median is $28.96 an hour, which is 6% below the national $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $23.28 and $35.20 an hour. BLS counts 160 of them working in the area, 20.1 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.0), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044) carry 50% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Merced metro, so we used the California statewide median: $28.31 an hour against $26.77 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $22.86 and $35.61 an hour.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($35.20 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $110. At the 25th percentile ($23.28) it shrinks by about $95. The total moves by 5.7% or 5.1%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 79,510 jobs in the Merced area. That makes it the 240th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.05% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 50% | $23.28 | $28.96 | $35.20 | $30.67 | 0.94 | metro |
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 50% | $22.86 | $28.31 | $35.61 | $26.77 | 1.06 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 1.00 | |||||
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Detailed shower pan report for Merced, CA, $9
The report lays out the shower pan numbers for Merced, CA line by line, with the local wage and price inputs, permit and timing notes, a quote comparison sheet and the full method. Save your estimate above, preview page 1 free, and unlock the full report for $9 one-time, or get every report with CostLocal Pro.
Shower pan in Merced: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a shower pan in Merced?
For 1 pan, expect $940 to $2,850 in the Merced area. A standard-spec job lands at $1,500 to $2,250. Small jobs usually cost more per pan and large ones less.
+What is the price per pan for shower pan in Merced?
About $908 to $2,350 per pan for materials and labor, plus $30 to $490 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $900 to $2,300.
+Is shower pan cheaper in Merced or Modesto?
Modesto is 30 miles away. The midpoint for 1 pan there is $1,850, which is 2% less than Merced ($1,900). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Merced?
About 56% at the midpoint, or $1,050 out of $1,900. Materials are 31% and permits 14%. Nationally, labor is 56%.
+What would one shower pan cost in Merced?
$940 to $2,850. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does shower pan need a permit in Merced?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $30 to $490 for fees in the Merced area (our national range of $30 to $500 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Merced expensive for shower pan compared with the rest of California?
Merced is 7% below the California statewide estimate ($2,050 at the midpoint). We cover 23 metros in California; see the state page to compare them.
+What do plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters earn in Merced?
The BLS median is $28.96 an hour in the Merced area, compared with $30.67 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $23.28 to $35.20.
+What do basic and premium shower pan work cost in Merced?
For 1 pan, basic work runs $940 to $1,700 and premium work $2,100 to $2,850. Basic means: pre-made acrylic or fiberglass pan. Premium means: custom mud or stone pan.
Shower pan near Merced
Where these numbers come from
Base prices are national ranges from the sources below. We scale labor by local BLS wages, materials by BEA goods prices and permits by the BEA all-items price level. Full method on the methodology page.