Vinyl siding cost in Merced, CA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (2,100 sq ft of wall)
- $9,500 – $28,500
- Per sq ft of wall
- $4.55 – $13.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +13%
- US $16,800
- Rank of 300 metros
- #23
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for new vinyl siding in the Merced area: $9,500 to $28,500 for 2,100 sq ft of wall. The low end is a basic job on easy ground; the high end is a premium spec with harder access. The midpoint runs 13% higher than the US figure. Carpenters earn a median of $35.94 an hour in the Merced area, 23% above the US median of $29.12.
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Estimated cost for 2,100 sq ft of wall in Merced, CA, standard level
$15,200 to $22,800
About $7.25 to $11 per sq ft of wall before permits. Labor is about 54% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $7,050 | $10,600 |
| Labor | $8,150 | $12,200 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $15,200 | $22,800 |
Cost breakdown for 2,100 sq ft of wall in Merced, CA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,400 | $8,850 | $13,300 | 46% |
| Labor | $5,100 | $10,200 | $15,300 | 54% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $9,500 | $19,000 | $28,500 | 100% |
Why Merced prices look the way they do
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 3 trades: carpenters at 60%, construction laborers at 30%, sheet metal workers at 10%. Weighted together, Merced wages are 1.21 times the national level. Labor makes up about 54% of the midpoint estimate (50% at national prices).
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Merced is at 105.2 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $8,400 nationally becomes $8,850 here (midpoint, 2,100 sq ft of wall). Permits follow the all-items index of 98.3: $0 to $0.
Data note: 10% 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.
Who does the work: Merced trade wages
The labor line is built from BLS wage data, one trade at a time. This job draws on 3 trades. We compare each trade's local median with the US median, weight the ratios by how much of the job each trade does, and apply the blend to the national labor cost. For Merced the blend is 1.21.
Carpenters (47-2031), 60% of the weighting: a median of $35.94 an hour, 23% above the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $27.11 and $39.05 an hour. About 350 work in the metro. That is 44.0 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 30%) the local median is $26.17 an hour, which is 15% above the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $21.73 and $33.81 an hour. BLS counts 380 of them working in the area, 47.8 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Sheet metal workers (47-2211) carry 10% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Merced metro, so we used the California statewide median: $36.82 an hour against $29.71 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $28.47 and $51.62 an hour.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (carpenters) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $540 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $1,550. That is a swing of roughly 8.0% to 2.8% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Merced has 79,510 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 240th by size among the 300 metros on this site.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 60% | $27.11 | $35.94 | $39.05 | $29.12 | 1.23 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 30% | $21.73 | $26.17 | $33.81 | $22.66 | 1.15 | metro |
| Sheet metal workers (47-2211) | 10% | $28.47 | $36.82 | $51.62 | $29.71 | 1.24 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 1.21 | |||||
Related projects, priced for Merced
Jobs that often go together with vinyl siding are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Merced wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, metal roof comes out highest (+10%) and attic insulation lowest (+4%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roof replacement | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $6,650 – $13,500 | +8% |
| Gutters | 160 linear ft | $1,400 – $4,600 | +9% |
| Window replacement | 10 windows | $4,900 – $16,200 | +8% |
| Attic insulation | 1,000 sq ft | $1,050 – $4,150 | +4% |
| Metal roof | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $11,300 – $35,400 | +10% |
Specs and site conditions that change a Merced bid
Wall area is not floor area
A 2,000 sq ft house usually has more wall area than floor area once you count gables and two stories. Measure the wall, not the floor.
Style
Clapboard vinyl siding runs $4-$7 per sq ft installed; board-and-batten is $5-$9 (HomeGuide).
Old siding removal
Taking the old siding off costs $0.70-$2.00 per sq ft. Check that disposal is included.
Is Merced cheap or dear? The local comparison
Same job, same size (2,100 sq ft of wall), priced for the nearest metros. San Jose is the priciest of the group at $20,700. Fresno is the cheapest at $18,100.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Merced, CAthis page | $9,500 – $28,500 | $19,000 | |
| Modesto, CA30 miles | $9,600 – $28,800 | $19,200 | +1% |
| San Jose, CA40 miles | $10,300 – $31,000 | $20,700 | +9% |
| Stockton, CA60 miles | $9,300 – $27,900 | $18,600 | −2% |
| Fresno, CA60 miles | $9,050 – $27,100 | $18,100 | −5% |
| Santa Cruz, CA70 miles | $9,750 – $29,200 | $19,500 | +2% |
| California (statewide) | $9,750 – $29,200 | $19,500 | +3% |
| United States | $8,400 – $25,200 | $16,800 | −12% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Merced ranks #23 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Merced is 3% below the California figure.
Elsewhere in California
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles, CA | 6,271,560 jobs | $9,700 – $29,100 | $19,400 | +2% |
| San Francisco, CA | 2,373,920 jobs | $10,900 – $32,700 | $21,800 | +15% |
| Riverside, CA | 1,716,760 jobs | $9,250 – $27,800 | $18,500 | −2% |
| San Diego, CA | 1,538,060 jobs | $9,650 – $29,000 | $19,300 | +2% |
| San Jose, CA | 1,134,970 jobs | $10,300 – $31,000 | $20,700 | +9% |
| Sacramento, CA | 1,080,590 jobs | $9,650 – $28,900 | $19,300 | +1% |
Metros of a similar size
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 | $8,250 – $24,800 | $16,500 | −13% |
| Chico, CA | 78,220 jobs | $9,400 – $28,200 | $18,800 | −1% |
| Las Cruces, NM | 80,000 jobs | $7,850 – $23,500 | $15,700 | −18% |
| Napa, CA | 77,860 jobs | $9,900 – $29,700 | $19,800 | +4% |
The best months for vinyl siding in Merced
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Merced Muni Ap (5 miles from the city center). They are 30-year averages, so any one year can run hotter, colder or wetter.
For exterior installation, the comfortable months in Merced are October through May: 8 of 12. Outside them, June, July, August and September have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
Merced gets about 12 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are January, February and December (2.4 inches in January). Inside the workable window, May and October are the driest, at 0.6 and 0.6 inches. The station averages about 100 days a year at 90°F or above.
We do not adjust the estimate by month, because we have no reliable published data on seasonal pricing. It is still worth asking contractors whether an off-peak start date changes their bid.
| Month | Avg high °F | Avg low °F | Precip (in) | For this job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 56 | 37 | 2.4 | Workable |
| Feb | 62 | 39 | 2.2 | Workable |
| Mar | 68 | 42 | 1.8 | Workable |
| Apr | 74 | 45 | 1.1 | Workable |
| May | 83 | 52 | 0.6 | Workable |
| Jun | 91 | 58 | 0.1 | Hot |
| Jul | 96 | 62 | 0.0 | Hot |
| Aug | 95 | 61 | 0.0 | Hot |
| Sep | 91 | 57 | 0.1 | Hot |
| Oct | 80 | 49 | 0.6 | Workable |
| Nov | 66 | 41 | 1.0 | Workable |
| Dec | 56 | 36 | 1.9 | Workable |
Merced: what basic, standard and premium work costs
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Merced. Bands overlap, because plenty of standard jobs cost as much as a light premium one. Sizes run from small house (1,200 sq ft of wall) to large house (3,000 sq ft of wall).
Basic
$9,500 to $17,100
Basic clapboard siding, simple house
Standard
$15,200 to $22,800
Mid-grade panels, standard trim and corners
Premium
$20,900 to $28,500
Premium or board-and-batten, many corners and gables
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small house (1,200 sq ft of wall) | $5,450 – $9,750 | $8,700 – $13,000 | $11,900 – $16,300 |
| average house (2,100 sq ft of wall) | $9,500 – $17,100 | $15,200 – $22,800 | $20,900 – $28,500 |
| large house (3,000 sq ft of wall) | $13,600 – $24,400 | $21,700 – $32,600 | $29,900 – $40,700 |
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Vinyl siding in Merced: your questions
+How much does it cost to install vinyl siding in Merced?
For 2,100 sq ft of wall, expect $9,500 to $28,500 in the Merced area. A standard-spec job lands at $15,200 to $22,800. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft of wall and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft of wall for vinyl siding in Merced?
About $4.55 to $13.50 per sq ft of wall for materials and labor, plus $0 to $0 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $4 to $12.
+Is vinyl siding cheaper in Merced or Modesto?
Modesto is 30 miles away. The midpoint for 2,100 sq ft of wall there is $19,200, which is 1% more than Merced ($19,000). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Merced?
About 54% at the midpoint, or $10,200 out of $19,000. Materials are 46% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 50%.
+What would average house (2,100 sq ft of wall) cost in Merced?
$9,500 to $28,500. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does vinyl siding need a permit in Merced?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $0 to $0 for fees in the Merced area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Merced expensive for vinyl siding compared with the rest of California?
Merced is 3% below the California statewide estimate ($19,500 at the midpoint). We cover 23 metros in California; see the state page to compare them.
+What do carpenters earn in Merced?
The BLS median is $35.94 an hour in the Merced area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $27.11 to $39.05.
+What do basic and premium vinyl siding work cost in Merced?
For 2,100 sq ft of wall, basic work runs $9,500 to $17,100 and premium work $20,900 to $28,500. Basic means: basic clapboard siding, simple house. Premium means: premium or board-and-batten, many corners and gables.
+When is the best time to install vinyl siding in Merced?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are October through May. May and October are typically the driest of those months. Local contractors' schedules matter as much as the weather, so book early for the busy months.
Vinyl siding 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.
- HomeGuide: How Much Does Vinyl Siding Cost? (2026) (accessed November 4, 2026)
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025
- BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991-2020
Note on derived figures: Materials = installed price minus HomeGuide's $2-$6 per sq ft labor figure, which it says is around half the project cost.