Home project costs in Merced, CA
Every project we cover, priced for the Merced metro with local BLS wages and BEA price levels.
Merced sits 98th of 300 metros on BEA's regional price index, at 98.3 where the US is 100. Goods, the index that drives materials, is 105.2 (30th). The metro has about 79,510 jobs in BLS's May 2025 survey.
Not every job moves the same way here: 38 of the 38 projects price above the national midpoint and 0 below. Asphalt driveway (+17%), French drain (+16%) and composite deck (+15%) sit highest, and shower pan (+1%), stamped concrete (+4%) and attic insulation (+4%) sit lowest. Labor-heavy work tracks local wages; materials-heavy work tracks the goods index.
Weather: the nearest NOAA station (Merced Muni Ap, 2 miles away) shows a January average low of 37°F, a July average high of 96°F and 12 inches of precipitation a year (1991-2020 normals). For concrete pours, the workable months are March through May and October through November; for exterior installation, they are October through May.
What local trades earn in Merced
| Trade | Projects using it | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 25 | $21.73 | $26.17 | $33.81 | $22.66 | 1.15 |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 23 | $27.11 | $35.94 | $39.05 | $29.12 | 1.23 |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 10 | $29.02 | $35.96 | $56.66 | $28.78 | 1.25 |
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 7 | $23.28 | $28.96 | $35.20 | $30.67 | 0.94 |
| Cement masons and concrete finishers (47-2051) | 6 | $22.21 | $25.59 | $30.15 | $27.41 | 0.93 |
| Electricians (47-2111) | 6 | $26.87 | $36.60 | $47.92 | $30.38 | 1.20 |
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 5 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $26.77 | n/a |
| Roofers (47-2181) | 5 | $23.20 | $29.23 | $30.28 | $26.65 | 1.10 |
Concrete & paving in Merced
The 7 jobs here average +8% versus the US in Merced, from +4% (stamped concrete) to +17% (asphalt driveway).
| Project | Size | Merced range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete slab cost in Merced | 400 sq ft | $2,600 – $5,450 | +5% |
| Concrete driveway cost in Merced | 600 sq ft | $3,850 – $9,750 | +6% |
| Asphalt driveway cost in Merced | 600 sq ft | $3,500 – $8,700 | +17% |
| Gravel driveway cost in Merced | 1,000 sq ft | $2,800 – $11,500 | +13% |
| Paver patio cost in Merced | 300 sq ft | $3,300 – $5,950 | +10% |
| Concrete patio cost in Merced | 300 sq ft | $1,300 – $4,200 | +5% |
| Stamped concrete cost in Merced | 400 sq ft | $3,400 – $8,250 | +4% |
Decks & outdoor in Merced
The 2 jobs here average +14% versus the US in Merced, from +12% (wood deck) to +15% (composite deck).
| Project | Size | Merced range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood deck cost in Merced | 300 sq ft | $8,500 – $17,000 | +12% |
| Composite deck cost in Merced | 300 sq ft | $13,900 – $27,800 | +15% |
Building & additions in Merced
Across these 2 projects, Merced averages +11% against national midpoints. Home addition is highest at +11% and detached garage lowest at +10%.
| Project | Size | Merced range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detached garage cost in Merced | 576 sq ft | $31,900 – $64,100 | +10% |
| Home addition cost in Merced | 300 sq ft | $42,200 – $85,500 | +11% |
Doors & windows in Merced
The 5 jobs here average +10% versus the US in Merced, from +8% (window replacement) to +12% (patio door).
| Project | Size | Merced range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Garage door cost in Merced | 1 door | $780 – $4,050 | +10% |
| Storm door cost in Merced | 1 door | $400 – $1,050 | +12% |
| Front door cost in Merced | 1 door | $580 – $2,700 | +10% |
| Window replacement cost in Merced | 10 windows | $4,900 – $16,200 | +8% |
| Patio door cost in Merced | 1 door | $660 – $6,750 | +12% |
Fencing in Merced
The 4 jobs here average +11% versus the US in Merced, from +8% (vinyl fence) to +13% (chain-link fence).
| Project | Size | Merced range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood fence cost in Merced | 150 linear ft | $3,400 – $8,500 | +11% |
| Vinyl fence cost in Merced | 150 linear ft | $4,900 – $9,950 | +8% |
| Chain-link fence cost in Merced | 150 linear ft | $1,700 – $7,000 | +13% |
| Aluminum fence cost in Merced | 150 linear ft | $4,200 – $12,500 | +10% |
Roofing & exterior in Merced
The 5 jobs here average +9% versus the US in Merced, from +4% (attic insulation) to +13% (vinyl siding).
| Project | Size | Merced range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roof replacement cost in Merced | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $6,650 – $13,500 | +8% |
| Metal roof cost in Merced | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $11,300 – $35,400 | +10% |
| Gutters cost in Merced | 160 linear ft | $1,400 – $4,600 | +9% |
| Vinyl siding cost in Merced | 2,100 sq ft of wall | $9,500 – $28,500 | +13% |
| Attic insulation cost in Merced | 1,000 sq ft | $1,050 – $4,150 | +4% |
Kitchen & bath in Merced
Across these 5 projects, Merced averages +7% against national midpoints. Kitchen cabinets is highest at +12% and shower pan lowest at +1%.
| Project | Size | Merced range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen cabinets cost in Merced | 25 linear ft | $4,600 – $15,700 | +12% |
| Shower pan cost in Merced | 1 pan | $940 – $2,850 | +1% |
| Kitchen remodel cost in Merced | 120 sq ft | $19,800 – $33,600 | +7% |
| Bathroom remodel cost in Merced | 45 sq ft | $5,050 – $25,000 | +7% |
| Kitchen backsplash cost in Merced | 30 sq ft | $320 – $1,600 | +6% |
Landscaping & drainage in Merced
Across these 5 projects, Merced averages +10% against national midpoints. French drain is highest at +16% and sprinkler system lowest at +7%.
| Project | Size | Merced range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| French drain cost in Merced | 60 linear ft | $700 – $2,450 | +16% |
| Retaining wall cost in Merced | 200 sq ft of wall face | $7,850 – $14,600 | +10% |
| Sod installation cost in Merced | 1,500 sq ft | $1,600 – $3,550 | +8% |
| Sprinkler system cost in Merced | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $4,300 – $10,700 | +7% |
| Inground pool cost in Merced | 450 sq ft | $39,900 – $124,500 | +10% |
Flooring & interior in Merced
The 3 jobs here average +9% versus the US in Merced, from +6% (tile flooring) to +11% (hardwood flooring).
| Project | Size | Merced range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hardwood flooring cost in Merced | 500 sq ft | $6,150 – $13,800 | +11% |
| Laminate flooring cost in Merced | 500 sq ft | $2,250 – $7,750 | +11% |
| Tile flooring cost in Merced | 200 sq ft | $2,550 – $10,600 | +6% |
Merced against its nearest metros
Taking every project together, Merced comes out +9% versus the national midpoint. Of the 6 closest metros, 5 price higher and 1 lower. Fresno is the lowest at +7% (60 miles) and San Jose the highest at +23% (40 miles). These are unweighted averages of the midpoints, a rough guide to overall price level rather than a number for any one job.
| Metro | Distance | Price index | Goods index | All projects vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Merced, CAthis page | 98.3 | 105.2 | +9% | |
| Modesto, CA | 30 miles | 104.1 | 105.2 | +12% |
| San Jose, CA | 40 miles | 110.4 | 105.2 | +23% |
| Stockton, CA | 60 miles | 105.1 | 105.2 | +10% |
| Fresno, CA | 60 miles | 102.2 | 105.2 | +7% |
| Santa Cruz, CA | 70 miles | 109.9 | 105.2 | +12% |
| Salinas, CA | 75 miles | 109.0 | 105.2 | +11% |