Salary comparison
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners: Bellingham vs Merced
Merced, CA pays about 5.4% more for janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners on paper — $45,920 vs $43,560. But once you factor in what it costs to live there, Merced comes out ahead by $2,360 a year in real buying power.
Bellingham, WA
$43,560
$38,220
$52,700
$20.94
100
$43,560/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
Merced, CA
$45,920
$36,820
$50,330
$22.08
100
$45,920/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
What the numbers mean in practice
The headline gap is $2,360 a year (5.4%) in favor of Merced. That is the raw salary difference before any living costs.
Bellingham runs a cost index of 100 against the national baseline of 100; Merced sits at 100. After adjusting the median for those costs, Merced is the better deal by $2,360 a year — that is what each paycheck actually buys locally.
If you are weighing a move from Bellingham to Merced for this role, the raise needs to beat 5.4% to come out ahead after living costs. Anything below that and you are earning more on paper but keeping less.
Common questions
Where do janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners earn more, Bellingham or Merced?
Merced pays $45,920 on median — about 5.4% more than Bellingham ($43,560). Based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Which city is the better deal after living costs?
Merced. Once you divide each median by the local cost index, Merced gives you roughly$45,920 of real buying power versus $43,560 in the other city.