Caregiver Jobs in Merced, CA
Merced is a university town with one of the most home-care-intensive labour markets in California and a senior population projected to grow 45% by 2040. See what families post, build a free profile and apply directly.
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Open caregiver opportunities near Merced, CA
Real postings from families on CaregiverConnect, matched to Merced by distance.
No open postings in Merced right now
No family within 50 miles of Merced has an open posting today, and we will not pretend otherwise. The nearest current postings are around California, CA (about 111 miles away). Caregivers who create a profile now are visible to Merced County families the moment they join, and families can send you a direct job request instead of waiting for you to apply.
This list is generated from live postings on CaregiverConnect. We never show sample, demo or expired jobs here.
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Need a caregiver in Merced?
Families post what they need for free and caregivers in the area apply. Describe the care, schedule and pay you have in mind; it takes about ten minutes and your posting appears to local caregivers right away.
Types of caregiver jobs in Merced
These are the care categories families choose from when they post on CaregiverConnect. You pick the ones you offer when you build your profile.
Senior caregiving
Day-to-day support for older adults who want to stay in their own home: companionship, meals, reminders and help getting around safely.
In-home care
Families on CaregiverConnect post the help they need at home, from a few hours a week to daily visits. Most postings are non-medical.
Personal care
Hands-on help with bathing, dressing, grooming and mobility. Families list exactly which tasks they need so you can decide what fits.
Companion care
Conversation, activities, errands and transportation for someone who mostly needs company and a second set of hands.
Dementia & Alzheimer's care
Routine-based support for people living with memory loss. Families often ask for experience; share yours in your profile.
Respite care
Short-term cover so a family caregiver can rest, travel or work. Often a few shifts a week or occasional weekends.
Live-in caregiving
Caregivers who list "live-in" availability are matched to families offering room and board as part of the arrangement.
Part-time & overnight
Set your availability by day and time block (mornings, afternoons, evenings, overnight) and families filter by it.
How to find caregiver work in Merced on CaregiverConnect
CaregiverConnect is a marketplace, not an agency. Families post what they need, caregivers apply, and the two of you work out the arrangement directly.
Tell us about your experience
The free caregiver sign-up starts with your years of experience, the care types you provide (personal care, companionship, dementia care, overnight and more) and any certifications. No licence is required for non-medical care.
Set your availability and rate
Choose full-time, part-time or live-in, tick the days and time blocks you can work, set your hourly rate and travel radius, and say whether you have a vehicle.
Create your account
Add your name, email, ZIP code and a password. Your profile goes live right away and families in your radius can find it in search.
Browse, apply or respond
See open postings and a matched list ranked by how well your profile fits what each family asked for. Apply to a posting, or respond when a family sends you a direct job request; the family reviews applicants and chooses who to hire. Applying to open postings and starting a new conversation are part of Caregiver Premium ($7.99/month, cancel anytime). Replying to a family who contacts you is always free.
Agree on the details
Use messaging to discuss schedule, duties and pay. You and the family agree on the rate and how you are paid; CaregiverConnect does not take a cut of your earnings.
Caregiving in Merced and Merced County
Verified local information for caregivers in Merced, with sources below.
The market
Merced, the county seat and home to UC Merced, had 86,333 residents in the 2020 Census and an estimated 99,435 on 1 January 2026; the county stood at 294,154. The Bureau of Labor Statistics counted 4,990 home health and personal care aide jobs in the Merced metro in May 2025, more than twice the national concentration (location quotient 2.27), at a median $16.50 an hour (mean $16.82). California's EDD projects aide jobs in the county to grow from 4,650 in 2023 to 5,830 in 2033 (+25.4%), with about 8,810 openings over the decade. The county's unemployment rate was 8.9% in August 2026 against 5.1% statewide.
Who needs care
About 10.4% of Merced city residents are 65 or older and 60.1% are Hispanic or Latino; nearly 38% of residents aged five and over speak Spanish at home and about 13% speak English less than "very well". The state projects Merced County's 65-and-over population to rise from about 34,900 in 2025 to about 46,000 in 2035 and 50,600 in 2040 (+45%), one of the steepest increases of any county on this site. Bilingual caregivers are in demand.
IHSS in Merced County
The Merced County IHSS provider wage is $17.50 an hour from 1 January 2026 (the California minimum wage is $16.90). The Merced County IHSS Public Authority, 2115 W. Wardrobe Avenue, Merced, (209) 383-9504, runs a provider registry; registry providers complete an application and orientation, and training is free and voluntary. Many Merced caregivers combine an IHSS case with private clients.
Training and job-search help
Merced College's Nurse Assistant programme runs 16 weeks in spring and fall (nine weeks in summer) at the Merced and Los Banos campuses and meets California Department of Public Health requirements for the CNA exam. The Merced Mall Prospero Job Center (formerly WorkNet Merced County), 635 Fairfield Drive, (209) 724-2100, offers job-search help and training funding. No certificate is required for non-medical care hired directly by a family; see the California requirements guide.
Family support, health care and safety
The Merced County Area Agency on Aging, 851 W. 23rd Street, (209) 385-7550, runs a Family Caregiver Support Program with respite care through the Valley Caregiver Resource Center, (800) 541-8614. Mercy Medical Center Merced is the city's hospital. To report suspected elder or dependent-adult abuse, call Merced County Adult Protective Services at (209) 385-3105 or the statewide 24/7 line 1-833-401-0832.
- California Department of Finance, E-1 2026 and P-2B projections
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and ACS 2020–2024, Merced city
- BLS OEWS May 2025, Merced, CA (31-1120)
- California EDD, 2023–2033 occupational projections, Merced County; labor force data
- CDSS, IHSS wages by county
- Merced County IHSS Public Authority
- Merced College, Nurse Assistant program
- Prospero Workforce (formerly WorkNet Merced County)
- Merced County Area Agency on Aging
- Valley Caregiver Resource Center
- Mercy Medical Center Merced
Caregiver jobs near Merced
Families often post from neighbouring towns. Set your travel radius in your profile and you will appear in their searches too.
Useful reading before you apply
California caregiver requirements: HCA registry, IHSS and CNA explained
Which rules apply to a caregiver in California depends on who pays them. A plain-language map of the Home Care Aide Registry, IHSS provider enrolment and CNA/HHA certification, with the official sources.
What caregivers earn in California and Arizona: BLS, IHSS and minimum wage (2026)
Median hourly pay for home health and personal care aides by metro area from the May 2025 BLS survey, county IHSS wages, state minimum wages, and how private rates relate to them.
How to find private caregiver jobs without an agency
Where families who hire directly actually look, how to be found, what to put in writing, and the legal basics of being a household employee.
Caregiver interview preparation: questions families ask and how to answer them
What a family interview for private caregiving work really covers, the questions to expect, the questions you should ask, and what to bring.
Caregiver jobs in Merced: frequently asked questions
Are there caregiver jobs in Merced on CaregiverConnect?
Postings from families within 50 miles of Merced appear at the top of this page as they are published. The platform is new in Merced County, so create a profile and turn on alerts above; families can find and message you directly.
What does IHSS pay in Merced County?
$17.50 an hour from January 2026, for the hours the county authorises per recipient. The Public Authority registry at (209) 383-9504 matches providers with recipients.
Do I need a certificate?
Not for non-medical care hired directly by a family. Merced College’s Nurse Assistant programme leads to CNA certification for nursing and facility roles.
Is Spanish needed?
Not required, but nearly four in ten Merced residents speak Spanish at home and many families prefer a bilingual caregiver. List every language on your profile.
Can families in Merced post a job?
Yes, free, from a family account; the posting is live to local caregivers immediately. The family-side page for Merced is in preparation; see the find-caregivers directory.
Ready to find caregiver work in Merced?
Create your free caregiver profile in about ten minutes. Families in Merced County can find you as soon as it is live.
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