Bakersfield Hourly Wage & Salary 2026
Bakersfield, CA: $22.82/hr median hourly wage, $47,470 median annual salary, cost of living index 96, and $16.50/hr minimum wage. Calculate take-home pay with federal and California taxes.
Bakersfield Hourly Wage Quick Answer
The median hourly wage in Bakersfield, CA is $22.82/hr,and the median annual wage is $47,470. Entry-level pay estimates around $14.15/hr, senior-level pay estimates around $32.40/hr, and the local minimum wage is $16.50/hr.
Median figures: BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Bakersfield-Delano, CA metropolitan statistical area (338,230 jobs). BLS publishes wages by metro area, not by city, so Bakersfield shares this figure with the rest of its metro. Entry and senior levels are Salario estimates.
Median Salary
$47,470
$22.82/hr
Cost of Living
96
US avg = 100
Minimum Wage
$16.50
per hour
Unemployment
5.8%
rate
Bakersfield, CA Overview
Population
403,455
Median Salary
$47,470
Average Salary
$64,650
Avg Commute
23 min
Median Home Price
$310,000
Median Rent
$1,150/mo
Job Growth
+1%
Sales Tax
8.25%
Bakersfield is located in California with a population of 403,455. The median annual wage across all occupations is $47,470 ($22.82/hour, BLS OEWS May 2025, Bakersfield-Delano, CA metro), which is $3,510 below the national median of $50,980. The national median is the BLS OEWS May 2025 all-occupations median annual wage. The average commute time is 23 minutes, and the city has a job growth rate of +1%.
Bakersfield Salary by Experience Level (2026)
Wage distribution in Bakersfield, CA built around the $47,470 median salary (BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Bakersfield-Delano, CA metro). Entry-level represents 10th–25th percentile; mid-level is the median; senior-level represents 75th–90th percentile. The non-median rows are Salario estimates.
| Experience Level | Annual Salary | Hourly Wage | Years Exp |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-Level | $29,431 | $14.15/hr | 0–2 years |
| Mid-Level (Median) | $47,470 | $22.82/hr | 3–7 years |
| Senior-Level | $67,407 | $32.40/hr | 8–15 years |
| Top 10% (90th Percentile) | $84,497 | $40.62/hr | 15+ years / leadership |
Percentile multipliers (62%, 100%, 142%, 178%) are Salario approximations of the typical all-occupations wage spread in BLS OEWS metro tables; only the median row is a published BLS value. Specific roles vary; see jobs by city for role-specific data.
Bakersfield Paycheck Calculator
Enter your annual salary to see your estimated take-home pay in Bakersfield, CA, after federal, state, and local taxes.
Estimated Annual Take-Home Pay
$39,281
$3,273.45/month · $1,510.82/biweekly · Effective Rate: 17.3%
Biweekly paycheck estimate: this salary equals about $1,510.82 take-home per paycheck after estimated California and federal taxes. For the 26-paycheck formula, three-paycheck months, and withholding examples, see the Biweekly Paycheck Calculator.
Gross Pay
$47,470
Federal Tax
-$3,516
State Tax
-$1,041
Local Tax
$0
FICA
-$3,631
Net Pay
$39,281
Pay Breakdown
| Item | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | $3,955.83 | $47,470.00 |
| Federal Income Tax | -$293.03 | -$3,516.40 |
| California State Tax (2.19% eff.) | -$86.73 | -$1,040.73 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | -$245.26 | -$2,943.14 |
| Medicare (1.45%) | -$57.36 | -$688.32 |
| Net Take-Home Pay | $3,273.45 | $39,281.42 |
Salary Comparison: Bakersfield vs Other Cities
See how Bakersfield's median salary and cost of living compare to the national average and similar cities.
| City | Median Salary | COL Index | Adj. Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bakersfield, CA | $47,470 | 96 | $49,448 |
| National Average | $50,980 | 100 | $50,980 |
| Delano, CA | $47,470 | 148.9 | $31,880 |
| Ridgecrest, CA | $47,470 | 144.5 | $32,851 |
| North Port, FL | $47,440 | 96.6 | $49,110 |
| Flagstaff, AZ | $47,500 | 112.8 | $42,110 |
Adjusted salary reflects purchasing power when cost of living is factored in. A higher adjusted salary means your money goes further.
Cost of Living in Bakersfield
Bakersfield's cost of living index is 96 (national average = 100). Living in Bakersfield is 4% less expensive than the national average.
Median Home Price
$310,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,150
Annual Rent Cost
$13,800
Your Salary's Purchasing Power
Your $39,281 annual take-home pay in Bakersfield has the purchasing power of approximately $40,918 in an average-cost US area. Your $47,470 salary stretches further here than in most US cities.
Top Industries in Bakersfield
Bakersfield's economy is driven by these key industries. Workers in top industries often earn significantly above the median salary of $47,470.
Salary Tips for Bakersfield Workers
- Maximize pre-tax deductions. With a top 13.3% state income tax rate, maximizing 401(k) contributions (up to $24,500 in 2026) and HSA contributions can significantly reduce both your federal and state tax burden.
- Research top industries. Bakersfield's top industries include Agriculture, Oil & Gas, Logistics. Targeting roles in these sectors can help you earn above the $47,470 median salary.
- Review your W-4 withholding. If you regularly receive large tax refunds, adjust your W-4 to increase your per-paycheck take-home pay instead of giving the government an interest-free loan.
Job Salaries in Bakersfield, CA
Browse occupation-specific salaries for Bakersfield. Figures marked BLS are the BLS OEWS May 2025 median annual wage for that occupation in the Bakersfield-Delano, CA metro area (76 of 338); the rest are Salario estimates adjusted for Bakersfield's cost of living. Each page connects the benchmark with local take-home pay and market context.
Other Cities in California
Baldwin Park
Beaumont
Bell
Bell Gardens
Bellflower
Benicia
Berkeley
Beverly Hills
Brea
Buena Park
Burbank
Burlingame
Methodology & Local Economy Data Sources
How we calculate Bakersfield salary data: The median annual wage, median hourly wage and mean wage are the official BLS OEWS May 2025 all-occupations values for the Bakersfield-Delano, CA metropolitan statistical area, retrieved from the BLS Public Data API on September 17, 2026. BLS does not publish city-level wages, so every city inside that metro shows the same figure. The entry/senior/top-10% rows, the paycheck estimate and the purchasing-power conversion are Salario calculations built on that median. Cost-of-living adjustments use the C2ER Cost of Living Index baseline of 100 (national average), with Bakersfield indexed at 96.
- Median salary: $47,470 annual, $22.82 hourly, BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Bakersfield-Delano, CA MSA (338,230 jobs surveyed). Mean wage $64,650 (BLS). Salario's previous modeled median for Bakersfield was $52,000.
- Tax burden reflects California 2026 state income tax brackets and standard deduction (top rate 13.3%) (no local income tax), sales tax (8.25%), and federal taxes per IRS 2026 brackets.
- Unemployment rate for Bakersfield: 5.8%, sourced from BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS).
- Top industries: Agriculture, Oil & Gas, Logistics, based on QCEW employment concentration data.
- Job growth: 1% projected through 2034, derived from BLS Employment Projections program for California.
- Housing context: median home price $310,000, median rent $1,150/mo, sourced from Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
Authoritative US data sources for Bakersfield, CA:
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), metropolitan area salary data
- BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, Bakersfield unemployment rate
- U.S. Census Bureau, Bakersfield QuickFacts, population, housing, demographics
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW), county-level industry employment
- BLS Economy at a Glance, California, state economic indicators
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), local GDP and personal income data
- BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI-U), regional inflation tracking
Disclaimer: Salary and cost data are estimates for general guidance. Individual compensation varies by employer, experience, education, negotiation, and skills. Bakersfield's rapidly changing economy can shift these baselines, always verify with current job listings, employer offers, and recent California labor market reports for the most current figures.
Reviewed by Harlan Voss · Last updated September 17, 2026 · Wage figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 release (published May 2026) · Census data current as of latest releases
Explore Salaries Across the US
Compare salary data and cost of living for hundreds of US cities. Find out where your paycheck goes the furthest.
Related Salary Tools
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the hourly wage in Bakersfield, CA?
The median hourly wage in Bakersfield, CA is $22.82 per hour, the BLS OEWS May 2025 median for all occupations in the Bakersfield-Delano, CA metropolitan area, and the BLS median annual wage is $47,470. Entry-level workers are estimated around $14.15/hr, while senior-level workers are estimated around $32.40/hr before overtime, bonuses, or benefits (Salario estimates, not BLS percentiles).
What is the median salary in Bakersfield, CA?
The median salary in Bakersfield, CA is $47,470 per year, or $22.82 per hour (BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Bakersfield-Delano, CA metro area). The BLS mean salary is $64,650. This is $3,510 below the BLS national median of $50,980.
What is the cost of living in Bakersfield, CA?
Bakersfield's cost of living index is 96 (national average = 100), meaning it is 4% less expensive compared to the national average. The median home price is $310,000 and the median monthly rent is $1,150.
What are the best industries in Bakersfield?
The top industries in Bakersfield, CA include Agriculture, Oil & Gas, Logistics. The city has a job growth rate of 1% and an unemployment rate of 5.8%. Workers in these industries often earn above the city's median salary of $47,470.
How does Bakersfield's salary compare to other cities?
Bakersfield's median salary of $47,470 is 6.9% below the national median of $50,980. However, when adjusted for cost of living (index: 96), the real purchasing power is approximately $49,448.
What is the minimum wage in Bakersfield, CA?
The minimum wage in Bakersfield, CA is $16.50 per hour. This equals approximately $34,320 per year for a full-time worker (40 hours/week). This is $9.25 above the federal minimum wage of $7.25/hour.