Cost of Living in Bakersfield, CA
Bakersfield-Delano, CA — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.
Price level
100.9
U.S. average = 100 · #71 of 387
Median wage
$47,470
all jobs · $3,234/mo take-home
1-bedroom rent
$1,140
HUD fair market rent
Salary comparison calculator
What would you need to earn in Bakersfield, CA to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?
Salary needed to keep your lifestyle
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Prices in Bakersfield, CA vs. the U.S. average
| Category | Index (U.S. = 100) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 100.9 | +0.9% |
| Housing | 90.3 | −9.7% |
| Goods | 105.2 | +5.2% |
| Utilities | 158.3 | +58.3% |
| Other services | 100.3 | +0.3% |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Rent in Bakersfield, CA
| Unit | Monthly rent | Income needed (30% rule) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,132 | $45,280/yr |
| 1 bedroom | $1,140 | $45,600/yr |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,483 | $59,320/yr |
| 3 bedrooms | $2,062 | $82,480/yr |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,488 | $99,520/yr |
HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026, population-weighted across the metro's counties.
Take-home pay in Bakersfield, CA
Your take-home pay
$38,807
per year · effective tax rate 18.2%
$3,234Monthly
$1,617Twice a month
$1,493Every 2 weeks
$18.66Hourly
- Federal income tax$3,516
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,943
- Medicare (1.45%)$688
- California income tax$898
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$617
- Take-home pay$38,807
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 6.00% state
Highest-paying jobs in Bakersfield, CA
*In U.S.-average dollars after adjusting for local prices.
Frequently asked questions
Is Bakersfield, CA expensive to live in?
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, overall prices in the Bakersfield-Delano, CA metro area are 100.9% of the U.S. average, with housing at 90.3%. It is the #71 most expensive of 387 metro areas we track.
What salary do you need to live in Bakersfield, CA?
To match the buying power of a $60,000 salary in an average-priced U.S. city you would need about $60,532 in Bakersfield, CA (before tax differences). The median wage across all jobs here is $47,470.
How much is rent in Bakersfield, CA?
HUD’s FY2026 fair market rents for Bakersfield, CA are $1,132 for a studio, $1,140 for one bedroom, $1,483 for two bedrooms and $2,062 for three bedrooms, including utilities.
All salaries in Bakersfield, CA
Management Occupations
- Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary — $154,410
- Financial Manager — $153,030
- Managers, All Other — $145,690
- Medical and Health Services Manager — $132,670
- Construction Manager — $127,890
- General and Operations Manager — $104,460
- Administrative Services Manager — $101,780
- Sales Manager — $98,270
- Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers — $95,510
- Social and Community Service Manager — $75,600
- Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers — $63,700
Business and Financial Operations Occupations
- Project Management Specialist — $104,580
- Management Analyst — $96,580
- Logistician — $95,470
- Business Operations Specialists, All Other — $95,000
- Buyer and Purchasing Agent — $80,120
- Compliance Officer — $80,040
- Accountant and Auditor — $79,620
- Human Resources Specialist — $76,700
- Market Research Analyst and Marketing Specialist — $69,910
- Training and Development Specialist — $58,860
Computer and Mathematical Occupations
- Software Developer — $130,330
- Computer and Information Research Scientist — $116,650
- Computer Occupations, All Other — $110,180
- Computer Systems Analyst — $100,400
- Computer User Support Specialist — $62,980
Architecture and Engineering Occupations
- Engineers, All Other — $139,980
- Aerospace Engineer — $128,720
- Electronics Engineers, Except Computer — $127,340
- Electrical Engineer — $126,960
- Mechanical Engineer — $119,790
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologist and Technician — $103,170
- Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other — $101,770
- Civil Engineer — $99,300
Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations
Community and Social Service Occupations
- Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors — $97,700
- Probation Officer and Correctional Treatment Specialist — $92,880
- Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors — $59,620
- Child, Family, and School Social Workers — $59,330
- Social and Human Service Assistant — $48,280
Legal Occupations
- Lawyer — $150,900
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $99,150
- Teachers and Instructors, All Other — $96,820
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education — $79,900
- Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education — $78,330
- Postsecondary Teachers, All Other — $76,110
- Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School — $75,250
- Substitute Teachers, Short-Term — $66,480
- Educational Instruction and Library Workers, All Other — $60,100
- Self-Enrichment Teacher — $47,530
- Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education — $45,880
- Tutor — $39,470
- Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary — $38,930
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations
- Coach and Scout — $43,170
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
- Pharmacist — $161,930
- Registered Nurse — $128,810
- Radiologic Technologist and Technician — $99,210
- Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse — $76,130
- Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other — $58,350
- Pharmacy Technician — $48,110
Healthcare Support Occupations
- Dental Assistant — $48,100
- Medical Assistant — $46,560
- Nursing Assistant — $46,130
- Home Health and Personal Care Aide — $34,320
Protective Service Occupations
- Correctional Officer and Jailer — $107,220
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer — $78,130
- Firefighter — $72,410
- Security Guard — $38,440
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $45,580
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $43,910
- Cooks, Fast Food — $41,480
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $39,470
- Cooks, Restaurant — $37,800
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $37,140
- Food Preparation Worker — $37,090
- Dishwasher — $35,720
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $34,660
- Waiter and Waitress — $34,320
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $34,320
- Bartender — $34,320
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations
- Landscaping and Groundskeeping Worker — $43,770
- Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners — $42,490
- Maid and Housekeeping Cleaner — $35,670
Personal Care and Service Occupations
- Recreation Worker — $38,060
- Childcare Worker — $36,190
- Manicurist and Pedicurist — $35,100
- Amusement and Recreation Attendant — $34,770
Sales and Related Occupations
- Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products — $74,190
- Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel — $62,620
- Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents — $61,360
- First-Line Supervisor of Retail Sales Workers — $49,350
- Counter and Rental Clerk — $43,970
- Parts Salesperson — $39,110
- Retail Salesperson — $36,320
- Cashier — $35,220
Office and Administrative Support Occupations
- Executive Secretary and Executive Administrative Assistant — $72,860
- First-Line Supervisor of Office and Administrative Support Workers — $71,830
- Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks — $61,380
- Information and Record Clerks, All Other — $57,040
- Postal Service Mail Carrier — $56,660
- Payroll and Timekeeping Clerk — $56,650
- Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks — $53,170
- Billing and Posting Clerk — $52,000
- Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive — $50,960
- Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance — $50,750
- Medical Secretary and Administrative Assistant — $47,430
- Customer Service Representative — $47,310
- Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks — $45,970
- Office Clerks, General — $45,440
- Teller — $44,830
- Receptionist and Information Clerk — $39,690
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Occupations
- First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers — $46,910
- Agricultural Equipment Operator — $36,930
- Graders and Sorters, Agricultural Products — $35,310
- Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse — $34,620
Construction and Extraction Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $92,120
- Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator — $77,960
- Electrician — $75,860
- Carpenter — $66,540
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — $66,450
- Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas — $62,170
- Cement Mason and Concrete Finisher — $58,670
- Painters, Construction and Maintenance — $58,540
- Construction Laborer — $55,800
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations
- First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers — $94,280
- Aircraft Mechanic and Service Technician — $91,750
- Industrial Machinery Mechanic — $73,680
- Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers — $66,400
- Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines — $66,150
- Bus and Truck Mechanic and Diesel Engine Specialist — $63,520
- Automotive Service Technician and Mechanic — $62,450
- Maintenance and Repair Workers, General — $50,800
Production Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Production and Operating Workers — $76,940
- Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operator — $64,640
- Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers — $57,360
- Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers — $46,710
- Packaging and Filling Machine Operator and Tender — $43,310
- Baker — $42,470
- Miscellaneous Assembler and Fabricator — $39,080
- Production Workers, All Other — $36,140
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
- First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors — $67,490
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $57,690
- Bus Drivers, School — $51,880
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $46,890
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator — $44,980
- Light Truck Driver — $43,320
- Stocker and Order Filler — $39,070
- Shuttle Driver and Chauffeur — $37,250
- Cleaner of Vehicles and Equipment — $36,510
- Packers and Packagers, Hand — $35,260
- Driver/Sales Worker — $34,320