Aerospace Engineer Salary in Bakersfield, CA
Aerospace Engineers in the Bakersfield-Delano, CA metro area earn a median $128,720 a year — 5% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $89,831 take-home, or $7,486 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median aerospace engineer salary in Bakersfield, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$19,627
- Social Security (6.2%)$7,981
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,866
- California income tax$7,741
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,673
- Take-home pay$89,831
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 9.30% state
Aerospace Engineer pay by experience in Bakersfield, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $93,230 | $44.82 | $68,765 | $5,730 |
| 25th percentile | $106,450 | $51.18 | $76,663 | $6,389 |
| Median (50th) | $128,720 | $61.88 | $89,831 | $7,486 |
| 75th percentile | $159,700 | $76.78 | $107,722 | $8,977 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $188,720 | $90.73 | $124,743 | $10,395 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $128,720 buys in Bakersfield, CA
Prices in Bakersfield, CA are 0.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 10% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median aerospace engineer's $89,831 take-home pay has the buying power of $89,042 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Bakersfield, CA has 4.7× the national concentration of aerospace engineer jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for aerospace engineers, adjusted for cost of living
Bakersfield, CA ranks #23 of 28 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boulder, CO | $167,160 | $118,873 | $112,995 |
| 2 | Cleveland, OH | $143,020 | $105,869 | $112,719 |
| 3 | Baltimore, MD | $166,980 | $117,563 | $112,515 |
| 4 | Seattle, WA | $163,580 | $123,073 | $110,744 |
| 5 | San Francisco, CA | $191,260 | $126,367 | $109,302 |
| 6 | San Jose, CA | $181,630 | $120,387 | $109,023 |
| 7 | Colorado Springs, CO | $151,980 | $109,166 | $108,399 |
| 8 | Wichita, KS | $130,720 | $94,119 | $105,815 |
| 23 | Bakersfield, CA | $128,720 | $89,831 | $89,042 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 28 metros →
Aerospace Engineer salaries elsewhere in California
- San Francisco, CA — $191,260
- San Jose, CA — $181,630
- Los Angeles, CA — $163,280
- San Diego, CA — $135,010
Frequently asked questions
How much does a aerospace engineer make in Bakersfield, CA?
The median aerospace engineer salary in the Bakersfield-Delano, CA metro area is $128,720 a year, or about $61.88 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $106,450 and $159,700.
What is a aerospace engineer’s take-home pay in Bakersfield, CA?
On the median $128,720 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $89,831 a year ($7,486 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $9,415 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Bakersfield, CA a good place to work as a aerospace engineer?
Pay here is 5% below the national median of $134,960. Local prices are 0.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $89,042 would in a typical U.S. city. Bakersfield, CA ranks #23 of 28 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a aerospace engineer afford rent in Bakersfield, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Bakersfield, CA is $1,140 a month ($1,483 for two bedrooms) — 15% of a median aerospace engineer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Bakersfield, CA
- Engineers, All Other — $139,980
- 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