Carpenter Salary in Bakersfield, CA
Carpenters in the Bakersfield-Delano, CA metro area earn a median $66,540 a year — 10% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $52,665 take-home, or $4,389 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median carpenter salary in Bakersfield, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,809
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,125
- Medicare (1.45%)$965
- California income tax$2,111
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$865
- Take-home pay$52,665
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 8.00% state
Carpenter pay by experience in Bakersfield, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $45,120 | $21.69 | $37,053 | $3,088 |
| 25th percentile | $51,420 | $24.72 | $41,693 | $3,474 |
| Median (50th) | $66,540 | $31.99 | $52,665 | $4,389 |
| 75th percentile | $80,720 | $38.81 | $61,290 | $5,107 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $104,810 | $50.39 | $75,684 | $6,307 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $66,540 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 carpenter's $52,665 take-home pay has the buying power of $52,202 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Carpenter jobs are less concentrated in Bakersfield, CA than nationally (location quotient 0.75), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for carpenters, adjusted for cost of living
Bakersfield, CA ranks #57 of 194 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oshkosh, WI | $84,430 | $65,132 | $70,088 |
| 2 | Peoria, IL | $75,280 | $58,208 | $63,803 |
| 3 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $94,310 | $69,540 | $62,670 |
| 4 | Rockford, IL | $72,770 | $56,566 | $61,382 |
| 5 | Springfield, MA | $75,520 | $58,402 | $60,797 |
| 6 | Chicago, IL | $80,440 | $61,583 | $59,445 |
| 7 | St. Louis, MO | $70,990 | $56,372 | $59,284 |
| 8 | Elkhart, IN | $65,520 | $52,922 | $58,591 |
| 57 | Bakersfield, CA | $66,540 | $52,665 | $52,202 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 194 metros →
Carpenter salaries elsewhere in California
- San Francisco, CA — $89,200
- Santa Rosa, CA — $80,520
- San Jose, CA — $80,190
- Modesto, CA — $73,730
- San Luis Obispo, CA — $77,220
- Napa, CA — $80,590
- Santa Cruz, CA — $77,690
- Vallejo, CA — $76,220
Frequently asked questions
How much does a carpenter make in Bakersfield, CA?
The median carpenter salary in the Bakersfield-Delano, CA metro area is $66,540 a year, or about $31.99 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $51,420 and $80,720.
What is a carpenter’s take-home pay in Bakersfield, CA?
On the median $66,540 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $52,665 a year ($4,389 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,976 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Bakersfield, CA a good place to work as a carpenter?
Pay here is 10% above the national median of $60,580. Local prices are 0.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $52,202 would in a typical U.S. city. Bakersfield, CA ranks #57 of 194 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a carpenter 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) — 26% of a median carpenter’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Bakersfield, CA
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $92,120
- Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator — $77,960
- Electrician — $75,860
- 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