Civil Engineer Salary in Bakersfield, CA
Civil Engineers in the Bakersfield-Delano, CA metro area earn a median $99,300 a year — 2% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $72,391 take-home, or $6,033 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median civil engineer salary in Bakersfield, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$13,016
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,157
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,440
- California income tax$5,005
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,291
- Take-home pay$72,391
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 9.30% state
Civil Engineer pay by experience in Bakersfield, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $75,580 | $36.34 | $58,184 | $4,849 |
| 25th percentile | $84,740 | $40.74 | $63,692 | $5,308 |
| Median (50th) | $99,300 | $47.74 | $72,391 | $6,033 |
| 75th percentile | $129,110 | $62.07 | $90,057 | $7,505 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $163,180 | $78.45 | $109,732 | $9,144 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $99,300 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 civil engineer's $72,391 take-home pay has the buying power of $71,756 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Civil Engineer jobs are about as common in Bakersfield, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.09).
Best-paying cities for civil engineers, adjusted for cost of living
Bakersfield, CA ranks #104 of 125 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kennewick, WA | $121,370 | $94,214 | $94,139 |
| 2 | Baton Rouge, LA | $112,430 | $84,938 | $93,565 |
| 3 | Mobile, AL | $107,810 | $79,549 | $90,296 |
| 4 | New Orleans, LA | $108,240 | $82,116 | $88,681 |
| 5 | Sioux Falls, SD | $99,700 | $78,969 | $87,132 |
| 6 | Tulsa, OK | $102,080 | $76,595 | $85,856 |
| 7 | Sacramento, CA | $130,150 | $90,657 | $84,988 |
| 8 | Beaumont, TX | $95,510 | $76,021 | $84,425 |
| 104 | Bakersfield, CA | $99,300 | $72,391 | $71,756 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 125 metros →
Civil Engineer salaries elsewhere in California
- Sacramento, CA — $130,150
- Fresno, CA — $119,720
- San Jose, CA — $130,280
- Yuba City, CA — $119,990
- Stockton, CA — $116,990
- San Francisco, CA — $130,160
- Santa Maria, CA — $119,980
- Riverside, CA — $115,120
Frequently asked questions
How much does a civil engineer make in Bakersfield, CA?
The median civil engineer salary in the Bakersfield-Delano, CA metro area is $99,300 a year, or about $47.74 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $84,740 and $129,110.
What is a civil engineer’s take-home pay in Bakersfield, CA?
On the median $99,300 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $72,391 a year ($6,033 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $6,296 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Bakersfield, CA a good place to work as a civil engineer?
Pay here is 2% below the national median of $100,840. Local prices are 0.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $71,756 would in a typical U.S. city. Bakersfield, CA ranks #104 of 125 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a civil 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) — 19% of a median civil 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
- 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