Firefighter Salary in Bakersfield, CA
Firefighters in the Bakersfield-Delano, CA metro area earn a median $72,410 a year — 22% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $56,248 take-home, or $4,687 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median firefighter salary in Bakersfield, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$7,100
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,489
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,050
- California income tax$2,581
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$941
- Take-home pay$56,248
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 8.00% state
Firefighter pay by experience in Bakersfield, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $49,120 | $23.62 | $40,013 | $3,334 |
| 25th percentile | $57,710 | $27.75 | $46,288 | $3,857 |
| Median (50th) | $72,410 | $34.81 | $56,248 | $4,687 |
| 75th percentile | $470,940+ | $226.41 | $275,445 | $22,954 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $470,940+ | $226.41 | $275,445 | $22,954 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $72,410 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 firefighter's $56,248 take-home pay has the buying power of $55,754 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Firefighter jobs are about as common in Bakersfield, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.04).
Best-paying cities for firefighters, adjusted for cost of living
Bakersfield, CA ranks #30 of 133 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $152,100 | $103,333 | $93,580 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $101,090 | $79,947 | $71,938 |
| 3 | San Francisco, CA | $113,700 | $80,995 | $70,057 |
| 4 | New York, NY | $106,420 | $78,458 | $69,701 |
| 5 | Rochester, NY | $89,120 | $67,308 | $69,365 |
| 6 | Spokane, WA | $83,310 | $67,439 | $67,206 |
| 7 | Reno, NV | $81,360 | $66,067 | $65,404 |
| 8 | Sacramento, CA | $94,080 | $69,272 | $64,941 |
| 30 | Bakersfield, CA | $72,410 | $56,248 | $55,754 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 133 metros →
Firefighter salaries elsewhere in California
- San Jose, CA — $152,100
- San Francisco, CA — $113,700
- Sacramento, CA — $94,080
- Los Angeles, CA — $98,050
- Fresno, CA — $79,160
- Riverside, CA — $79,160
- Salinas, CA — $81,070
- Oxnard, CA — $77,400
Frequently asked questions
How much does a firefighter make in Bakersfield, CA?
The median firefighter salary in the Bakersfield-Delano, CA metro area is $72,410 a year, or about $34.81 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $57,710 and $239,200+.
What is a firefighter’s take-home pay in Bakersfield, CA?
On the median $72,410 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $56,248 a year ($4,687 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,522 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Bakersfield, CA a good place to work as a firefighter?
Pay here is 22% above the national median of $59,280. Local prices are 0.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $55,754 would in a typical U.S. city. Bakersfield, CA ranks #30 of 133 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a firefighter 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) — 24% of a median firefighter’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Bakersfield, CA
- Correctional Officer and Jailer — $107,220
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer — $78,130
- Security Guard — $38,440