Mechanical Engineer Salary in Bakersfield, CA
Mechanical Engineers in the Bakersfield-Delano, CA metro area earn a median $119,790 a year — 15% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $84,634 take-home, or $7,053 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median mechanical engineer salary in Bakersfield, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$17,524
- Social Security (6.2%)$7,427
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,737
- California income tax$6,911
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,557
- Take-home pay$84,634
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 9.30% state
Mechanical Engineer pay by experience in Bakersfield, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $78,490 | $37.74 | $59,957 | $4,996 |
| 25th percentile | $92,500 | $44.47 | $68,328 | $5,694 |
| Median (50th) | $119,790 | $57.59 | $84,634 | $7,053 |
| 75th percentile | $142,850 | $68.68 | $97,991 | $8,166 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $171,540 | $82.47 | $114,560 | $9,547 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $119,790 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 mechanical engineer's $84,634 take-home pay has the buying power of $83,891 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Mechanical Engineer jobs are about as common in Bakersfield, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.87).
Best-paying cities for mechanical engineers, adjusted for cost of living
Bakersfield, CA ranks #34 of 115 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Baton Rouge, LA | $135,530 | $100,221 | $110,400 |
| 2 | Beaumont, TX | $122,280 | $94,844 | $105,329 |
| 3 | Peoria, IL | $128,710 | $93,013 | $101,953 |
| 4 | Columbus, IN | $127,700 | $94,811 | $101,944 |
| 5 | San Jose, CA | $168,030 | $112,533 | $101,911 |
| 6 | Augusta, GA | $128,740 | $93,201 | $101,412 |
| 7 | Houston, TX | $125,350 | $96,943 | $98,290 |
| 8 | Kennewick, WA | $124,780 | $96,553 | $96,477 |
| 34 | Bakersfield, CA | $119,790 | $84,634 | $83,891 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 115 metros →
Mechanical Engineer salaries elsewhere in California
- San Jose, CA — $168,030
- San Francisco, CA — $161,370
- Sacramento, CA — $120,970
- San Diego, CA — $121,750
- Los Angeles, CA — $123,900
- Oxnard, CA — $117,380
- Riverside, CA — $104,910
Frequently asked questions
How much does a mechanical engineer make in Bakersfield, CA?
The median mechanical engineer salary in the Bakersfield-Delano, CA metro area is $119,790 a year, or about $57.59 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $92,500 and $142,850.
What is a mechanical engineer’s take-home pay in Bakersfield, CA?
On the median $119,790 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $84,634 a year ($7,053 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $8,468 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Bakersfield, CA a good place to work as a mechanical engineer?
Pay here is 15% above the national median of $104,110. Local prices are 0.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $83,891 would in a typical U.S. city. Bakersfield, CA ranks #34 of 115 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a mechanical 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) — 16% of a median mechanical 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
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologist and Technician — $103,170
- Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other — $101,770
- Civil Engineer — $99,300