Pharmacist Salary in Bakersfield, CA
Pharmacists in the Bakersfield-Delano, CA metro area earn a median $161,930 a year — 15% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $109,010 take-home, or $9,084 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median pharmacist salary in Bakersfield, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$27,597
- Social Security (6.2%)$10,040
- Medicare (1.45%)$2,348
- California income tax$10,830
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$2,105
- Take-home pay$109,010
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 9.30% state
Pharmacist pay by experience in Bakersfield, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $125,170 | $60.18 | $87,781 | $7,315 |
| 25th percentile | $152,210 | $73.18 | $103,397 | $8,616 |
| Median (50th) | $161,930 | $77.85 | $109,010 | $9,084 |
| 75th percentile | $179,960 | $86.52 | $119,422 | $9,952 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $200,850 | $96.56 | $132,493 | $11,041 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $161,930 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 pharmacist's $109,010 take-home pay has the buying power of $108,053 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Pharmacist jobs are about as common in Bakersfield, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.86).
Best-paying cities for pharmacists, adjusted for cost of living
Bakersfield, CA ranks #54 of 120 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rochester, MN | $164,250 | $113,470 | $124,938 |
| 2 | Sioux Falls, SD | $148,330 | $112,650 | $124,295 |
| 3 | McAllen, TX | $137,700 | $105,384 | $122,689 |
| 4 | San Antonio, TX | $150,500 | $114,133 | $120,500 |
| 5 | Shreveport, LA | $137,970 | $101,816 | $120,114 |
| 6 | San Jose, CA | $199,040 | $131,343 | $118,945 |
| 7 | Spartanburg, SC | $153,610 | $108,199 | $118,833 |
| 8 | Fargo, ND | $142,040 | $106,840 | $117,573 |
| 54 | Bakersfield, CA | $161,930 | $109,010 | $108,053 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 120 metros →
Pharmacist salaries elsewhere in California
- San Jose, CA — $199,040
- Fresno, CA — $169,160
- Sacramento, CA — $172,680
- Stockton, CA — $162,440
- Riverside, CA — $161,870
- San Francisco, CA — $177,410
- San Diego, CA — $165,130
- Oxnard, CA — $160,430
Frequently asked questions
How much does a pharmacist make in Bakersfield, CA?
The median pharmacist salary in the Bakersfield-Delano, CA metro area is $161,930 a year, or about $77.85 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $152,210 and $179,960.
What is a pharmacist’s take-home pay in Bakersfield, CA?
On the median $161,930 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $109,010 a year ($9,084 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $12,935 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Bakersfield, CA a good place to work as a pharmacist?
Pay here is 15% above the national median of $140,910. Local prices are 0.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $108,053 would in a typical U.S. city. Bakersfield, CA ranks #54 of 120 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a pharmacist 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) — 13% of a median pharmacist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Bakersfield, CA
- Registered Nurse — $128,810
- Radiologic Technologist and Technician — $99,210
- Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse — $76,130
- Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other — $58,350
- Pharmacy Technician — $48,110