Jobs, pay and daily life in Bakersfield, from official statistics with source and year on every table.
Click any dot to open that city: jobs, pay, rent, commute, county economy and climate. Dot size follows population; colours follow the state flag.
By AtiveSite · Published 07/11/2026 · Updated 08/11/2026 · Every figure is linked to its source below.
Bakersfield is a city in California with 411,986 residents. The median household earns $80,540 a year and the median rent is $1,472 a month, which is 21.9% of the median household income. It is part of the Bakersfield-Delano, CA metropolitan area, where BLS counts 338,230 jobs.
How Bakersfield compares. Among the 145 places in California, Bakersfield is #9 by population, #5 for rent (#1 = cheapest), #14 for long commutes (#1 = fewest), #130 for remote work (#1 = most). Its county, Kern County, is #29 of 58 counties for average pay ($60,066).
Bakersfield has 411,986 residents (ACS 2020–2024), about 1.0% of the population of California. It covers 150 square miles of land, which works out to roughly 2,742 people per square mile. The median age is 32.1, 15% younger than the state median (32.1 against 37.9).
The median gross rent is $1,472 a month (rent plus utilities), 28% below the state median ($1,472 against $2,036). Over a year that is 21.9% of the median household income. US housing guidance treats housing as affordable when it takes 30% of income or less, so the typical household is under that line. The median home value is $371,700, which is 4.6 times the median household income ($80,540). 60.6% of households own their home, 8% above the state average (60.6% against 55.9%).
The Bakersfield-Delano, CA metropolitan area has 338,230 jobs in the BLS wage survey, and the median pay across all occupations is $47,470 a year, 7% below the national median ($47,470 against $50,980). The biggest occupation groups are farming, fishing, and forestry (35,660 jobs, median $34,620); transportation and material moving (34,650 jobs, median $45,320); office and administrative support (29,410 jobs, median $48,880). The area is most specialised in farming, fishing, and forestry (37.7 times) and community and social service (1.4 times), where the share of workers is well above the national share. The best-paying groups with at least 5,000 jobs are management ($120,970) and architecture and engineering ($110,040). In 2026M09 the unemployment rate of Kern County was 7.9%. 62.1% of residents aged 16 and over are in the labour force. The city lies in Kern County; its jobs, pay by industry and GDP are on the county page.
Among workers, 79.1% drive alone, 0.4% use public transit, 0.8% walk, 8.2% work from home. 9.1% of workers commute 45 minutes or more, 53% below the state average (9.1% against 19.4%).
23.6% of adults aged 25 and over hold a bachelor's degree or higher, 36% below the state share (23.6% against 37.1%). 20.2% of residents were born outside the United States, 25% below the state share (20.2% against 27.0%). The poverty rate is 16.3%, 36% above the state rate (16.3% against 12.0%).
The warmest month is Jul, averaging 80°F (26.9°C), and the coolest is Dec at 46°F (7.9°C). About 206 mm (8 inches) of precipitation falls in a year; Dec is the wettest month (40 mm) and Jun the driest (1 mm). These values come from NASA satellite-based climatology on a grid of about 50 km, so they describe the wider area, not a weather station in the city.
Closest cities in this guide: Lancaster (67 miles, rent 20% higher); Visalia (69 miles, similar rent); Santa Clarita (72 miles, rent 73% higher); Palmdale (75 miles, rent 22% higher). Rent differences are against Bakersfield; use the Compare tab to put any two cities side by side.
Federal jobs in California (1,708) →State guide: CaliforniaCountry guideKern CountyCalifornia rankings
These links go to official sources and open in a new window. The first one is the government's or company's own site as listed in Wikidata (property "official website"); check it before relying on it.
There are 1,708 federal postings open in California (USAJOBS, state level; we do not have a city filter for them). Private-sector jobs are not in this feed.
Open federal jobs in California →
| Occupation ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay (year) ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse | 32,500 | 56.27 | $34,620 | $34,320 | $36,330 | -3% |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | 17,270 | 1.84 | $34,320 | $34,320 | $36,300 | -4% |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | 9,180 | 1.09 | $39,470 | $35,190 | $45,660 | +27% |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | 8,440 | 1.31 | $46,890 | $34,490 | $54,990 | +17% |
| Cashiers | 8,350 | 1.24 | $35,220 | $34,320 | $45,630 | +7% |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | 7,050 | 1.57 | $57,690 | $38,490 | $74,870 | -2% |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | 6,190 | 1.00 | $39,070 | $35,020 | $54,860 | +5% |
| Retail Salespersons | 6,050 | 0.71 | $36,320 | $34,320 | $47,670 | +3% |
| Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary | 6,040 | 1.96 | $38,930 | $36,180 | $48,010 | +6% |
| Registered Nurses | 5,620 | 0.76 | $128,810 | $87,760 | $162,020 | +32% |
| Office Clerks, General | 5,500 | 1.03 | $45,440 | $35,340 | $60,860 | +1% |
| Substitute Teachers, Short-Term | 5,390 | 4.73 | $66,480 | $49,210 | $76,690 | +60% |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | 4,540 | 1.50 | $79,900 | $61,230 | $118,580 | +25% |
| General and Operations Managers | 4,100 | 0.54 | $104,460 | $53,910 | $218,740 | -1% |
| Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | 4,060 | 0.84 | $42,490 | $34,320 | $55,440 | +15% |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | 3,300 | 1.42 | $99,150 | $63,350 | $125,170 | +38% |
| Correctional Officers and Jailers | 3,280 | 3.97 | $107,220 | $69,770 | $114,730 | +82% |
| Waiters and Waitresses | 2,920 | 0.59 | $34,320 | $34,320 | $61,520 | -3% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | 2,740 | 1.03 | $45,580 | $38,070 | $65,690 | +3% |
| Business Operations Specialists, All Other | 2,740 | 1.16 | $95,000 | $48,890 | $149,160 | +14% |
| Occupation ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay (year) ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pharmacists | 600 | 0.86 | $161,930 | $125,170 | $200,850 | +15% |
| Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary | 800 | 1.11 | $154,410 | $106,460 | $170,340 | +46% |
| Financial Managers | 900 | 0.49 | $153,030 | $90,070 | $276,790 | -8% |
| Lawyers | 610 | 0.37 | $150,900 | $77,490 | $245,020 | -5% |
| Managers, All Other | 800 | 0.59 | $145,690 | $78,350 | $225,060 | +3% |
| Engineers, All Other | 670 | 2.00 | $139,980 | $53,440 | $195,190 | +14% |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | 1,020 | 0.78 | $132,670 | $66,700 | $220,480 | +7% |
| Software Developers | 740 | 0.20 | $130,330 | $88,670 | $203,810 | -4% |
| Registered Nurses | 5,620 | 0.76 | $128,810 | $87,760 | $162,020 | +32% |
| Aerospace Engineers | 700 | 4.73 | $128,720 | $93,230 | $188,720 | -5% |
| Construction Managers | 720 | 0.87 | $127,890 | $83,600 | $204,170 | +11% |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | 580 | 2.77 | $127,340 | $100,340 | $178,380 | -2% |
| Mechanical Engineers | 560 | 0.87 | $119,790 | $78,490 | $171,540 | +15% |
| Computer Occupations, All Other | 1,080 | 1.14 | $110,180 | $58,100 | $159,700 | -5% |
| Correctional Officers and Jailers | 3,280 | 3.97 | $107,220 | $69,770 | $114,730 | +82% |
| Project Management Specialists | 1,410 | 0.61 | $104,580 | $62,120 | $159,970 | +2% |
| General and Operations Managers | 4,100 | 0.54 | $104,460 | $53,910 | $218,740 | -1% |
| Civil Engineers | 870 | 1.09 | $99,300 | $75,580 | $163,180 | -2% |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | 3,300 | 1.42 | $99,150 | $63,350 | $125,170 | +38% |
| Sales Managers | 1,220 | 0.88 | $98,270 | $57,410 | $211,000 | -34% |
These figures are for the whole Bakersfield-Delano, CA metropolitan area, not the city alone.
Median pay across all occupations: $47,470 (US $50,980); unemployment 7.9% (2026M09).
| Industry (residents) ⇅ | Share of employed residents ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Education and health care | 25.7% |
| Retail trade | 11.4% |
| Professional, scientific, management, administrative | 9.1% |
| Arts, entertainment, accommodation, food | 9.0% |
| Transportation, warehousing, utilities | 8.0% |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing, mining | 7.5% |
| Construction | 7.0% |
| Manufacturing | 5.3% |
| Public administration | 5.3% |
| Other services | 5.0% |
| Finance, insurance, real estate | 3.6% |
| Wholesale trade | 2.0% |
| Information | 0.9% |
Cities have no official GDP or payroll count of their own. These figures are for the county where Bakersfield lies and cover the whole county, not only the city.
| County ⇅ | Population ⇅ | GDP (2024) ⇅ | GDP per resident ⇅ | Jobs (QCEW 2024) ⇅ | Employer sites ⇅ | Average annual pay ⇅ | Job change vs 2023 ⇅ | Unemployment rate ⇅ | Labour force ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kern County | 915,075 | $63,070 million | $68,923 | 347,664 | 27,950 | $60,066 | +1.3% | 7.9% | 417,030 |
| Industry ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Share of private jobs ⇅ | Average annual pay ⇅ | Concentration vs US (location quotient) ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing | 57,718 | 20.9% | $38,303 | 20.51 |
| Health care and social assistance | 47,178 | 17.1% | $54,894 | 0.95 |
| Retail trade | 31,905 | 11.6% | $40,848 | 0.92 |
| Accommodation and food services | 26,656 | 9.7% | $28,334 | 0.84 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 17,844 | 6.5% | $70,042 | 1.21 |
| Construction | 15,984 | 5.8% | $77,329 | 0.88 |
| Manufacturing | 13,261 | 4.8% | $82,996 | 0.46 |
| Administrative and waste services | 12,747 | 4.6% | $54,873 | 0.62 |
| Professional and technical services | 10,391 | 3.8% | $82,103 | 0.43 |
| Wholesale trade | 8,339 | 3.0% | $78,682 | 0.61 |
| Other services (except public administration) | 7,799 | 2.8% | $47,218 | 0.75 |
| Mining, oil and gas | 6,717 | 2.4% | $107,765 | 5.11 |
| Finance and insurance | 4,433 | 1.6% | $85,077 | 0.31 |
| Real estate and rental | 3,427 | 1.2% | $68,019 | 0.63 |
| Arts, entertainment, recreation | 2,995 | 1.1% | $26,928 | 0.51 |
| Management of companies | 2,841 | 1.0% | $145,910 | 0.48 |
| Educational services | 2,243 | 0.8% | $39,401 | 0.31 |
| Utilities | 1,801 | 0.7% | $148,146 | 1.36 |
| Information | 1,652 | 0.6% | $64,393 | 0.25 |
QCEW counts jobs covered by unemployment insurance; sectors with too few employers are withheld by BLS. Latest-month unemployment is preliminary.
| How residents get to work ⇅ | Share ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Drive alone | 79.1% |
| Public transit | 0.4% |
| Walk | 0.8% |
| Work from home | 8.2% |
| Commute of 45 minutes or more | 9.1% |
Shares are of workers aged 16 and over; they describe residents, wherever they work.
| Indicator ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Median household income | $80,540 |
| Income per person | $33,405 |
| Median gross rent per month | $1,472 |
| Yearly rent as share of median household income | 21.9% |
| Median home value | $371,700 |
| Homeowners | 60.6% |
| Poverty rate | 16.3% |
| Price level of the metro area (US = 100) | 100.9 |
| Metro median pay, all occupations | $47,470 |
Estimate for a wage earner: 2026 federal brackets and standard deduction (IRS), Social Security 6.2% up to $184,500, Medicare 1.45% (+0.9% above $200,000 single / $250,000 married), and a state rate you set; graduated states show 0 until you enter your own estimate. It ignores credits, pre-tax deductions, local taxes and benefits. Sources: IRS: tax year 2026 inflation adjustments · SSA wage base per Federal Register notice 2025-19763.
State tax: Graduated, top rate 13.30%.
| Indicator ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Median age | 32.1 |
| High school or higher (25+) | 81.8% |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (25+) | 23.6% |
| Born abroad | 20.2% |
| Labour force participation (16+) | 62.1% |
Work permits are federal: see permits and first steps.
| Month ⇅ | Mean temperature (°C) ⇅ | Mean temperature (°F) ⇅ | Precipitation (mm) ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 8.4 | 47 | 38 |
| Feb | 8.9 | 48 | 34 |
| Mar | 11.3 | 52 | 31 |
| Apr | 13.6 | 56 | 21 |
| May | 18.1 | 65 | 8 |
| Jun | 23.1 | 74 | 1 |
| Jul | 26.9 | 80 | 2 |
| Aug | 26.1 | 79 | 1 |
| Sep | 23.6 | 74 | 2 |
| Oct | 17.7 | 64 | 10 |
| Nov | 12.1 | 54 | 18 |
| Dec | 7.9 | 46 | 40 |
Satellite-reanalysis climatology on a grid of roughly 50 km, so it smooths local effects (hills, coast, city heat). It is not a weather-station record.
| City ⇅ | State ⇅ | Distance (straight line) ⇅ | Population ⇅ | Median household income ⇅ | Median rent ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lancaster | CA | 67 mi | 169,169 | $81,511 | $1,764 |
| Visalia | CA | 69 mi | 143,939 | $81,989 | $1,490 |
| Santa Clarita | CA | 72 mi | 230,221 | $123,062 | $2,544 |
| Palmdale | CA | 75 mi | 164,634 | $81,770 | $1,802 |
| Santa Barbara | CA | 76 mi | 87,779 | $106,182 | $2,413 |
| San Buenaventura (Ventura) | CA | 76 mi | 109,857 | $103,069 | $2,198 |
| Simi Valley | CA | 77 mi | 125,634 | $122,081 | $2,579 |
| Oxnard | CA | 80 mi | 200,928 | $96,212 | $2,032 |
| Thousand Oaks | CA | 81 mi | 125,205 | $135,603 | $2,664 |
| Santa Maria | CA | 85 mi | 110,462 | $84,746 | $1,925 |
Straight-line distance in miles, not driving distance.
Pick two cities.
vs
411,986 (Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-year estimate).
$1,472 a month (ACS 2020–2024), which is 21.9% of the median household income.
$80,540 (ACS 2020–2024, in 2024 dollars).
7.9% (BLS county, Kern County (latest month 2026M09)).
California. See the state guide for minimum wage, taxes and pay.