Mechanical Engineers pay range in Bakersfield
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $78,490 a year or less, while the top 10% make $171,540 or more. The middle half of mechanical engineers in Bakersfield earn between $92,500 and $142,850.
- $78K10th
- $92K25th
- $120KMedian
- $143K75th
- $172K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $121,730 | $10,144 | $58.52 |
| Median | $119,790 | $9,982 | $57.59 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $92,500 | $7,708 | $44.47 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $142,850 | $11,904 | $68.68 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Mechanical Engineers pay in Bakersfield vs. California and the U.S.
Mechanical engineers in Bakersfield earn 11% less than the California average ($136,660) and 7% more than the U.S. average ($113,610). At the median the gap is +15% against the U.S. median of $104,110.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bakersfield | $121,730 | $119,790 | $78,490 | $171,540 | 560 |
| California | $136,660 | $130,900 | $82,070 | $203,620 | 30,530 |
| United States | $113,610 | $104,110 | $73,990 | $164,340 | 296,810 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Mechanical Engineers salary after taxes in Bakersfield
On the average salary of $121,730, a single filer in Bakersfield takes home about $87,238 a year, or $7,270 a month and $3,355 every two weeks. Taxes take 28% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is Bakersfield a good place for mechanical engineers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Bakersfield area are in line with the U.S. average (BEA price parity 100.9), so the average $121,730 buys what about $120,661 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.5 times the median wage of all jobs in Bakersfield ($47,470). A typical home costs $364,264, or 3.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Mechanical Engineers salary in other California cities
Bakersfield ranks 10th of 23 California metro areas for this job; San Jose pays the most ($165,920).
- San Jose$165,920
- San Francisco$158,690
- Santa Cruz$139,810
- Santa Maria$130,120
- Salinas$128,240
- San Diego$124,420
- Los Angeles$123,940
- Sacramento$123,710
- Chico$122,870
- Bakersfield$121,730
Highest-paying cities for mechanical engineers
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($165,920).
- San Jose, CA$165,920
- San Francisco, CA$158,690
- Santa Cruz, CA$139,810
- Augusta, GA$137,040
- Baton Rouge, LA$136,970
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Mechanical Engineers salary in Bakersfield: questions
How much do mechanical engineers make an hour in Bakersfield?
$58.52 an hour on average, and $57.59 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level mechanical engineers salary in Bakersfield?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $78,490 a year and the 25th percentile is $92,500, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the mechanical engineers take-home pay in Bakersfield?
About $87,238 a year ($7,270 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $121,730. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do mechanical engineers earn more in Bakersfield than elsewhere?
The average here is 7% more than the U.S. average for this job ($113,610).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 17-2141; area Bakersfield-Delano, CA (12540). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.8%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.87, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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