Physicists pay range in Bakersfield
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $83,300 a year or less, while the top 10% make $195,190 or more. The middle half of physicists in Bakersfield earn between $101,170 and $159,700.
- $83K10th
- $101K25th
- $135KMedian
- $160K75th
- $195K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $137,290 | $11,441 | $66.00 |
| Median | $135,260 | $11,272 | $65.03 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $101,170 | $8,431 | $48.64 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $159,700 | $13,308 | $76.78 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Physicists salary after taxes in Bakersfield
On the average salary of $137,290, a single filer in Bakersfield takes home about $96,428 a year, or $8,036 a month and $3,709 every two weeks. Taxes take 30% 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 physicists? 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 $137,290 buys what about $136,084 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Bakersfield ($47,470). A typical home costs $364,264, or 2.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Physicists salary in other California cities
Bakersfield ranks 6th of 7 California metro areas for this job; San Jose pays the most ($189,390).
- San Jose$189,390
- Riverside$172,470
- Oxnard$169,620
- Los Angeles$165,380
- San Diego$159,690
- Bakersfield$137,290
- Sacramento$130,050
Highest-paying cities for physicists
Miami, FL pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($245,010).
- Miami, FL$245,010
- Tampa, FL$244,380
- Pittsburgh, PA$211,220
- Portland, OR$210,060
- Cleveland, OH$209,480
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Physicists salary in Bakersfield: questions
How much do physicists make an hour in Bakersfield?
$66.00 an hour on average, and $65.03 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level physicists salary in Bakersfield?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $83,300 a year and the 25th percentile is $101,170, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the physicists take-home pay in Bakersfield?
About $96,428 a year ($8,036 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $137,290. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do physicists earn more in Bakersfield than elsewhere?
The average here is 13% less than the U.S. metro average for this job ($158,709).
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 19-2012; area Bakersfield-Delano, CA (12540). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.2%.
- 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 1.75, this job is 1.8 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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