Mechanical Engineers salary in Bakersfield, CA
Median pay for mechanical engineers in Bakersfield, CA: $109,510/yr
Typical range (10th–90th percentile): $71,340 – $166,170 · about 620 employed locally
Above the typical metro median ($95,605) by +$13,905 (+15%).
What it's really worth in Bakersfield
With Bakersfield's cost of living at 102 (US=100), that $109,510 has the buying power of about $106,955 in an average-cost US metro.
Local context: median household income $63,883 · median home $364,264 · median rent $1,788/mo.
How Bakersfield ranks for this job
On raw pay, Bakersfield, CA is 15th of the 180 metros we hold mechanical engineers wages for. Once Bakersfield's cost of living is applied, it ranks 35th.
The headline number flatters Bakersfield. Once housing and everyday costs are taken into account, mechanical engineers here keep less of what they earn than the raw salary implies.
What that salary buys in Bakersfield
A median home in Bakersfield, CA costs $364,264 — about 3.3× this salary, against a typical US metro figure of 4.7×. Buying is more attainable here than in the average metro on this income.
Median rent of $1,788/mo works out at 20% of gross pay — inside the conventional 30% affordability ceiling.
Where mechanical engineers earn more
Pay on its own is only half the picture, so each row shows what rent costs there relative to Bakersfield.
| Metro | Median pay | vs Bakersfield | Rent vs Bakersfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | $153,520 | +40% | 2× |
| San Francisco, CA | $136,970 | +25% | 1.8× |
| Albuquerque, NM | $133,660 | +22% | 0.8× |
| Tyler, TX | $130,720 | +19% | 0.8× |
Same job elsewhere in CA
| Metro | Median pay | vs Bakersfield | Rent vs Bakersfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | $153,520 | +40% | 2× |
| San Francisco, CA | $136,970 | +25% | 1.8× |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $126,560 | +16% | 2× |
| San Diego, CA | $122,350 | +12% | 1.7× |
Staying in CA keeps state income tax and licensing the same, which makes these the most directly comparable moves.
Who hires mechanical engineers around Bakersfield
Large local employers in sectors that typically employ this role.
- Aera Energy · Energy
Other jobs in Bakersfield
Source: US BLS OEWS (May 2023) median annual wage; cost of living from BEA; home price and rent from Zillow; household income from US Census ACS. Rankings are across the 180 metros we hold wage data for in this occupation. Estimates for guidance only. See methodology.