Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Bakersfield-Delano, CA

Each occupation's median wage in Bakersfield-Delano, CA compared against the national median for the same occupation. Unlike a cost-of-living adjustment — which scales every job in a state by the same constant and so cannot change their order — this genuinely re-ranks, and it shows where Bakersfield-Delano, CA pays a real premium. Limited to occupations with at least 1,000 workers in the state.

Cost of living: prices in Bakersfield-Delano, CA run 0.9% above the national average (2024), so a Bakersfield-Delano, CA salary is worth about 0.99× its face value in national terms. That scales every wage here by the same factor — it changes what the numbers mean, not their order.

Local wage estimates are suppressed more often than state ones — BLS withholds any figure too few local employers report — so an occupation missing here simply has no published local estimate.

Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Cost of living: BEA regional price parities, 2024

Find high paying jobs in Bakersfield-Delano, CA

OccupationMedian, Bakersfield-Delano, CA · vs. national

1First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$632,190
Postsecondary nondegree award
$82,410 – $632,190+575.9%
2Correctional Officers and Jailers$107,220
High school diploma or equivalent
$69,770 – $114,730+81.9%
3Substitute Teachers, Short-Term$66,480
Bachelor's degree
$49,210 – $76,690+59.5%
4Crossing Guards and Flaggers$58,060
No formal educational credential
$34,320 – $85,350+52.4%
5Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors$97,700
Master's degree
$49,870 – $129,030+51.9%
6Teachers and Instructors, All Other$96,820
Bachelor's degree
$45,810 – $124,450+46.4%
7Physician Assistants$198,070
Master's degree
$126,200 – $219,990+45.8%
8Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary$154,410
Master's degree
$106,460 – $170,340+45.8%
9Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists$92,880
Bachelor's degree
$62,410 – $140,950+40.2%
10Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$99,150
Bachelor's degree
$63,350 – $125,170+37.6%
11Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers$123,340
High school diploma or equivalent
$77,220 – $195,030+37.2%
12Family Medicine Physicians$332,530
Doctoral or professional degree
$107,650 – $434,630+36.2%
13Instructional Coordinators$104,600
Master's degree
$57,290 – $149,170+35.1%
14Cooks, Fast Food$41,480
No formal educational credential
$35,030 – $47,190+34.3%
15Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$126,670
High school diploma or equivalent
$75,040 – $152,080+32.9%
16Registered Nurses$128,810
Bachelor's degree
$87,760 – $162,020+32.0%
17Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$103,170
Associate's degree
$77,710 – $138,360+31.9%
18School Psychologists$126,430
Master's degree
$97,820 – $136,910+31.7%
19Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$77,960
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,600 – $126,170+30.3%
20Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door$96,610
High school diploma or equivalent
$62,980 – $130,680+30.0%
21Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$96,600
High school diploma or equivalent
$63,740 – $102,100+30.0%
22Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other$101,770
Associate's degree
$52,680 – $135,140+29.9%
23Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers$77,500
Master's degree
$48,890 – $130,860+28.6%
24Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists$132,110
Doctoral or professional degree
$103,520 – $155,420+27.8%
25Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$62,390
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,050 – $86,010+27.4%
26Fast Food and Counter Workers$39,470
No formal educational credential
$35,190 – $45,660+26.5%
27Millwrights$82,310
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,870 – $82,310+25.3%
28Nurse Practitioners$165,580
Master's degree
$106,710 – $205,450+25.2%
29Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education$78,330
Bachelor's degree
$58,770 – $116,590+25.0%
30Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education$79,900
Bachelor's degree
$61,230 – $118,580+24.9%
31Respiratory Therapists$102,760
Associate's degree
$69,810 – $125,770+24.9%
32Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$99,210
Associate's degree
$68,790 – $124,790+23.8%
33Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics$62,450
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,760 – $92,810+23.4%
34Physical Therapist Assistants$84,100
Associate's degree
$63,560 – $105,560+23.0%
35Occupational Therapists$123,200
Master's degree
$79,590 – $156,000+22.8%
36Physical Therapists$125,490
Doctoral or professional degree
$98,300 – $156,370+22.1%
37Firefighters$72,410
Postsecondary nondegree award
$49,120 – $470,940+22.1%
38Surgical Technologists$78,470
Postsecondary nondegree award
$50,730 – $94,270+21.4%
39Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$89,650
Postsecondary nondegree award
$66,120 – $123,340+21.0%
40Sheet Metal Workers$74,690
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,290 – $113,710+20.9%
41Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education$45,880
Associate's degree
$36,310 – $61,060+20.3%
42Electricians$75,860
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,770 – $123,940+20.1%
43Speech-Language Pathologists$117,350
Master's degree
$98,150 – $147,300+19.9%
44Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators$94,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,010 – $121,030+19.7%
45Public Safety Telecommunicators$63,240
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,260 – $84,220+19.2%
46Dietitians and Nutritionists$90,760
Bachelor's degree
$45,770 – $112,100+18.8%
47Painters, Construction and Maintenance$58,540
No formal educational credential
$38,650 – $90,860+18.5%
48Construction Laborers$55,800
No formal educational credential
$38,310 – $90,750+18.4%
49Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$76,130
Postsecondary nondegree award
$62,070 – $91,460+18.2%
50First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$94,280
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,720 – $146,370+18.1%

Bars run from the 10th to the 90th percentile; the middle half is shaded darker, and the tick is the median.

#	Occupation	MedianBakersfield-Delano, CA	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	vs. national
1	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$632,190	$82,410 – $632,190	+575.9%
2	Correctional Officers and JailersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$107,220	$69,770 – $114,730	+81.9%
3	Substitute Teachers, Short-TermBachelor's degree	$66,480	$49,210 – $76,690	+59.5%
4	Crossing Guards and FlaggersNo formal educational credential	$58,060	$34,320 – $85,350	+52.4%
5	Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and AdvisorsMaster's degree	$97,700	$49,870 – $129,030	+51.9%
6	Teachers and Instructors, All OtherBachelor's degree	$96,820	$45,810 – $124,450	+46.4%
7	Physician AssistantsMaster's degree	$198,070	$126,200 – $219,990	+45.8%
8	Education Administrators, Kindergarten through SecondaryMaster's degree	$154,410	$106,460 – $170,340	+45.8%
9	Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$92,880	$62,410 – $140,950	+40.2%
10	Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationBachelor's degree	$99,150	$63,350 – $125,170	+37.6%
11	Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$123,340	$77,220 – $195,030	+37.2%
12	Family Medicine PhysiciansDoctoral or professional degree	$332,530	$107,650 – $434,630	+36.2%
13	Instructional CoordinatorsMaster's degree	$104,600	$57,290 – $149,170	+35.1%
14	Cooks, Fast FoodNo formal educational credential	$41,480	$35,030 – $47,190	+34.3%
15	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$126,670	$75,040 – $152,080	+32.9%
16	Registered NursesBachelor's degree	$128,810	$87,760 – $162,020	+32.0%
17	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$103,170	$77,710 – $138,360	+31.9%
18	School PsychologistsMaster's degree	$126,430	$97,820 – $136,910	+31.7%
19	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,960	$52,600 – $126,170	+30.3%
20	Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical DoorHigh school diploma or equivalent	$96,610	$62,980 – $130,680	+30.0%
21	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$96,600	$63,740 – $102,100	+30.0%
22	Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All OtherAssociate's degree	$101,770	$52,680 – $135,140	+29.9%
23	Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social WorkersMaster's degree	$77,500	$48,890 – $130,860	+28.6%
24	Medical Scientists, Except EpidemiologistsDoctoral or professional degree	$132,110	$103,520 – $155,420	+27.8%
25	Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,390	$39,050 – $86,010	+27.4%
26	Fast Food and Counter WorkersNo formal educational credential	$39,470	$35,190 – $45,660	+26.5%
27	MillwrightsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$82,310	$51,870 – $82,310	+25.3%
28	Nurse PractitionersMaster's degree	$165,580	$106,710 – $205,450	+25.2%
29	Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special EducationBachelor's degree	$78,330	$58,770 – $116,590	+25.0%
30	Elementary School Teachers, Except Special EducationBachelor's degree	$79,900	$61,230 – $118,580	+24.9%
31	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$102,760	$69,810 – $125,770	+24.9%
32	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$99,210	$68,790 – $124,790	+23.8%
33	Automotive Service Technicians and MechanicsPostsecondary nondegree award	$62,450	$38,760 – $92,810	+23.4%
34	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$84,100	$63,560 – $105,560	+23.0%
35	Occupational TherapistsMaster's degree	$123,200	$79,590 – $156,000	+22.8%
36	Physical TherapistsDoctoral or professional degree	$125,490	$98,300 – $156,370	+22.1%
37	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$72,410	$49,120 – $470,940	+22.1%
38	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$78,470	$50,730 – $94,270	+21.4%
39	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentPostsecondary nondegree award	$89,650	$66,120 – $123,340	+21.0%
40	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,690	$45,290 – $113,710	+20.9%
41	Preschool Teachers, Except Special EducationAssociate's degree	$45,880	$36,310 – $61,060	+20.3%
42	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,860	$46,770 – $123,940	+20.1%
43	Speech-Language PathologistsMaster's degree	$117,350	$98,150 – $147,300	+19.9%
44	Stationary Engineers and Boiler OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$94,100	$59,010 – $121,030	+19.7%
45	Public Safety TelecommunicatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,240	$48,260 – $84,220	+19.2%
46	Dietitians and NutritionistsBachelor's degree	$90,760	$45,770 – $112,100	+18.8%
47	Painters, Construction and MaintenanceNo formal educational credential	$58,540	$38,650 – $90,860	+18.5%
48	Construction LaborersNo formal educational credential	$55,800	$38,310 – $90,750	+18.4%
49	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$76,130	$62,070 – $91,460	+18.2%
50	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$94,280	$56,720 – $146,370	+18.1%

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