SOC 17-2061 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Computer Hardware Engineers — Bakersfield
Bakersfield-Delano, CA · 8 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Bakersfield, CA is $126,460 a year, trailing the national median of $161,740 by 21.8%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Bakersfield, CA is $126,460 a year, trailing the national median of $161,740 by 21.8%. Half of workers earn between $99,530 and $146,760. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $88,880 and the ninetieth at $159,700.
The area has 160 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 0.5 of every thousand jobs. San Jose leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $209,860. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 48th of 474 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $88,880 | −45.0% |
| 25th | $99,530 | −38.5% |
| Median (50th) | $126,460 | −21.8% |
| 75th | $146,760 | −9.3% |
| 90th | $159,700 | −1.3% |
| Mean | $127,700 | −21.0% |
Other metro areas in California
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose | $209,860 | 7,940 | |
| 2 | San Francisco | $203,890 | 2,810 | |
| 3 | San Diego | $174,440 | 3,330 | |
| 4 | Santa Cruz | $169,370 | 80 | |
| 5 | Los Angeles | $158,530 | 1,870 | |
| 6 | Santa Maria | $148,440 | 60 | |
| 7 | Riverside | $134,060 | 200 | |
| 8 | Oxnard | $127,730 | 380 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Bakersfield run 10.7% above the national average, so the median of $126,460 buys what $114,237 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 29.4% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$126,460as reported by BLSLocal price level
110.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$114,237US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $126,460 a year, 21.8% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $88,880 to $159,700 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 160 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is San Jose, at $209,860.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Computer Hardware Engineers in Bakersfield, CA?
The median annual wage is $126,460, or $60.80 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $161,740, so pay in Bakersfield, CA is 21.8% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Bakersfield, CA earns more than $159,700 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $88,880 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in San Jose, at $209,860 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 160 jobs in this occupation in Bakersfield, CA. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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