Sunshine Seeds // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Industrial production managers
- Median annual wage: $119,470
- Median hourly wage: $57.44
- Total employment: 310 people (0.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs in Bakersfield
Despite recession fears and falling consumer confidence, the job market in the United States has remained relatively stable in 2025 thus far. According to May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics data, around 177,000 new jobs were added in April, a slight decrease from the 185,000 new jobs added in the month before, but an extension of the country's 52-month streak of job growth. Unemployment rates also held relatively steady between April 2024 and April 2025, coming in at around 4%.
Of course, that doesn't necessarily mean Americans have it easy in the workplace. A December 2024 Payscale report found that nearly half (47%) of business organizations struggle to balance fair pay practices with spend optimization, and 18% plan to reduce pay increases in 2025 as a result.
For context, median weekly earnings across all employees in the U.S. stood at $1,194 in the first quarter of 2025. This represents an increase of 4.8% from a year prior and exceeds the Consumer Price Index's 2.7% increase in the same time period. However, there's one caveat: Earnings go much further in some places than in others.
In fact, the very definition of a "high-paying" job varies by location, as well as other factors such as industry and benefits. Even a six-figure salary may be considered low-income in places with an unusually high cost of living. Meanwhile, technology, finance, and health care jobs lead in terms of salary, but benefits like remote work can make other lower-paying jobs more desirable.
Regardless, anyone seeking a high-paying job should start by looking at the numbers. Stacker used BLS data to find the 50 highest-paying jobs in Bakersfield. Jobs are ranked by their median annual pay as of May 2024, so any jobs without annual compensation figures available were excluded from this analysis.
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ABO PHOTOGRAPHY // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Occupational therapists
- Median annual wage: $119,550
- Median hourly wage: $57.48
- Total employment: 160 people (0.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Computer and information research scientists
- Median annual wage: $120,540
- Median hourly wage: $57.95
- Total employment: 480 people (1.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Csomos Attila // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers
- Median annual wage: $120,550
- Median hourly wage: $57.96
- Total employment: 120 people (0.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Training and development managers
- Median annual wage: $121,010
- Median hourly wage: $58.18
- Total employment: 50 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Medical scientists, except epidemiologists
- Median annual wage: $121,170
- Median hourly wage: $58.26
- Total employment: 170 people (0.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Electrical engineers
- Median annual wage: $121,430
- Median hourly wage: $58.38
- Total employment: 420 people (1.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Health and safety engineers, except mining safety engineers and inspectors
- Median annual wage: $122,310
- Median hourly wage: $58.80
- Total employment: 60 people (0.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Aykut Erdogdu // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Physical therapists
- Median annual wage: $122,590
- Median hourly wage: $58.94
- Total employment: 340 people (1.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Electrical power-line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $123,140
- Median hourly wage: $59.20
- Total employment: 360 people (1.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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VH-studio // Shutterstock
11 / 50#39. School psychologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: $123,410
- Median hourly wage: $59.33
- Total employment: 180 people (0.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Education administrators, postsecondary (tie)
- Median annual wage: $123,410
- Median hourly wage: $59.33
- Total employment: 180 people (0.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Purchasing managers
- Median annual wage: $123,810
- Median hourly wage: $59.52
- Total employment: 80 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Median annual wage: $124,760
- Median hourly wage: $59.98
- Total employment: 320 people (0.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Electronics engineers, except computer
- Median annual wage: $124,910
- Median hourly wage: $60.05
- Total employment: 600 people (1.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Halfpoint // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Materials engineers
- Median annual wage: $125,580
- Median hourly wage: $60.38
- Total employment: 40 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SeventyFour // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Computer hardware engineers
- Median annual wage: $126,010
- Median hourly wage: $60.58
- Total employment: 190 people (0.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Daniel Besic // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. English language and literature teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $126,090
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 40 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Registered nurses
- Median annual wage: $127,510
- Median hourly wage: $61.30
- Total employment: 5,410 people (16.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
aappp // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Aerospace engineers
- Median annual wage: $127,900
- Median hourly wage: $61.49
- Total employment: 630 people (1.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Medical and health services managers
- Median annual wage: $128,360
- Median hourly wage: $61.71
- Total employment: 1,110 people (3.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Bannafarsai_Stock // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Construction managers
- Median annual wage: $128,640
- Median hourly wage: $61.85
- Total employment: 760 people (2.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kzenon // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Optometrists
- Median annual wage: $129,530
- Median hourly wage: $62.28
- Total employment: 120 people (0.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Human resources managers
- Median annual wage: $131,490
- Median hourly wage: $63.22
- Total employment: 220 people (0.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Physical scientists, all other
- Median annual wage: $132,270
- Median hourly wage: $63.59
- Total employment: 30 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Mathematical science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $132,520
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 50 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Roman Samborskyi // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Software developers
- Median annual wage: $132,590
- Median hourly wage: $63.75
- Total employment: 740 people (2.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Prostock-studio // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Dentists, general
- Median annual wage: $133,190
- Median hourly wage: $64.04
- Total employment: 300 people (0.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nicola Forenza // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Lawyers
- Median annual wage: $134,280
- Median hourly wage: $64.56
- Total employment: 610 people (1.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
eldar nurkovic // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Chemical engineers
- Median annual wage: $135,820
- Median hourly wage: $65.30
- Total employment: 70 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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fizkes // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Marketing managers
- Median annual wage: $135,980
- Median hourly wage: $65.38
- Total employment: 250 people (0.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Fundraising managers
- Median annual wage: $136,670
- Median hourly wage: $65.71
- Total employment: 70 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Another77 // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Petroleum engineers
- Median annual wage: $139,940
- Median hourly wage: $67.28
- Total employment: 280 people (0.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Engineers, all other
- Median annual wage: $142,400
- Median hourly wage: $68.46
- Total employment: 620 people (1.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kanghophoto // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Financial managers
- Median annual wage: $142,890
- Median hourly wage: $68.70
- Total employment: 860 people (2.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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SpeedKingz // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Managers, all other
- Median annual wage: $143,430
- Median hourly wage: $68.96
- Total employment: 750 people (2.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Public relations managers
- Median annual wage: $144,070
- Median hourly wage: $69.27
- Total employment: 50 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Education administrators, kindergarten through secondary
- Median annual wage: $147,350
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 960 people (2.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Frame Stock Footage // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Computer and information systems managers
- Median annual wage: $159,210
- Median hourly wage: $76.54
- Total employment: 460 people (1.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stokkete // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Physician assistants
- Median annual wage: $159,270
- Median hourly wage: $76.57
- Total employment: 250 people (0.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Zivica Kerkez // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Veterinarians
- Median annual wage: $159,600
- Median hourly wage: $76.73
- Total employment: 100 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VE.Studio // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Natural sciences managers
- Median annual wage: $160,300
- Median hourly wage: $77.07
- Total employment: 50 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Pharmacists
- Median annual wage: $162,340
- Median hourly wage: $78.05
- Total employment: 650 people (1.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Nurse practitioners
- Median annual wage: $165,460
- Median hourly wage: $79.55
- Total employment: 360 people (1.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Postsecondary teachers, all other
- Median annual wage: $167,970
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 960 people (2.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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BOY ANTHONY // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Architectural and engineering managers
- Median annual wage: $173,450
- Median hourly wage: $83.39
- Total employment: 250 people (0.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Chief executives
- Median annual wage: $193,970
- Median hourly wage: $93.25
- Total employment: 420 people (1.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
LightField Studios // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Psychiatrists
- Median annual wage: $229,980
- Median hourly wage: $110.57
- Total employment: 60 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
49 / 50#1. Family medicine physicians (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 240 people (0.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BlurryMe // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. General internal medicine physicians (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: Not available
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Cu Fleshman, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 364 metros.
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