Bakersfield, California Income Statistics
Bakersfield Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of an area's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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C
Bakersfield Below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Bakersfield | California Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $76,908 | $99,161 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $54,471 | $67,742 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.2% | 5.6% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 10.3% | 17.6% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 9.8% | 20.5% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Bakersfield is about 22% lower than in California. Income has been growing slower in Bakersfield (4.2%/yr) than in California (5.6%/yr).
About 10% of adults in Bakersfield earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the California average of 18%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Bakersfield, California grew by 53.2% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $76,908 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.2% per year.
Bakersfield has been below the U.S. median household income in most years since 2009, but rose above it in 2013-2016 (as much as 0.6% higher). In 2024 its income was 4.4% lower.
Income Distribution in Bakersfield
How incomes are spread across brackets, compared with the U.S. Pick a range to count who falls in it.
Households by income, 2024
Income range calculator
About 47,879 households (38.0% of all households) have an income of $100,000 or more.
Across the U.S.: 40.2% of all households.
In 2024, 22.6% of households in Bakersfield had an income under $35,000 and 19.3% had $150,000 or more. Across the U.S., those shares were 21.6% and 22.8%.
Compared with the U.S., Bakersfield has a larger share of households earning $100,000 to $149,999 (18.7% vs 17.4%) and a smaller share earning $200,000 or more (9.8% vs 13.2%).
| Household income | Households | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under $10,000 | 6,096 | 4.8% | 5.1% |
| $10,000 to $14,999 | 5,586 | 4.4% | 3.5% |
| $15,000 to $24,999 | 7,694 | 6.1% | 6.4% |
| $25,000 to $34,999 | 9,177 | 7.3% | 6.7% |
| $35,000 to $49,999 | 13,111 | 10.4% | 10.1% |
| $50,000 to $74,999 | 20,148 | 16.0% | 15.5% |
| $75,000 to $99,999 | 16,444 | 13.0% | 12.6% |
| $100,000 to $149,999 | 23,588 | 18.7% | 17.4% |
| $150,000 to $199,999 | 11,941 | 9.5% | 9.5% |
| $200,000 or more | 12,350 | 9.8% | 13.2% |
Shares are of all 126,134 households, one per occupied home whatever its size. Households with zero or negative income are counted in the lowest bracket. Source: ACS 5-year estimates ending 2024 (table B19001).
Residents 15+ by personal income, 2024
Income range calculator
About 31,366 residents (10.3% of residents aged 15 and over) have a personal income of $100,000 or more.
Across the U.S.: 13.9% of residents aged 15 and over.
That is 12.8% of residents who have any income.
In 2024, 19.4% of Bakersfield residents aged 15 and over reported no personal income, 30.2% had some income but less than $25,000, and 16.7% had $75,000 or more. Across the U.S., those shares were 12.8%, 28.7% and 22.0%.
Compared with the U.S., Bakersfield has a larger share of residents with no personal income (19.4% vs 12.8%) and a smaller share earning $100,000 or more (10.3% vs 13.9%).
| Personal income | Residents | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| No income | 59,172 | 19.4% | 12.8% |
| $1 to $9,999 | 30,065 | 9.9% | 11.2% |
| $10,000 to $14,999 | 26,169 | 8.6% | 7.0% |
| $15,000 to $24,999 | 35,884 | 11.8% | 10.5% |
| $25,000 to $34,999 | 29,670 | 9.7% | 9.5% |
| $35,000 to $49,999 | 36,129 | 11.9% | 12.6% |
| $50,000 to $74,999 | 36,619 | 12.0% | 14.3% |
| $75,000 to $99,999 | 19,591 | 6.4% | 8.2% |
| $100,000 or more | 31,366 | 10.3% | 13.9% |
Shares are of the 304,665 residents aged 15 and over, the only people the Census Bureau asks about income, and include those who reported none. A share of the whole population would count children as people without income, while a share of earners alone would hide the 19.4% with no income; the calculator adds that second share whenever your range leaves out people with no income. Source: ACS 5-year estimates ending 2024 (table B19325).
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Bakersfield
| Metric | Bakersfield | California Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.590 | 0.572 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $61,443 | $75,172 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $48,502 | $66,071 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 21.1% | 12.1% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Bakersfield, it is 0.590, higher than California's 0.572, so income is less evenly distributed here than there, and higher than the US's 0.552, so income is less evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 27% more than women's income in Bakersfield, California. Over a 35-year career, a 27% wage gap accumulates to roughly $452,935 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Bakersfield, California has narrowed from about 27% to 21% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 18% in 2020. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $496 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Bakersfield | California Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 7.2% | 6.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 7.9% | 17.2% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 20 | 23 | 22 |
Approximately 13,198 people are unemployed in Bakersfield, California.
The average commute time in Bakersfield is 20 minutes, shorter than the 23 minutes in California.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Bakersfield, California has fallen from 11.9% to 7.2% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 13.1% in 2013.
Bakersfield has stayed well above the U.S. unemployment rate in every year from 2011 to 2024 and has never dropped below it. The gap has narrowed from 3.2 points in 2011 to 1.9 points in 2024, the closest it has been.
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Bakersfield, California has an overall wealth index grade of C, making it somewhat worse than California, and about on par with the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Bakersfield, California.
How Rich Is Bakersfield, California?
Bakersfield has a wealth index grade of C. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a C grade means residents are close to the U.S. average. The median household income is $76,908, about 22% lower than the California average of $99,161.
How fast is household income rising in Bakersfield, California?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Bakersfield, California rose 53%, from $50,189 to $76,908. Over the same years, income here lagged behind California as a whole: +53% against +64%.
What was the median household income in Bakersfield in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Bakersfield, California was $74,452, up 4% from $71,354 in 2022. The California median that year was $96,718.
What was the median household income in Bakersfield in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Bakersfield, California was $63,121. By 2024 it had risen 22% to $76,908.
What is the Gini coefficient in Bakersfield, California?
The Gini coefficient in Bakersfield is 0.590. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is higher than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed less equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Bakersfield, California?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Bakersfield, California has narrowed from about 27% to 21% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 18% in 2020. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $496 since 2009.
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