Dental Hygienists salary in Bakersfield, CA
Median pay for dental hygienists in Bakersfield, CA: $102,170/yr
Typical range (10th–90th percentile): $77,390 – $118,730 · about 290 employed locally
Above the typical metro median ($81,085) by +$21,085 (+26%).
What it's really worth in Bakersfield
With Bakersfield's cost of living at 102 (US=100), that $102,170 has the buying power of about $99,786 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 29th of the 184 metros we hold dental hygienists wages for. Once Bakersfield's cost of living is applied, it ranks 33rd.
Pay and living costs are roughly in step here, so Bakersfield sits in much the same place whether you look at raw salary or spending power.
What that salary buys in Bakersfield
A median home in Bakersfield, CA costs $364,264 — about 3.6× 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 21% of gross pay — inside the conventional 30% affordability ceiling.
Where dental hygienists 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 Francisco, CA | $137,450 | +35% | 1.8× |
| San Jose, CA | $135,460 | +33% | 2× |
| Santa Maria, CA | $132,360 | +30% | 1.9× |
| Seattle, WA | $129,410 | +27% | 1.2× |
Same job elsewhere in CA
| Metro | Median pay | vs Bakersfield | Rent vs Bakersfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA | $137,450 | +35% | 1.8× |
| San Jose, CA | $135,460 | +33% | 2× |
| Santa Maria, CA | $132,360 | +30% | 1.9× |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $127,640 | +25% | 1.5× |
Staying in CA keeps state income tax and licensing the same, which makes these the most directly comparable moves.
Who hires dental hygienists around Bakersfield
Large local employers in sectors that typically employ this role.
- Kern Medical · Healthcare
- Adventist Health Bakersfield · Healthcare
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 184 metros we hold wage data for in this occupation. Estimates for guidance only. See methodology.