Photographers pay range in Bakersfield
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $34,560 a year or less, while the top 10% make $80,320 or more. The middle half of photographers in Bakersfield earn between $36,380 and $66,110.
- $35K10th
- $36K25th
- $56KMedian
- $66K75th
- $80K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $56,240 | $4,687 | $27.04 |
| Median | $56,220 | $4,685 | $27.03 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $36,380 | $3,032 | $17.49 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $66,110 | $5,509 | $31.78 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Photographers pay in Bakersfield vs. California and the U.S.
Photographers in Bakersfield earn 20% less than the California average ($70,040) and about the same as the U.S. average ($55,410). At the median the gap is +26% against the U.S. median of $44,660.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bakersfield | $56,240 | $56,220 | $34,560 | $80,320 | 60 |
| California | $70,040 | $47,840 | $36,470 | $125,490 | 7,980 |
| United States | $55,410 | $44,660 | $30,820 | $91,810 | 51,760 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Photographers salary after taxes in Bakersfield
On the average salary of $56,240, a single filer in Bakersfield takes home about $45,802 a year, or $3,817 a month and $1,762 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is Bakersfield a good place for photographers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Bakersfield area are in line with the U.S. average (BEA price parity 100.9), so the average $56,240 buys what about $55,746 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Bakersfield ($47,470). A typical home costs $364,264, or 6.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Photographers salary in other California cities
Bakersfield ranks 9th of 15 California metro areas for this job; San Francisco pays the most ($83,790).
- San Francisco$83,790
- San Jose$75,490
- Los Angeles$73,520
- Santa Rosa$72,250
- Santa Maria$72,200
- San Diego$60,580
- San Luis Obispo$59,300
- Oxnard$56,670
- Bakersfield$56,240
- Sacramento$55,590
Highest-paying cities for photographers
San Francisco, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($83,790).
- San Francisco, CA$83,790
- San Jose, CA$75,490
- Los Angeles, CA$73,520
- Santa Rosa, CA$72,250
- Santa Maria, CA$72,200
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Photographers salary in Bakersfield: questions
How much do photographers make an hour in Bakersfield?
$27.04 an hour on average, and $27.03 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level photographers salary in Bakersfield?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $34,560 a year and the 25th percentile is $36,380, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the photographers take-home pay in Bakersfield?
About $45,802 a year ($3,817 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $56,240. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do photographers earn more in Bakersfield than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as the U.S. average for this job ($55,410).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 27-4021; area Bakersfield-Delano, CA (12540). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 5.7%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.49, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.49).
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.