top 12 jobs and growing industries in bakersfield, california.

Located in California’s Kern County, Bakersfield and its wider metropolitan area are buzzing with job opportunities. Here, you’ll find corporate and regional offices serving Kern County's two pillars: oil and agriculture. A whopping 12.8 percent of total employment is in farming, fishing and forestry — 42 times the national average! The region’s ideal climate and fertile soil sustain around 39,000 farmworkers and laborers, more than any other profession.

But Bakersfield is not just about growing crops or extracting oil; it's also about moving these products efficiently. Kern County’s expansive freeway system provides access to California’s central coast, Arizona, Nevada and Utah. No surprise, then, that 11 percent of the Bakersfield workforce is involved in transportation and material moving, outpacing the national average.

Manufacturing also holds a firm footing. Companies like Dreyer’s, which operates one of the world's largest ice cream factories in Bakersfield, create jobs for engineers, packers, quality assurance specialists and more.

Given that salaries in Bakersfield hover around the national average, we've featured mid-range figures for each role to provide a realistic outlook.

So whether you're a petroleum engineer or a medical receptionist, this guide will give you the inside scoop on the top jobs Bakersfield is hiring for right now. Read on to discover the perfect fit for your skills and experience.

In the region’s booming oil and agriculture sectors, operations managers are among the top Bakersfield jobs hiring now. Major energy and food producers rely on these specialists to supervise and control all factors of production to ensure maximum productivity. Individuals with the right blend of strategic planning and leadership skills can earn between $79k and $125k.

If you're seeking warehouse jobs in Bakersfield, becoming a forklift operator offers stable income and ample opportunity. These experts move goods within warehouses and onto trucks, earning between $18 to $20 per hour. Given that California leads the nation with over 100,000 industrial truck and tractor operators, the demand for these skills shows little sign of slowing.

Software developers in Bakersfield have the chance to tap into a high-growth industry, crafting the applications that power everything from business platforms to entertainment apps. These roles are topping charts like U.S. News and World Report’s “100 Best Jobs” and “Best Technology Jobs,” and the demand for software developers is projected to soar by 25 percent in the decade up to 2032. With the added perk of remote work flexibility, these positions stand out among remote jobs in Bakersfield. A lucrative earning potential is on the table, too, with salaries averaging around $135k.

Also known as material handlers or warehouse selectors, picker/packers are essential for organizing and preparing goods for shipment, often working in tandem with forklift operators and other warehouse staff. It's an excellent entry point for those interested in warehouse jobs in Bakersfield, with wages falling between $15 and $17 per hour.

Kern County is the energy capital of California and ranks seventh among the top oil-producing counties in the U.S., churning out approximately 326,000 barrels of oil daily. In this booming industry, petroleum engineers are invaluable. They’re also well compensated, with salaries spanning $116k to $149k, highlighting the premium placed on this specialized skill set.

Electrician jobs in Bakersfield span vital sectors like manufacturing, warehouses and logistics, reflecting the city’s diverse economic landscape. With employment in this field projected to grow 6 percent from 2022 to 2032, it’s a role that offers both stability and variety. Salaries for electricians in Bakersfield average around $73k.