Bakersfield Fire Department Firefighter Salary
Bakersfield, California · Kern County · 186 career firefighters · 14 stations
What Bakersfield Fire Department pays
Entry-level starting pay
$46,704
a year
Top of posted range
Not listed
a year
Entry-level postings
1 posting
September 2026
Bakersfield Fire Department listed starting pay of $46,704 a year in its entry-level posting from September 2026. The most recent, Firefighter Trainee in September 2026, started at $46,704.
Official pay at Bakersfield Fire Department
From the department's pay plan, effective Jul 2026 (FY2026-27).
Entry pay
As published: Trainee $22.454/hr, $3,892.03/month; Firefighter-Suppression $26.241-$33.387/hr, $6,367.82-$8,101.91/month (steps 1-5)
Top step pay
See the published figures
Source: Pay plan, Jul 2026 (FY2026-27)
Bakersfield Fire Department starting pay over time
Newest first. Official figures come from the department's pay schedules; posting figures are the most recent closed entry level posting with annual pay in each year.
| Date | Starting pay | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 2026 | $46,704 a year | Job posting: Firefighter Trainee |
| Jul 2026 (FY2026-27) | As published: Trainee $22.454/hr, $3,892.03/month; Firefighter-Suppression $26.241-$33.387/hr, $6,367.82-$8,101.91/month (steps 1-5) | Pay plan |
| Jul 2024 (FY2024-25 / FY2025-26 (until 5/4/26)) | As published: Trainee $22.454/hr, $3,892.03/month; Firefighter-Suppression $25.322-$32.217/hr, $6,144.81-$7,817.99/month | Pay plan |
| Jan 2024 (FY2023-24) | As published: Trainee $21.385/hr, $3,706.73/month; Firefighter-Suppression $24.116-$30.683/hr, $5,852.15-$7,445.74/month | Pay plan |
Past Bakersfield Fire Department postings with pay
Closed postings FireJobs recorded in the last two years. Figures are as the department listed them.
| Position | Posted | Starting | Top of range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Firefighter Trainee | September 2026 | $46,704 | Not listed |
Bakersfield Fire Department pay questions
- How much does a firefighter at Bakersfield Fire Department make?
- Bakersfield Fire Department listed starting pay of $46,704 a year in its entry-level posting from September 2026. The most recent, Firefighter Trainee in September 2026, started at $46,704.
- What is the official firefighter pay at Bakersfield Fire Department?
- Bakersfield Fire Department's pay plan, effective 2026-07-01 · FY2026-27, lists firefighter pay as published: Trainee $22.454/hr, $3,892.03/month; Firefighter-Suppression $26.241-$33.387/hr, $6,367.82-$8,101.91/month (steps 1-5).
- How does Bakersfield Fire Department pay compare with other California departments?
- The average starting salary across 54 current California firefighter listings on FireJobs is $92,216. Bakersfield Fire Department's most recent starting figure of $46,704 is 49% below it.
- Is Bakersfield Fire Department hiring right now?
- No openings from Bakersfield Fire Department are listed on FireJobs today. Departments with 186 career firefighters usually post once or twice a year. Free weekly alerts for California cover it when they do.
Source: pay figures the department published in its own job postings, recorded by FireJobs when each posting was live. Official figures come from the pay schedule linked above. Pay changes with contracts and steps; the posting for a current opening is the figure that applies.