Kern County Fire Department Firefighter Salary
Bakersfield, California · Kern County · 535 career firefighters · 47 stations
What Kern County Fire Department pays
Entry-level starting pay
$70,969
a year
Top of posted range
$84,814
a year
Entry-level postings
2 postings
May 2026 to July 2026
Kern County Fire Department listed starting pay of $70,969 a year in 2 entry-level postings between May 2026 and July 2026, with a top of range up to $84,814. The most recent, First Responder Paramedic - Shift - Fire Shift in July 2026, started at $70,969 (up to $84,814).
Is Kern County Fire Department hiring right now?
No openings from Kern County Fire Department are listed on FireJobs today. Departments with 535 career firefighters usually post once or twice a year. Free weekly alerts for California cover it when they do.
Past Kern County 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| First Responder Paramedic - Shift - Fire Shift | July 2026 | $70,969 | $84,814 |
| First Responder Paramedic - Shift - Fire Shift - Full Time | May 2026 | $70,969 | $84,814 |
Kern County Fire Department pay questions
- How much does a firefighter at Kern County Fire Department make?
- Kern County Fire Department listed starting pay of $70,969 a year in 2 entry-level postings between May 2026 and July 2026, with a top of range up to $84,814. The most recent, First Responder Paramedic - Shift - Fire Shift in July 2026, started at $70,969 (up to $84,814).
- How does Kern County Fire Department pay compare with other California departments?
- The average starting salary across 31 current California firefighter listings on FireJobs is $114,788. Kern County Fire Department's most recent starting figure of $70,969 is 38% below it.
- Is Kern County Fire Department hiring right now?
- No openings from Kern County Fire Department are listed on FireJobs today. Departments with 535 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. Pay changes with contracts and steps; the posting for a current opening is the figure that applies.