LVN Salary in Bakersfield, CA
LVNs in Bakersfield-Delano earn a median of about $64,920 per year ($31.21/hour) according to O*NET — below the California median but above the national LPN/LVN median.
LVNs in Bakersfield-Delano earn a median of about $64,920 per year ($31.21/hour) according to O*NET — below the California median but above the national LPN/LVN median.
According to O*NET, top-earning LVNs in the Bakersfield-Delano metro can pull in over $82,000 per year — roughly $25,000 more than the U.S. national 90th-percentile figure for the same role.
Bakersfield–Delano has its own O*NET wage row, so this page does not need to borrow an Orange County estimate. The current release also shows where the gaps between adjacent percentiles widen and narrow.
Source boundary: these are occupation-wide estimates for Bakersfield–Delano, not promised starting salaries or employer-specific ranges.
Open the current O*NET tableO*NET's current California table uses 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data. For Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses in Bakersfield–Delano, it reports $62,070 at the 10th percentile, $76,130 at the median and $91,460 at the 90th percentile. The median hourly estimate is $36.60.
The Bakersfield median is $3,620 below the California LVN median of $79,750 and $11,730 above the national median of $64,400. Those comparisons describe wages, not purchasing power or the terms of a particular opening. The later sections therefore keep the statistical distribution separate from licensed-facility records and Kern County job classifications.
The current regional wage distribution, using 2025 BLS wage data published by O*NET.
| Percentile | Bakersfield–Delano Annual | Bakersfield–Delano Hourly | CA Annual | National Annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $62,070 | $29.84/hr | $64,390 | $49,740 |
| 25th | $66,550 | $32.00/hr | $74,840 | $59,000 |
| 50th (Median) | $76,130 | $36.60/hr | $79,750 | $64,400 |
| 75th | $79,840 | $38.39/hr | $93,720 | $76,030 |
| 90th | $91,460 | $43.97/hr | $100,450 | $83,440 |
The regional median is about 5% below California and about 18% above the United States. The peer table stays with Central Valley and inland labor markets rather than mixing Bakersfield with unrelated coastal cities.
| Metro Area | Median Salary | vs Bakersfield | vs CA State |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fresno, CA | $75,580 | -$550 | -5% |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $77,650 | +$1,520 | -3% |
| Visalia, CA | $73,540 | -$2,590 | -8% |
| Modesto, CA | $78,200 | +$2,070 | -2% |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $76,970 | +$840 | -3% |
This section keeps two evidence sets side by side without blending them: changes between published percentiles, and official records describing where nursing work may occur.
The distance between adjacent benchmarks is not even. The narrowest step is from the median to the 75th percentile; the widest is from the 75th to the 90th.
The distribution shows where wage estimates fall. It does not identify the experience, employer, shift or credentials associated with any percentile.
Each row links directly to California HCAI.
A facility profile verifies the licensed setting, bed count and open status. It does not prove an LVN vacancy or employer pay.
Before comparing a posting with the wage chart, capture the details that make the comparison meaningful.
Write down whether the figure comes from O*NET, a current employer posting, a public classification or another source. Record its geography and date so an older figure is not compared with the 2025 regional table.
Hospital, clinic, psychiatric and correctional assignments are not interchangeable. Note the licensed setting, department, patient population, full-time or per-diem status and the responsibilities stated by the employer.
Compare base pay first. Then list differentials, bonuses, mileage, call-back pay and benefits separately, using only terms that the employer actually publishes for the position.
The percentile chart does not explain why one worker appears at the 25th percentile and another at the 90th. It does not identify tenure, credentials, shift, employer, overtime or benefit value. Those details must come from a specific posting or employer document.
The local records on this page serve a different purpose. HCAI confirms that selected Bakersfield hospitals are open general acute-care facilities. Kern County's classification describes general, psychiatric and correctional options. Neither source supports a blanket claim that one setting always pays more than another.
Compare accredited LVN programs in Bakersfield and the surrounding Kern County area to find the right fit for your schedule, budget, and career goals.
Enter search terms or use filters to find accredited LVN programs.
The current O*NET table uses 2025 BLS wage data. Older Bakersfield summaries may display lower figures from an earlier release.
The Bakersfield–Delano median is $3,620 below California and $11,730 above the United States in the same wage release.
Only $3,710 separates the median and 75th percentile, while $11,620 separates the 75th and 90th percentiles.
HCAI confirms that the four hospitals listed here are open general acute-care facilities. It does not publish a current LVN offer for them.
The County's Vocational Nurse II classification covers general, psychiatric and correctional nursing, showing why assignment details matter.