CA · Bakersfield · Updated October 15, 2026

Certified Nursing Assistant jobs in Bakersfield, CA

The median certified nursing assistant pay in the Bakersfield area is $20.95 per hour ($43,570 a year), with the typical range running from $18.53 to $21.97. That ranks 82nd of 380 U.S. metro areas for certified nursing assistant pay, and 84th of 341 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 6 hospitals in Bakersfield. Your free pay report adds named employers and the roles open near Bakersfield.

More open Certified Nursing Assistant roles in Bakersfield

3 more open roles from employers in Bakersfield. Each employer’s range arrives with your free pay report.

Certified Nursing Assistant pay in Bakersfield, CA

The metro median is 6% below the California statewide median of $22.32 per hour. Nationally the median is $19.01 per hour. BLS counts about 1,520 nursing assistants employed in the Bakersfield-Delano metro area, 4.5 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.50).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$17.37$36,1309% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$18.53$38,5403% below U.S. median
Median$20.95$43,57010% above U.S. median
Upper quartile$21.97$45,70016% above U.S. median
Top 10%$26.31$54,72038% above U.S. median

How Bakersfield ranks

  • 82nd of 380 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 84th of 341 after adjusting for local prices
  • 23rd of 24 California metro areas

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024, Nursing Assistants (SOC 31-1131), all industries. This is what employers report paying, not an offer for a specific role.

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Named employers near Bakersfield, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.

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What your pay buys in Bakersfield

  • Overall prices in Bakersfield-Delano run 1% above the U.S. average (index 100.9, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 10% below the U.S. average (index 90.3).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $20.95 median hour buys what $20.77 buys at the national price level, 9% above the national median.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024. Prices are for the metro area, not for a single neighborhood.

Estimate your Bakersfield paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$754
  • Per year: $37,710
  • Per month: $3,142

Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Bakersfield-Delano metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.

Travel assignment per diem in Bakersfield

ItemFederal rate
Lodging per night$132
Meals and incidentals per day$74
Per week (7 nights, 7 days)$1,442
13-week assignment$18,746

Travel certified nursing assistant assignments commonly pay housing and meals stipends. The GSA per diem is the federal benchmark for what those stipends can be tax-free. Whether a stipend is tax-free for you depends on keeping a valid tax home, so confirm with your recruiter and a tax professional. Compare with your offer in the travel pay calculator.

Source: U.S. General Services Administration per diem rates, fiscal year 2026 (average across months).

Open Certified Nursing Assistant roles in California

Nearest open roles with published pay. Your free report adds roles in Bakersfield as they open.

PermanentPosted today

Nursing Assistant

Veterans Health Administration · Menlo Park, CA

$48k–$79k/ year
  • Full-time
  • Req 888812100
Top 25% payNew this week
View role
PermanentPosted today

CNA

CommonSpirit Health · San Bernardino, CA

$25.00–$28.02/ hour
  • Full Time
  • Req 100366275264
New this week
View role

All Certified Nursing Assistant jobs in California

Hospitals in Bakersfield

CMS lists 6 hospitals in Bakersfield, 0 of the 4 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of certified nursing assistants.

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Bakersfield Memorial Hospital
Bakersfield, CA
Acute careNonprofit3 of 5Yes
Mercy Hospital
Bakersfield, CA
Acute careNonprofit3 of 5Yes
Adventist Health Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA
Acute careNonprofit2 of 5Yes
Kern Medical Center
Bakersfield, CA
Acute careGovernment and federal1 of 5Yes
Good Samaritan Hospital, Lp
Bakersfield, CA
Acute careFor-profitNot ratedNo
Bakersfield Behavioral Healthcare Hospital, Llc
Bakersfield, CA
PsychiatricFor-profitNot ratedNo

Source: CMS Hospital General Information, public data. A directory of hospitals, not a list of our clients.

Primary care shortage areas in Kern County

HRSA lists 29 active primary care shortage designations that include Kern County (7 geographic, 2 population-group, 20 facility). The highest-scoring one rates 21 on a 0 to 25 scale, where a higher score means a greater shortage.

Shortage areas are where demand for nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and other clinicians is greatest. Federal loan repayment programs such as the NHSC and Nurse Corps cover some clinicians who work at eligible shortage-area sites. Eligibility is set by each program and by the site, so ask your recruiter before you plan around it.

Source: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas data warehouse, designated areas only. A designation can cover part of a county.

Certified Nursing Assistant pay in nearby cities

CityDistanceMedian payPopulation
Delano, CA31 mi$20.95/hr53,198
Porterville, CA49 mi$21.28/hr63,517
Tulare, CA61 mi$21.28/hr72,601
Lancaster, CA67 mi$22.19/hr167,426
Visalia, CA69 mi$21.28/hr146,271
Santa Clarita, CA72 mi$22.19/hr229,159

Certified Nursing Assistant jobs in California · Certified Nursing Assistant jobs nationwide

License and tax basics in California

State-approved CNA training and active state registry listing. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what California requires for your role with the California licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date.

California taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.

California state guide

Other healthcare roles in Bakersfield

Bakersfield city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do certified nursing assistants make in Bakersfield, CA?

Certified Nursing Assistants in the Bakersfield-Delano metro area have a median pay of $20.95 per hour, about $43,570 a year. The middle half earn between $18.53 and $21.97 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

Is Bakersfield a good place for certified nursing assistants once cost of living is counted?

Bakersfield-Delano ranks 84th of 341 metro areas for certified nursing assistant pay after adjusting for local prices, and 82nd of 380 before adjusting. Overall prices run 1% above the U.S. average.

Where do certified nursing assistants work in Bakersfield?

CMS lists 6 hospitals in Bakersfield, led by Bakersfield Memorial Hospital. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.

Do I need a California license to work in Bakersfield as a certified nursing assistant?

State-approved CNA training and active state registry listing. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what California requires for your role with the California licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date. Confirm with the board before you accept a role.

Is Bakersfield in a shortage area?

HRSA lists 29 active primary care shortage designations that include Kern County. Shortage areas often have more openings, and some loan repayment programs cover clinicians who work at eligible sites.

What is the per diem for a travel assignment in Bakersfield?

The federal per diem benchmark in Bakersfield is $132 a night for lodging and $74 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,442 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.

Does Valorem Health place certified nursing assistants in Bakersfield?

Yes. We place healthcare staff in Bakersfield and across California. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Bakersfield.

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What do employers near Bakersfield pay certified nursing assistants? Get the report.

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    Pay for your role at other hospitals

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    What they are offering now

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Pay report · CNA near Bakersfield, CA
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]

Your CNA pay reportBakersfield, CA · pay published by hospitals, collected October 15, 2026

1Pay for your role at other hospitals

  • El Camino HealthMountain View, CA · 2 postings$41.49/ hr$37–$46
  • Emanate HealthCovina, CA · 6 postings$28.75/ hr$21–$34
  • Fresenius Medical CareSan Francisco, CA · 4 postings$28.00/ hr$25–$35
  • CommonSpirit HealthGLENDALE, CA · 8 postings$27.89/ hr$25–$33

Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published.

2What they are offering now

Low$23Median$27.17High$32

83 CNA postings with published pay in California, 79 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.

3Open now: 83 CNA roles

  1. Transporter/Patient Care AssistantPer diem
    $29.41–$33.04/ hour
    CommonSpirit Health · Folsom, CA · posted today
  2. Nursing AssistantPermanent
    $48k–$79k/ year
    Veterans Health Administration · Menlo Park, CA · posted today

+ 81 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.

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