Materials Science & Engineering Degree in Bakersfield, CA — Salary & ROI 2026
Materials Science & Engineering degree analysis for Bakersfield, CA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$67K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$145K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
5 yrs
in Bakersfield
Cost of Living
134
index (100 = avg)
Materials Science & Engineering in Bakersfield, CA Overview
Bakersfield, California (pop. 403,455) has 18 colleges offering Materials Science & Engineering programs. The local cost of living index of 134 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $1,090/month. Materials Science & Engineering enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Metallurgy and Polymer Science. The adjusted starting salary in Bakersfield is approximately $67,000, growing to $144,720 by mid-career.
Category
Engineering
Local Colleges
18
Public Tuition
$7,309/yr
Private Tuition
$35,366/yr
Room & Board
$18,003/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$13,787/yr
Unemployment
6.3%
Graduation Rate
48%
Materials Science & Engineering Salary in Bakersfield (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Bakersfield's cost of living index of 134 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Materials Science & Engineering salary: $50,000 starting, $108,000 mid-career, $135,000 senior level.Bakersfield adjustment factor: 1.34x based on the local cost of living index.
Materials Science & Engineering ROI Calculator for Bakersfield
Estimate your return on investment for a Materials Science & Engineering degree using local Bakersfield tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $7,309 | Private avg: $35,366
Bakersfield avg aid: $13,787/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$101,248
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$20,100
vs HS diploma in Bakersfield
ROI Payback Period
5 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Bakersfield
$1,104,752
Lifetime earnings premium ($1,206,000) minus total education cost ($101,248)
Student Loan Payoff for Materials Science & Engineering in Bakersfield
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Bakersfield for Materials Science & Engineering
California State University, Bakersfield
public
$7,309/yr
$29,236 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Bakersfield College
$1,540/yr
Top Employers for Materials Science & Engineering in Bakersfield
Bakersfield offers opportunities in Engineering firms, Manufacturing, Defense contractors for Materials Science & Engineering graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Bakersfield Hiring Sectors for Engineering
Engineering firms
Manufacturing
Defense contractors
Energy companies
Construction firms
Common Materials Science & Engineering Job Titles
Materials Science & Engineering in Nearby California Cities
Los Angeles, CA
$71K starting · COL 141
69 colleges
San Diego, CA
$70K starting · COL 140
68 colleges
San Jose, CA
$65K starting · COL 129
95 colleges
San Francisco, CA
$57K starting · COL 114
22 colleges
Fresno, CA
$59K starting · COL 118
37 colleges
Sacramento, CA
$56K starting · COL 112
38 colleges
Long Beach, CA
$58K starting · COL 116
14 colleges
Oakland, CA
$66K starting · COL 132
13 colleges
Other Engineering Majors in Bakersfield
Petroleum Engineering
$67K starting · 2.5 yr ROI
Computer Engineering
$67K starting · 3 yr ROI
Chemical Engineering
$110K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Nuclear Engineering
$67K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Electrical Engineering
$107K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Aerospace Engineering
$107K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mechanical Engineering
$105K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mining Engineering
$67K starting · 3 yr ROI
Materials Science & Engineering Degree in Bakersfield — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Materials Science & Engineering ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Bakersfield.