Physics Degree in Bakersfield, CA — Salary & ROI 2026
Physics degree analysis for Bakersfield, CA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$83K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$141K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
2.8 yrs
in Bakersfield
Cost of Living
134
index (100 = avg)
Physics in Bakersfield, CA Overview
Bakersfield, California (pop. 403,455) has 18 colleges offering Physics 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. Physics enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Quantum Mechanics and Thermodynamics. The adjusted starting salary in Bakersfield is approximately $83,080, growing to $140,700 by mid-career.
Category
STEM
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%
Physics Salary in Bakersfield (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Bakersfield's cost of living index of 134 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Physics salary: $62,000 starting, $105,000 mid-career, $130,000 senior level.Bakersfield adjustment factor: 1.34x based on the local cost of living index.
Physics ROI Calculator for Bakersfield
Estimate your return on investment for a Physics 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
$36,180
vs HS diploma in Bakersfield
ROI Payback Period
2.8 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Bakersfield
$903,752
Lifetime earnings premium ($1,005,000) minus total education cost ($101,248)
Student Loan Payoff for Physics in Bakersfield
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Bakersfield for Physics
California State University, Bakersfield
public
$7,309/yr
$29,236 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Bakersfield College
$1,540/yr
Top Employers for Physics in Bakersfield
Bakersfield offers opportunities in Tech companies, Research labs, Government agencies for Physics graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Bakersfield Hiring Sectors for STEM
Tech companies
Research labs
Government agencies
Startups
Consulting firms
Common Physics Job Titles
Physics in Nearby California Cities
Los Angeles, CA
$87K starting · COL 141
69 colleges
San Diego, CA
$87K starting · COL 140
68 colleges
San Jose, CA
$80K starting · COL 129
95 colleges
San Francisco, CA
$71K starting · COL 114
22 colleges
Fresno, CA
$73K starting · COL 118
37 colleges
Sacramento, CA
$69K starting · COL 112
38 colleges
Long Beach, CA
$72K starting · COL 116
14 colleges
Oakland, CA
$82K starting · COL 132
13 colleges
Other STEM Majors in Bakersfield
Prompt Engineering
$67K starting · 1.5 yr ROI
Computational Linguistics
$127K starting · 2 yr ROI
Computer Science
$114K starting · 2.8 yr ROI
Software Engineering
$118K starting · 2.7 yr ROI
Data Science
$110K starting · 3 yr ROI
Actuarial Science
$67K starting · 3 yr ROI
Cybersecurity
$107K starting · 3 yr ROI
Robotics Engineering
$67K starting · 3 yr ROI
Physics 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 Physics ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Bakersfield.