Orderlies Salaries in Bakersfield, CA
Average Base Pay
$36,967/yr
6% below national average
Monthly
$3,081
Hourly
$18
Cost Index
86
Orderlies in Bakersfield, CA earn an average of $36,967 per year, with most salaries falling between $29,574 and $44,360 depending on experience, employer, and specialization. At 6% below the national average, Bakersfield offers a more modest rate for this role, in part reflecting a local cost of living index of 86. For professionals evaluating a move or negotiating an offer, the headline salary is only part of the picture—what matters most is how far that income actually goes once taxes, rent, and daily expenses are factored in. The sections below break that down in full for Bakersfield.
Salary Range
The chart below shows the full compensation spectrum for this role, from entry-level to senior positions. The highlighted center bars represent the 25th–75th percentile band where most professionals are paid.
Low
Median
High
About Orderlies
Medical Assistants perform both clinical and administrative tasks in physician offices, outpatient clinics, and other ambulatory care settings, supporting the delivery of patient care and ensuring that clinical practices run smoothly. Clinical duties include taking vital signs, documenting chief complaints and medication lists, preparing examination rooms, assisting physicians during examinations, administering injections and vaccinations, performing phlebotomy and point-of-care laboratory tests, and processing laboratory specimens. Administrative duties include scheduling appointments, verifying insurance eligibility, registering patients, managing medical records, processing referrals, and handling prior authorizations. Medical assistants are often the first care team member a patient encounters during a visit, making interpersonal communication and professionalism important in shaping the patient experience. In some states, MAs perform expanded tasks such as applying dressings, removing sutures, or performing EKGs. Certification through AAMA (CMA) or AMT (RMA) demonstrates competency and is preferred or required by many employers.
What Orderlies Do
- Take and document patient vital signs, medical history, and medications
- Prepare examination rooms and ensure equipment is clean and stocked
- Assist physicians during patient examinations and procedures
- Administer injections, vaccinations, and perform phlebotomy
- Perform point-of-care tests such as urinalysis, glucose, and strep screens
- Handle patient check-in, scheduling, and insurance verification
- Process referrals, prior authorizations, and prescription refill requests
- Maintain accurate electronic health records
Key Skills & Qualifications
- Vital sign measurement and documentation
- Phlebotomy and specimen processing
- Medication administration and vaccine handling
- EHR systems (Epic, Athenahealth, eClinicalWorks)
- Medical terminology and documentation
- Insurance verification and prior authorization processes
- CMA (AAMA) or RMA (AMT) certification
- Professional patient communication
Career Path
- Medical Assistant Student/Extern
- Medical Assistant
- Lead Medical Assistant
- Office Manager (clinical)
- Nursing or Healthcare Administration (with further education)
Orderlies Market in Bakersfield, CA
Salary Competitiveness
Bakersfield currently pays 6% below the national median for Orderlies. This gap can reflect a lower regional cost base, thinner employer density, or a surplus of qualified candidates relative to open roles—factors worth factoring into any offer negotiation or relocation calculation.
Cost of Living Impact
Bakersfield's cost of living runs below the national average, which works in favor of this salary. Essential monthly expenses account for approximately 103% of take-home pay—a ratio that leaves meaningful room for savings, debt reduction, and discretionary spending compared with higher-cost metros.
Effective Purchasing Power
Despite a competitive gross salary, a Orderlies earning $36,967 in Bakersfield operates in a tight purchasing-power band once taxes and local cost of living are applied. Careful planning around housing, transportation, and discretionary spending is essential to avoid running negative disposable income month to month.
vs. National Avg
-6%
Cost Pressure
103%
Purchasing Power
Tight
Take-Home Pay Calculator
Enter any gross salary to see how federal and state taxes affect your actual take-home pay, broken down by year, month, and week. Results use an estimated effective tax rate of 27% based on this location and income level.
Annual Net
$26,986
Monthly
$2,249
Weekly
$519
Eff. Tax Rate
27%
A gross salary of $36,967 for a Orderlies in Bakersfield translates to roughly $2,249 in monthly take-home pay after estimated federal and state taxes. Set against monthly living costs of $2,320—covering housing, food, transportation, utilities, and healthcare—that leaves approximately $-71 per month in disposable income. That margin, not the gross number, is what determines whether you can comfortably cover rent, build savings, and afford discretionary spending in Bakersfield's current market.
How far does this salary go in Bakersfield?
Cost of Living in Bakersfield
Estimated monthly expenses for a single person in Bakersfield, benchmarked against US regional price indices for housing, food, transportation, utilities, and healthcare.
Cost Index
86
Below Avg — US average is 100. Based on a single person (1-bed apartment).
Financial Reality Check
This section compares estimated monthly take-home pay against typical living costs in Bakersfield to show your real disposable income—the amount remaining after essential bills are paid each month.
Monthly Take-Home
$2,249
Living Costs
$2,320
Disposable
$-71
Cost Index
86
Lifestyle
Tight
With a monthly take-home of $2,249, your estimated living costs in Bakersfield are $2,320 ($27,840/yr). This leaves $-71 per month in disposable income, indicating a tight standard of living. Bakersfield's cost of living is 14% below the national average.
Overall, a Orderlies earning $36,967 in Bakersfield falls into a tight lifestyle tier and will need to budget carefully—essential costs consume a significant share of take-home pay, leaving limited room for savings or emergencies. With a cost index of 86, Bakersfield is 14% more affordable than the national average, which extends your purchasing power. Regardless of tier, prioritizing retirement contributions, an emergency fund of three to six months' expenses, and incremental debt reduction will yield the greatest long-term financial stability—especially as living costs in Bakersfield continue to evolve.
Frequently Asked Questions
Compare Instantly
See how Orderlies salary in Bakersfield stacks up against other cities.
- vs. San Francisco, CA
$68,360/yr+$31,393
vs Bakersfield - vs. San Jose, CA
$63,900/yr+$26,933
vs Bakersfield - vs. Bellevue, WA
$51,870/yr+$14,903
vs Bakersfield - vs. Redmond, WA
$51,870/yr+$14,903
vs Bakersfield
Full breakdown: cost of living, net pay, lifestyle score
Compare Cities
Same role, different locations
Related Jobs in Bakersfield
Other roles in the same area
City Rankings for Orderlies
Share this salary
Gross Salary
$36,967/yr
Take-home
$2,249/mo
Disposable
$-71/mo
Lifestyle
Tight
Source: thesalaryindex.com · BLS data
Bakersfield City Overview
COL index, rent benchmarks, top jobs, and affordability score.
Explore Bakersfield →Explore More Salary Data
Related pages — all links are live salary pages
Orderlies in Other Cities
- Plantation, FL$35,420
- Huntington Beach, CA$47,940
- Oakland, CA$47,940
- Paterson, NJ$43,263
- Tampa, FL$40,599
- Pearland, TX$37,520
- Roswell, GA$39,873
- Newton, MA$39,470
- Kent, WA$51,870
- Huntington, WV$34,546
- Decatur, IL$35,998
- Mcallen, TX$36,967
- Irving, TX$37,520
- Fontana, CA$47,940
- Fredericksburg, VA$40,599
- Chandler, AZ$39,873
- Pittsburgh, PA$37,451
- Pasadena, CA$47,940
- Mission Viejo, CA$47,940
- Santa Clarita, CA$47,940
Other Jobs in Bakersfield
- Chiropractors$79,188
- Child$54,282
- Acupuncturists$77,908
- Brickmasons And Blockmasons$60,798
- Correspondence Clerks$46,345
- Cardiovascular Technologists And Technicians$66,856
- Food Processing Workers$35,742
- Computer And Information Systems Managers$152,585
- Anthropology And Archeology Teachers$84,678
- Animal Breeders$48,261
- Pressers$30,080
- Database Administrators$96,265
- Coaches And Scouts$39,870
- Archivists$55,120
- Meat$34,813
- Life$54,377
- Animal Control Workers$47,794
- Firstline Supervisors Of Landscaping$52,312
- Civil Engineering Technologists And Technicians$62,869
- Public Safety Telecommunicators$54,757
Top Salary Comparisons
vs. Bakersfield
- Carlsbad, CA+$10,973
- Daly City, CA+$10,973
- Tacoma, WA+$14,903
- Hilo, HI+$13,076
- San Mateo, CA+$10,973
- Everett, WA+$14,903
- Seattle, WA+$14,903
- Kailua, HI+$13,076
- Vancouver, WA+$14,903
- Berkeley, CA+$10,973
Highest-Paying Markets
Cities where Orderlies pays most
- San Francisco, CA$68,360
- San Jose, CA$63,900
- Bellevue, WA$51,870
- Redmond, WA$51,870
- Kirkland, WA$51,870
- Seattle, WA$51,870
- Renton, WA$51,870
- Everett, WA$51,870
Most Affordable Markets
Cities with lowest cost of living
- Toledo, OH$32,608
- Brownsville, TX$32,608
- Mcallen, TX$36,967
- Topeka, KS$32,608
- Clovis, NM$36,580
- Gulfport, MS$34,061
- Wichita Falls, TX$32,851
- Canton, OH$32,851
Salary estimates are based on BLS metro data and adjusted using cost-of-living indices.