Healthcare & Medical Jobs in Bakersfield, CA

Kern Medical, the county trauma and teaching hospital on Mount Vernon Ave, and a cluster of downtown hospitals along Chester Ave and 34th St make healthcare Bakersfield's fastest-growing field. The guides below cover every healthcare and medical role in Bakersfield, who is hiring and what it pays.

Healthcare Jobs Licensed Vocational Nurse Jobs Registered Nurse Jobs

Why Healthcare & Medical Work Is Different in Bakersfield

Bakersfield is the medical center for all of Kern County, a metro of more than 900,000 people that stretches from Delano to Tejon Ranch and east to Ridgecrest. Education and health services was the fastest-growing sector in the Bakersfield-Delano metro over the past year, up 3.5% while total employment stayed flat, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The hospitals sit close together: Adventist Health Bakersfield on Chester Ave, Dignity Health Memorial Hospital on 34th St and Mercy Hospital Downtown on Truxtun Ave form a downtown medical corridor, while Kern Medical anchors East Bakersfield as the only Level II trauma center between Fresno and Los Angeles. In the Southwest, Mercy Southwest on Old River Rd is the only hospital west of Highway 99, and Kaiser Permanente runs medical offices on Stockdale Highway.

The local market has its own shape. Community health centers carry a big share of care: Clinica Sierra Vista and Omni Family Health run dozens of clinics from East Bakersfield to Delano, Shafter, Lamont and Arvin, serving a county where most residents are Hispanic or Latino. The state prisons in Delano and Wasco hire nurses through California Correctional Health Care Services. And the hospitals are changing: Memorial opened Kern County's first dedicated pediatric operating rooms in April 2026 but closed its Grossman Burn Center in June, Dignity Health trimmed nursing staff at its Mercy campuses over the summer, and Adventist Health is building an Advanced Care Pavilion next to its AIS Cancer Center on Chester Ave.

Top Healthcare & Medical Employers in Bakersfield

These are the largest healthcare employers in Bakersfield, with current openings across nursing and support roles:

  • Kern Medical - the 222-bed county teaching hospital, affiliated with UCLA, employs more than 1,700 people and hires RNs, vocational nurses and support staff.
  • Dignity Health Memorial Hospital - the county's largest hospital by licensed beds, on 34th St, with a children's center run with Valley Children's.
  • Dignity Health Mercy Hospital - the Downtown and Southwest campuses hire emergency, surgery, ICU and labor and delivery nurses.
  • Adventist Health Bakersfield - the 253-bed Chester Ave hospital, home to Kern County's only accredited comprehensive cancer center, plus the Adventist Health Specialty heart and orthopedic hospital on Sillect Ave.
  • Kaiser Permanente - hires RNs, LVNs and clinic staff for its Stockdale and Chester Avenue medical offices.
  • Clinica Sierra Vista - the community health center network with more than 50 sites across Kern and Fresno counties hires LVNs and clinic support staff.
  • Omni Family Health - headquartered on California Ave, with a dozen Bakersfield clinics and sites in Shafter, Wasco and Delano.

Healthcare & Medical Career Paths in Bakersfield

  • Nursing - Registered Nurse, Licensed Vocational Nurse, Certified Nursing Assistant and Patient Care Technician, plus the Healthcare overview guide. This is the largest track, running from a weeks-long nurse assistant course to a BSN.
  • Clinical and technical - Medical Assistant, Phlebotomist, Medical Laboratory Technician, Pharmacy Technician, Radiologic Technologist, Surgical Technologist, Respiratory Therapist, Physical Therapy Assistant and Dental Assistant. These roles pair a certificate or associate degree with a specific state license or certification.
  • Emergency and behavioral health - EMT and Paramedic, and Behavioral Health Technician. These serve the county's trauma system, ambulance services and mental health programs.
  • Office and administration - Medical Receptionist and Medical Biller and Coder. These keep clinics and hospitals running and suit people who want healthcare work without patient care.

How to Start a Healthcare & Medical Career in Bakersfield

  • Bakersfield College - the Panorama Drive campus runs nurse assistant, vocational nursing, registered nursing, clinical medical assistant, phlebotomy, respiratory therapy, physical therapist assistant and EMT programs, with paramedic training at its EMS academy on Easton Dr.
  • CSU Bakersfield - the Stockdale Highway campus offers a BSN, RN to BSN and nurse practitioner programs.
  • Carrington College and Bakersfield Adult School - Carrington on New Stine Rd and the Adult School Health Careers Center on F St offer shorter certificate programs in vocational nursing, medical assisting and related fields.
  • California Board of Registered Nursing and Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians - license RNs and LVNs after the NCLEX.
  • California Department of Public Health - certifies nursing assistants and phlebotomy technicians.
  • Kern County Public Health EMS Division - issues EMT certification in Kern County.

State licenses and certifications are legally required for nurses, nursing assistants, phlebotomists, pharmacy technicians, radiologic technologists, respiratory therapists and EMTs; medical assistants are not licensed in California, so their certification and BLS cards are employer preferences.

Healthcare & Medical Salaries in Bakersfield

  • Entry - about $18 to $23 an hour for nursing assistants, medical assistants and front-desk staff.
  • Mid - roughly $30 to $38 an hour for licensed vocational nurses and experienced technicians.
  • Senior - about $48 to $76 an hour for registered nurses, with specialty units and charge roles at the top.

These are estimates from federal wage data for the Bakersfield-Delano area and current local postings. California's health care worker minimum wage sets floors from $19.28 to $25 an hour depending on facility type, well above the $16.90 general state minimum, so hospital and clinic support jobs often pay more than retail or food service. License level, specialty unit and night or weekend differentials move pay the most, and clinic roles more often keep weekday hours.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the largest healthcare employer in Bakersfield?

Dignity Health runs the most hospital beds, with Memorial Hospital and the two Mercy campuses. Kern Medical, the county hospital, employs more than 1,700 people, and Adventist Health and Kaiser Permanente are also major employers.

What healthcare jobs in Bakersfield need the least training?

Medical receptionist, nursing assistant, medical assistant and phlebotomy roles can be reached in weeks to months. Bakersfield College, Carrington College and the Bakersfield Adult School all run short programs for them.

How much do healthcare workers make in Bakersfield?

Support roles generally pay about $18 to $23 an hour, licensed vocational nurses about $30 to $38, and registered nurses about $48 to $76. Pay depends on license, unit, shift and employer.

Is there a nursing school in Bakersfield?

Yes. Bakersfield College offers vocational nursing and an associate degree in nursing, and CSU Bakersfield offers a BSN and graduate nursing programs. Carrington College and the Bakersfield Adult School also train vocational nurses.

Do I need to speak Spanish to work in healthcare in Bakersfield?

It is not legally required, but more than half of Bakersfield residents are Hispanic or Latino. Bilingual English and Spanish skills make you a stronger candidate, especially at community clinics.

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