NAICS 44-45

Retail Trade in Bakersfield-Delano, CA

Metro Market Score 56.4 (Challenging), ranked #213 of 378 metros. 2,000 establishments, 31,905 jobs.

Metro Market Assessment

Metro Market Score 56.4
Favorable 0-35
Moderate 35-48
Challenging 48-60
Difficult 60+
Challenging

ⓘ Lower is better. Relative to national retail trade average.

💰High-Cost Market⚡Rising Wages

Wage costs in Bakersfield-Delano's retail trade sector are well above the metro average, with wage competitiveness at 76.2 and rising pressure at 77.7. New entrants should factor higher labor costs into their financial projections for this market.

Industry Concentration
8.2
LQ: 0.92
Rank #31 of 378 metros
Wage Competitiveness
76.2
$40,848 avg wage
Growth Trend
↓ 34.1
Employment growth index
Rank #250 of 378 metros
Wage Pressure
77.7
YoY wage change index

2,000 Retail Trade Firms in Bakersfield-Delano

2,000
Establishments
+0.2% YoY
31,905
Total Employment
-1.1% YoY
$40,848
Average Annual Wage
+3.1% YoY
0.92
Location Quotient
Below national avg

Bakersfield-Delano vs California Statewide

How this metro's retail trade market compares to California overall. The state ranks #28/51 for entry risk.

Measure Bakersfield-Delano CA Statewide
Overall Score 56.4 Challenging 44.0 Elevated
Score Type Metro Market Score Entry Risk Score
Rank #213 of 378 metros #28 of 51 states

Metro and state scores use different methodologies (metro has 4 QCEW-based metrics; state adds BDS survival and momentum data). Direct score comparisons are approximate.

Other Industries in Bakersfield-Delano

Healthcare and Social Assistance 18.6 Finance and Insurance 19.0 Information 28.7 Real Estate and Rental and Leasing 46.5 Administrative and Support Services 50.0 Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services 54.7 Construction 57.5 Other Services 57.7 Accommodation and Food Services 64.2

Retail Trade in Other California Metros

Fresno 35.8 #28/378 Visalia 38.4 #39/378 Napa 38.8 #43/378 Santa Maria-Santa Barbara 51.6 #157/378 El Centro 53.6 #180/378 Salinas 53.7 #184/378 Hanford-Corcoran 55.6 #204/378 Merced 56.2 #211/378 Yuba City 56.6 #215/378 Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario 58.5 #239/378

+ 14 more metros. View all in California →

About Metro Market Score: A weighted composite of industry concentration (25%), wage competitiveness (25%), wage pressure (20%), and employment growth trend (30%). Lower scores indicate more favorable conditions. For Bakersfield-Delano's retail trade sector, the employment growth component (65.9) has the strongest pull on the composite. Metro scores use QCEW data only (no BDS survival data at metro level). Read full methodology →

Data Sources

Data period: 2024. Last updated: April 2026.