Kern County Fire Department — Bakersfield, CA
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Kern County Fire Department in Bakersfield, California is hiring for Fire Battalion Chief - Department Promotional. The posted pay is $8,640–$10,325 a month (about $103,680–$123,900 a year at full time). Applications close November 6, 2026 — 3 days from now. Stated requirements: Driver's license (at application); Written exam (required). This is an internal promotional posting.
Among 118 current California postings on Driftsmoke with a listed salary, this top-of-range pay is higher than 81% of them; the median among them is $92,019/yr.
Kern County Fire Department is a career department with 64 stations, about 687 personnel, serving about 500,000 people. Operational crews work a 24-hour shifts. Pension: local_municipal. Founded in 1927.
Kern County Fire Department is a large all-hazard county agency protecting over 8,000 square miles of Central California from roughly 48 stations, covering wildland, structural, EMS, rescue, and HazMat.
Kern County Fire Department has 12 other current openings on Driftsmoke. Department page, openings and history →
Summary by Driftsmoke from the official bulletin and department records; the full posting follows below.
| Who can apply | Internal only |
| Driver's license | At application |
| Written exam | Required |
This is a Department Promotional Examination and is open only to eligible employees of the Kern County Fire Department who have permanent status in the classified service and received an overall rating of standard or better on the last employee performance report.
Examination Schedule: - Written Exam: Qualified candidates will be notified at least five days prior to the examination.
Examination: Written Exam ( Weight 100% ): Will be conducted for the purpose of assessing the applicant's knowledge of the principles and practices of fire prevention and suppression; the use and maintenance of firefighting equipment and apparatus; departmental rules and regulations; county geography, fire hazards and fire-fighting resources, such as personnel, equipment, water supply, communications; and first aid.
Applicants must attain at least a 70% score on each phase of the examination process.
Examination components for promotional testing will be administered during the scheduled dates/times/locations without exception.
Minimum Qualifications / Employment Standards:
Three (3) years of experience as a Fire Captain in the Kern County Fire Department AND possession of a valid Kern County Fire Department Battalion Chief Verification of Eligibility.
Possession of a valid California Motor Vehicle Driver's License.
*Please ensure applicable materials are attached to your application ** *by the final filing deadline. If you are unable to attach materials to your application, you may e-mail a copy to guerrab@kerncounty.com. For questions regarding this recruitment, please contact Brenda Guerra at 661-868-3926.**
Full job description: Fire Battalion Chief ## About Kern County Kern County employees provide opportunities that are purposeful to our community. Every employee and every action contributes to the improvement and strengthening of our county.
To learn more about Kern County, click here or follow us:
Growth Mindset
We always encourage our employees to grow and develop. Kern County has a culture of innovation that allows employees to explore creative and more efficient ways to accomplish their work. We provide access to training and continued professional development in an effort to ensure that our employees have opportunities for career growth. ## Additional Information Admittance to the examination will require a valid government issued photograph identification. Applicants who are unable to present proper identification must make arrangements with the Human Resources Division prior to the test date.
A background check may be conducted for this classification.
Following an offer of employment, you may be required to submit to post offer medical and drug screening tests at County expense.
This examination will establish an eligible list from which appointments will be made. Other permanent and temporary appointments will be made as needed. Successful candidates will remain on the eligible list for a period of twelve-months, unless specified otherwise by the Civil Service Commission. For more information regarding Kern County's recruitment process, please see our FAQ page.
**Kern County is ADA compliant and an equal opportunity employer and encourages all qualified individuals from diverse backgrounds to apply. **
Kern County Employee Benefits
*As a regular or provisional employee of Kern County, working twenty (20) hours or more per week, you are presently eligible for the following benefits as described below:
Health Insurance: (Medical/Dental/Vision): Kern County offers five affordable medical options. Kern Legacy Health Plans are medical and prescription health plan options administered directly by the County of Kern. Kaiser Permanente is also an option. Employees may also choose from two dental plans; Liberty Dental PPO or HMO. The vision coverage is provided through Vision Service Plan (VSP).
Retirement Program: Kern County Employees' Retirement Association (KCERA). This Section 401 (a) defined benefit retirement plan requires employer and employee contribution and pays retired employees a pension based on salary, years of service, and age upon retirement.
Deferred Compensation: This section 457 plan allows employees to contribute on a pre-tax basis to a supplemental retirement account which is then paid out to them when they retire.
Social Security Administration: Note: Both Kern County and the employee contribute to Social Security and Medicare as follows: - The County of Kern withholds 6.2% for Social Security (FICA1) and 1.45% for Medicare (FICA2) from employee's payroll warrants - The County matches the employee's 6.2% for Social Security and 1.45% for Medicare Employee Assistance Program: EAP is available to help you take control of your life!
Voluntary Benefits: Chimienti & Associates (Administrator) offers the following voluntary benefits and can be deducted on a pre-tax bases: Short Term Disability Coverage, Accident Plan, Cancer Plan and a Flexible Spending Account.
Paid Holiday Leave : 12 set days (per calendar year)