Reward is an unincorporated community in western Kern County, California.

[1] It is located 3.5 miles (5.6 km) west-northwest of McKittrick,[2] at an elevation of 1,276 feet (389 m) in the southern Temblor Range.

[2] Reward was the location of the Aguaje de Santa Maria (Waterhole of Saint Mary) water stop on the 19th century El Camino Viejo in Alta California.

[3] The first wooden oil derrick in Kern County was constructed at the future site of Reward in 1878, to drill for flux oil to mix with asphalt that was being mined in Asphalto and refined in McKittrick.

[2][4] As of 2019, a small oil field is being developed near Reward: see photo dated 4-09-2019.