Masters was born in Perth, and graduated from the University of Western Australia in 1971 with a Bachelor of Science degree. After graduating, he initially worked as a geologist for Westralian Sands, a mineral sands company. Masters joined the public service in 1976, working as a wildlife officer and fisheries inspector. He returned to Westralian Sands in 1981, where he eventually came to hold senior management positions. He left the company in 1989 and thereafter worked as an environmental and geological consultant.Bernard Kent Masters, Biographical Register of Members of the Parliament of Western Australia. Retrieved 11 February 2017.
