StateRates

Bellingham salaries

The median worker in the Bellingham, WA metro area earned $54,860 a year in 2024, about $26.37 an hour. That ranks #34 of the 391 metro areas published here, 10.8% above the national median.

Washington

Median pay $54,860 $26.37 per hour
Vs national +10.8% U.S. $49,500
Workers 90,970 wage and salary
Metro rank #34 of 391 by median pay

What this labour market looks like

Bellingham pays 10.9% less than Washington as a whole. Metros usually run ahead of their states because they concentrate higher-paying industries, and the gap is a rough measure of how much of a state's economy sits in its cities.

Unusually concentrated here

Occupations against their national share, 2024
Occupation Concentration Employed Median
Compliance Officers 2.75× 650 $101,870
Carpenters 2.26× 930 $71,360
Substitute Teachers, Short-Term 1.92× 550 $53,340
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers 1.64× 660 $74,610
First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers 1.57× 750 $101,920
Bartenders 1.56× 690 $47,170
Construction Laborers 1.45× 900 $56,520
Receptionists and Information Clerks 1.43× 810 $40,710
Food Preparation Workers 1.42× 740 $37,160
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks 1.38× 1,180 $54,330
Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary 1.36× 1,110 $47,540
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers 1.35× 890 $51,770

Best paid occupations

Highest median pay in Bellingham
Occupation Median Hourly Employed
Computer and Information Systems Managers $167,680 $80.62 210
Financial Managers $147,830 $71.07 280
Managers, All Other $136,850 $65.79 320
Software Developers $130,600 $62.79 630
Construction Managers $129,570 $62.29 220
Lawyers $124,200 $59.71 220
Detectives and Criminal Investigators $120,080 $57.73 260
General and Operations Managers $120,000 $57.69 1,400
Civil Engineers $104,730 $50.35 230
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers $104,350 $50.17 280
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education $102,810 n/a 420
Project Management Specialists $102,350 $49.21 560
First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers $101,920 $49.00 750
Compliance Officers $101,870 $48.98 650
Registered Nurses $101,580 $48.84 1,670
Management Analysts $98,880 $47.54 280
Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers $96,850 $46.56 390
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education $93,560 n/a 900
Firefighters $93,170 $44.79 270
Electricians $86,170 $41.43 540
First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers $85,630 $41.17 370
Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education $83,600 n/a 350
Accountants and Auditors $83,060 $39.94 850
Cost Estimators $80,990 $38.94 210
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators $79,190 $38.07 290
Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists $77,720 $37.37 210
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters $76,150 $36.61 440
Industrial Machinery Mechanics $75,870 $36.48 420
Human Resources Specialists $75,860 $36.47 400
Loan Officers $75,070 $36.09 260
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products $75,070 $36.09 750
Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents $74,670 $35.90 260
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers $74,610 $35.87 660
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers $72,600 $34.90 910
Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants $72,590 $34.90 220
Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors $72,480 $34.85 200
Carpenters $71,360 $34.31 930
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors $71,250 $34.25 340
First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors $70,780 $34.03 340
Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel $70,500 $33.90 490
Business Operations Specialists, All Other $69,240 $33.29 860
Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers $68,640 $33.00 220
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers $64,800 $31.15 270
Bus Drivers, School $64,080 $30.81 270
Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists $63,720 $30.63 360
Child, Family, and School Social Workers $62,290 $29.95 350
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers $61,660 $29.65 310
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $61,140 $29.39 1,170
Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks $58,860 $28.30 200
Computer User Support Specialists $57,730 $27.76 360
Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants $57,360 $27.58 230
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics $57,320 $27.56 390
Insurance Sales Agents $56,850 $27.33 290
Construction Laborers $56,520 $27.17 900
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General $56,470 $27.15 840
Painters, Construction and Maintenance $56,120 $26.98 240
Roofers $54,860 $26.37 290
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks $54,330 $26.12 1,180
Dental Assistants $53,580 $25.76 340
Substitute Teachers, Short-Term $53,340 $25.65 550

Where most people work

Largest occupations in Bellingham by employment
Occupation Employed Median Hourly
Fast Food and Counter Workers 2,820 $35,680 $17.15
Retail Salespersons 2,750 $36,560 $17.58
Home Health and Personal Care Aides 2,430 $45,030 $21.65
Cashiers 2,220 $36,160 $17.39
Registered Nurses 1,670 $101,580 $48.84
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners 1,590 $42,640 $20.50
Office Clerks, General 1,460 $48,160 $23.16
General and Operations Managers 1,400 $120,000 $57.69
Waiters and Waitresses 1,380 $46,100 $22.17
Stockers and Order Fillers 1,350 $40,020 $19.24
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand 1,230 $44,970 $21.62
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks 1,180 $54,330 $26.12
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers 1,170 $61,140 $29.39
Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary 1,110 $47,540 n/a
Cooks, Restaurant 1,110 $41,240 $19.83
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive 1,010 $51,430 $24.72
Customer Service Representatives 980 $45,600 $21.93
Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators 950 $46,560 $22.39
Carpenters 930 $71,360 $34.31
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers 910 $72,600 $34.90

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024 state estimates. Wage and salary workers only, excluding the self-employed.

Other Washington metro areas

Bellingham pay: common questions

What is the average salary in Bellingham?

The median across all occupations is $54,860, or $26.37 an hour, covering 90,970 wage and salary workers. The mean is $69,090, higher because a small number of very large salaries pull an average upward.

Does Bellingham pay more than the rest of Washington?

No. The metro median of $54,860 is 10.9% below the Washington median of $61,590. Metropolitan areas usually pay more than their states because they concentrate higher-paying industries, and usually cost more to live in for the same reason.

Which jobs pay best in Bellingham?

Computer and Information Systems Managers ($167,680), Financial Managers ($147,830), Managers, All Other ($136,850). Medical specialities top nearly every metro list, which reflects how the occupations are classified more than local conditions.

What is Bellingham unusually full of?

Compliance Officers, at 2.75× the national concentration. Location quotient is a better description of a local economy than its biggest employers, which are retail and food service almost everywhere.