Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Bellingham, WA

Each occupation's median wage in Bellingham, WA compared against the national median for the same occupation. Unlike a cost-of-living adjustment — which scales every job in a state by the same constant and so cannot change their order — this genuinely re-ranks, and it shows where Bellingham, WA pays a real premium. Limited to occupations with at least 1,000 workers in the state.

Cost of living: prices in Bellingham, WA run 3.3% above the national average (2024), so a Bellingham, WA salary is worth about 0.97× its face value in national terms. That scales every wage here by the same factor — it changes what the numbers mean, not their order.

Local wage estimates are suppressed more often than state ones — BLS withholds any figure too few local employers report — so an occupation missing here simply has no published local estimate.

Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Cost of living: BEA regional price parities, 2024

Find high paying jobs in Bellingham, WA

OccupationMedian, Bellingham, WA · vs. national

1Paramedics$119,970
Postsecondary nondegree award
$109,330 – $123,490+98.0%
2Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists$61,820
Postsecondary nondegree award
$35,470 – $109,340+72.7%
3Firefighters$101,130
Postsecondary nondegree award
$61,690 – $117,990+70.6%
4Sales and Related Workers, All Other$81,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,500 – $106,290+68.0%
5Bartenders$56,110
No formal educational credential
$44,060 – $79,690+63.4%
6Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$102,750
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,620 – $144,540+61.1%
7Waiters and Waitresses$56,700
No formal educational credential
$36,670 – $89,830+60.9%
8Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary$169,470
Master's degree
$109,690 – $194,020+60.1%
9Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education$101,230
Bachelor's degree
$63,670 – $127,490+58.2%
10Fiberglass Laminators and Fabricators$73,920
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,230 – $74,880+57.7%
11Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education$98,460
Bachelor's degree
$67,660 – $125,400+57.1%
12Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$100,430
Bachelor's degree
$64,070 – $127,760+56.0%
13Logging Equipment Operators$77,310
High school diploma or equivalent
$64,290 – $93,100+55.4%
14Electricians$97,590
High school diploma or equivalent
$57,530 – $127,180+54.4%
15Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$91,510
High school diploma or equivalent
$61,450 – $127,010+52.9%
16Special Education Teachers, Middle School$101,120
Bachelor's degree
$72,920 – $129,670+51.4%
17Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers$105,280
High school diploma or equivalent
$75,200 – $167,170+50.4%
18Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists$98,940
Bachelor's degree
$71,350 – $101,580+49.3%
19Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School$98,380
Bachelor's degree
$75,120 – $133,080+48.5%
20Crossing Guards and Flaggers$56,450
No formal educational credential
$45,880 – $77,000+48.2%
21First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$137,720
Postsecondary nondegree award
$99,360 – $150,060+47.2%
22Sheet Metal Workers$90,840
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,750 – $128,970+47.0%
23Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School$95,610
Bachelor's degree
$66,490 – $125,090+46.8%
24Bus Drivers, School$69,640
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,130 – $71,810+45.3%
25Public Safety Telecommunicators$76,340
High school diploma or equivalent
$63,700 – $76,340+43.9%
26Massage Therapists$83,790
Postsecondary nondegree award
$60,950 – $115,630+43.4%
27Skincare Specialists$64,830
Postsecondary nondegree award
$48,280 – $128,910+43.0%
28Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$102,160
Bachelor's degree
$64,440 – $128,930+41.8%
29Surveyors$106,590
Bachelor's degree
$65,310 – $132,190+41.3%
30Correctional Officers and Jailers$83,030
High school diploma or equivalent
$62,270 – $93,960+40.9%
31Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary$51,670
Some college, no degree
$38,510 – $57,400+40.5%
32Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary$59,240
Bachelor's degree
$47,180 – $70,550+38.1%
33Structural Iron and Steel Workers$86,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,070 – $114,850+37.2%
34Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$77,910
No formal educational credential
$50,270 – $133,860+36.6%
35Real Estate Sales Agents$72,010
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,810 – $114,160+36.3%
36Construction Managers$156,580
Bachelor's degree
$101,790 – $211,030+36.2%
37Compliance Officers$109,550
Bachelor's degree
$62,170 – $126,170+35.7%
38Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$81,430
High school diploma or equivalent
$64,150 – $101,300+35.7%
39Food Service Managers$93,610
High school diploma or equivalent
$70,720 – $134,980+34.9%
40First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$107,830
High school diploma or equivalent
$73,850 – $156,860+34.9%
41Substitute Teachers, Short-Term$55,740
Bachelor's degree
$47,560 – $55,740+33.8%
42Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$101,810
High school diploma or equivalent
$84,830 – $118,810+33.6%
43First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$58,520
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,040 – $78,480+32.8%
44Labor Relations Specialists$126,160
Bachelor's degree
$74,520 – $228,450+32.2%
45Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria$49,320
No formal educational credential
$39,410 – $59,700+31.7%
46Detectives and Criminal Investigators$122,840
High school diploma or equivalent
$106,250 – $177,650+31.0%
47Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors$77,620
Master's degree
$49,280 – $111,990+30.8%
48Special Education Teachers, Secondary School$96,940
Bachelor's degree
$68,250 – $129,600+30.5%
49Library Technicians$57,990
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,930 – $69,920+30.1%
50Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$59,380
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,510 – $67,650+28.2%

Bars run from the 10th to the 90th percentile; the middle half is shaded darker, and the tick is the median.

#	Occupation	MedianBellingham, WA	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	vs. national
1	ParamedicsPostsecondary nondegree award	$119,970	$109,330 – $123,490	+98.0%
2	Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and CosmetologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,820	$35,470 – $109,340	+72.7%
3	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$101,130	$61,690 – $117,990	+70.6%
4	Sales and Related Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$81,120	$44,500 – $106,290	+68.0%
5	BartendersNo formal educational credential	$56,110	$44,060 – $79,690	+63.4%
6	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$102,750	$49,620 – $144,540	+61.1%
7	Waiters and WaitressesNo formal educational credential	$56,700	$36,670 – $89,830	+60.9%
8	Education Administrators, Kindergarten through SecondaryMaster's degree	$169,470	$109,690 – $194,020	+60.1%
9	Elementary School Teachers, Except Special EducationBachelor's degree	$101,230	$63,670 – $127,490	+58.2%
10	Fiberglass Laminators and FabricatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,920	$45,230 – $74,880	+57.7%
11	Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special EducationBachelor's degree	$98,460	$67,660 – $125,400	+57.1%
12	Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationBachelor's degree	$100,430	$64,070 – $127,760	+56.0%
13	Logging Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,310	$64,290 – $93,100	+55.4%
14	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$97,590	$57,530 – $127,180	+54.4%
15	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$91,510	$61,450 – $127,010	+52.9%
16	Special Education Teachers, Middle SchoolBachelor's degree	$101,120	$72,920 – $129,670	+51.4%
17	Property, Real Estate, and Community Association ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$105,280	$75,200 – $167,170	+50.4%
18	Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$98,940	$71,350 – $101,580	+49.3%
19	Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary SchoolBachelor's degree	$98,380	$75,120 – $133,080	+48.5%
20	Crossing Guards and FlaggersNo formal educational credential	$56,450	$45,880 – $77,000	+48.2%
21	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$137,720	$99,360 – $150,060	+47.2%
22	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$90,840	$49,750 – $128,970	+47.0%
23	Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary SchoolBachelor's degree	$95,610	$66,490 – $125,090	+46.8%
24	Bus Drivers, SchoolHigh school diploma or equivalent	$69,640	$58,130 – $71,810	+45.3%
25	Public Safety TelecommunicatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,340	$63,700 – $76,340	+43.9%
26	Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$83,790	$60,950 – $115,630	+43.4%
27	Skincare SpecialistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$64,830	$48,280 – $128,910	+43.0%
28	Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationBachelor's degree	$102,160	$64,440 – $128,930	+41.8%
29	SurveyorsBachelor's degree	$106,590	$65,310 – $132,190	+41.3%
30	Correctional Officers and JailersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$83,030	$62,270 – $93,960	+40.9%
31	Teaching Assistants, Except PostsecondarySome college, no degree	$51,670	$38,510 – $57,400	+40.5%
32	Teaching Assistants, PostsecondaryBachelor's degree	$59,240	$47,180 – $70,550	+38.1%
33	Structural Iron and Steel WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$86,120	$49,070 – $114,850	+37.2%
34	Cement Masons and Concrete FinishersNo formal educational credential	$77,910	$50,270 – $133,860	+36.6%
35	Real Estate Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,010	$47,810 – $114,160	+36.3%
36	Construction ManagersBachelor's degree	$156,580	$101,790 – $211,030	+36.2%
37	Compliance OfficersBachelor's degree	$109,550	$62,170 – $126,170	+35.7%
38	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$81,430	$64,150 – $101,300	+35.7%
39	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$93,610	$70,720 – $134,980	+34.9%
40	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$107,830	$73,850 – $156,860	+34.9%
41	Substitute Teachers, Short-TermBachelor's degree	$55,740	$47,560 – $55,740	+33.8%
42	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$101,810	$84,830 – $118,810	+33.6%
43	First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,520	$44,040 – $78,480	+32.8%
44	Labor Relations SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$126,160	$74,520 – $228,450	+32.2%
45	Cooks, Institution and CafeteriaNo formal educational credential	$49,320	$39,410 – $59,700	+31.7%
46	Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$122,840	$106,250 – $177,650	+31.0%
47	Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health CounselorsMaster's degree	$77,620	$49,280 – $111,990	+30.8%
48	Special Education Teachers, Secondary SchoolBachelor's degree	$96,940	$68,250 – $129,600	+30.5%
49	Library TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$57,990	$46,930 – $69,920	+30.1%
50	Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,380	$41,510 – $67,650	+28.2%

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Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Bellingham, WA

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