Cooks, Restaurant pay range in Bellingham
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,800 a year or less, while the top 10% make $56,700 or more. The middle half of cooks, restaurant in Bellingham earn between $39,320 and $47,420.
- $37K10th
- $39K25th
- $45KMedian
- $47K75th
- $57K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $45,550 | $3,796 | $21.90 |
| Median | $45,370 | $3,781 | $21.81 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $39,320 | $3,277 | $18.90 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $47,420 | $3,952 | $22.80 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Cooks, Restaurant pay in Bellingham vs. Washington and the U.S.
Cooks, restaurant in Bellingham earn 3% less than the Washington average ($47,200) and 18% more than the U.S. average ($38,730). At the median the gap is +21% against the U.S. median of $37,390.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bellingham | $45,550 | $45,370 | $36,800 | $56,700 | 1,090 |
| Washington | $47,200 | $46,800 | $37,940 | $57,910 | 35,140 |
| United States | $38,730 | $37,390 | $28,700 | $47,900 | 1,409,890 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Cooks, Restaurant salary after taxes in Bellingham
On the average salary of $45,550, a single filer in Bellingham takes home about $38,779 a year, or $3,232 a month and $1,492 every two weeks. Taxes take 15% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax. Washington's WA Cares (0.58%) and Paid Family and Medical Leave payroll premiums are not included.
Is Bellingham a good place for cooks, restaurant? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Bellingham area are 3% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.3), so the average $45,550 buys what about $44,080 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Bellingham ($57,820). A typical home costs $620,829, or 13.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Cooks, Restaurant salary in other Washington cities
Bellingham ranks 4th of 11 Washington metro areas for this job; Seattle pays the most ($49,000).
Highest-paying cities for cooks, restaurant
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($54,460).
- Kahului, HI$54,460
- San Jose, CA$49,390
- Seattle, WA$49,000
- San Francisco, CA$48,630
- Napa, CA$47,830
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Cooks, Restaurant salary in Bellingham: questions
How much do cooks, restaurant make an hour in Bellingham?
$21.90 an hour on average, and $21.81 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level cooks, restaurant salary in Bellingham?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,800 a year and the 25th percentile is $39,320, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the cooks, restaurant take-home pay in Bellingham?
About $38,779 a year ($3,232 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $45,550. Washington has no state income tax; Washington's WA Cares (0.58%) and Paid Family and Medical Leave payroll premiums are not included.
Do cooks, restaurant earn more in Bellingham than elsewhere?
The average here is 18% more than the U.S. average for this job ($38,730).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 35-2014; area Bellingham, WA (13380). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.3%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax. Washington's WA Cares (0.58%) and Paid Family and Medical Leave payroll premiums are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.32, this job is 1.3 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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