Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay range in Bellingham
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $39,410 a year or less, while the top 10% make $59,700 or more. The middle half of cooks, institution and cafeteria in Bellingham earn between $44,250 and $57,110.
- $39K10th
- $44K25th
- $49KMedian
- $57K75th
- $60K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $49,870 | $4,156 | $23.98 |
| Median | $49,320 | $4,110 | $23.71 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $44,250 | $3,688 | $21.27 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $57,110 | $4,759 | $27.46 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay in Bellingham vs. Washington and the U.S.
Cooks, institution and cafeteria in Bellingham earn about the same as the Washington average ($51,290) and 28% more than the U.S. average ($38,810). At the median the gap is +32% against the U.S. median of $37,450.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bellingham | $49,870 | $49,320 | $39,410 | $59,700 | 250 |
| Washington | $51,290 | $49,670 | $39,820 | $62,840 | 9,780 |
| United States | $38,810 | $37,450 | $28,480 | $49,670 | 441,050 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary after taxes in Bellingham
On the average salary of $49,870, a single filer in Bellingham takes home about $42,251 a year, or $3,521 a month and $1,625 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, institution and cafeteria? 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 $49,870 buys what about $48,261 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Bellingham ($57,820). A typical home costs $620,829, or 12.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in other Washington cities
Bellingham ranks 4th of 11 Washington metro areas for this job; Seattle pays the most ($53,820).
Highest-paying cities for cooks, institution and cafeteria
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($57,770).
- Kahului, HI$57,770
- San Jose, CA$54,290
- Seattle, WA$53,820
- Barnstable, MA$52,850
- San Francisco, CA$52,440
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Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in Bellingham: questions
How much do cooks, institution and cafeteria make an hour in Bellingham?
$23.98 an hour on average, and $23.71 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level cooks, institution and cafeteria salary in Bellingham?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $39,410 a year and the 25th percentile is $44,250, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the cooks, institution and cafeteria take-home pay in Bellingham?
About $42,251 a year ($3,521 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $49,870. 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, institution and cafeteria earn more in Bellingham than elsewhere?
The average here is 28% more than the U.S. average for this job ($38,810).
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 35-2012; area Bellingham, WA (13380). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.7%.
- 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 0.98, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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