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Bellingham, WA metro area · BLS May 2025 · Updated

How much does a food preparation worker make in Bellingham, WA?

In the Bellingham, WA metropolitan area, food preparation workers earned a median of $38,240 a year ($18.38 an hour) in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey for the metro. BLS counted 630 of these jobs there. That is 34% below the $57,820 median for all jobs in the metro. The middle 80% earned between $35,040 and $48,670; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and Washington tax rules to the median leaves an estimated $32,906 in take-home pay.

Food preparation worker pay in Bellingham, WA at a glance

Median salary

$38,240$18.38 per hour · $3,187 monthly · BLS May 2025
10th percentile$35,040$16.85/hr
25th percentile$35,910$17.27/hr
75th percentile$45,790$22.01/hr
90th percentile$48,670$23.40/hr
Jobs in this metro630Location quotient 1.21 (U.S. = 1.00)
Against all jobs here34% belowAll-jobs median $57,820
Against Washington7% belowStatewide median $40,910
Against the U.S.8% aboveNational median $35,320

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Same U.S. tax tables as the rest of the site. Change the salary, state, or filing status.

Take-home payWhat $38,000 a year leaves after tax in WashingtonFederal tax, FICA and Washington withholding on that salary, with the other 49 states beside it.
By the hour$18 an hour is how much a yearWeekly, biweekly and monthly gross at 2,080 hours, plus time and a half.
HousingWhat a $38,000 salary buys at today's ratesPrice range, down payment and the monthly payment behind it, on current mortgage rates.
Local pricesWhat $38,000 is worth where you liveRent, groceries and the local price level against the national average.
Same stateEvery occupation Washington publishes a wage forThe biggest employers, the best paid, and what is distinctive about Washington.

Food preparation worker salary in Bellingham, WA after taxes

$38,240
$15,000$80,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$38,240
Net 86%
Fed 6%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$32,906After all taxes
Monthly deposit$2,742Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$1,266Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate14%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$2,409 / yr
Washington state income taxNo state wage tax$0
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$2,925 / yr
Customize deductions in full Washington calculator

Food preparation workers pay range in Bellingham, WA, hourly and yearly

BLS May 2025 estimates for the Bellingham, WA metropolitan statistical area. Monthly and take-home figures are ours, computed from the annual wage.

What food preparation workers earned in the Bellingham, WA metro area, May 2025
PercentileHourlyMonthlyYearlyAfter tax a year (WA)
10th percentile$16.85/hr$2,920$35,040$30,335
25th percentile$17.27/hr$2,993$35,910$31,034
MedianMedian$18.38/hr$3,187$38,240$32,906
75th percentile$22.01/hr$3,816$45,790$38,972
90th percentile$23.40/hr$4,056$48,670$41,286

Is $38,240 a good salary in Bellingham, WA?

It depends on what else people there earn and what things cost. Here is the median for food preparation workers next to both.

Median household income$81,784Census Bureau ACS
Local price level (U.S. = 100)103.33.3% above national average
One paycheck vs. a household46.8%of area median income

The same job statewide and nationally, and a calculator for your own paycheck.

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Food preparation workers pay in other Washington metros

Metros in the same state that are closest in size to Bellingham, WA. A statewide average can hide differences this large.

Food preparation worker pay in Bellingham, WA: common questions

What is the median salary for food preparation workers in Bellingham, WA?

The BLS median annual wage for food preparation workers in the Bellingham, WA metro area was $38,240 in May 2025, about $3,187 a month or $18.38 an hour. Statewide, the Washington median for this job is $40,910, so the metro pays 7% below the state.

What is the hourly pay for food preparation workers in Bellingham, WA?

The median hourly wage for food preparation workers in Bellingham, WA was $18.38 in the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $16.85 an hour and one in ten earned more than $23.40.

How many food preparation workers work in Bellingham, WA?

BLS estimated 630 jobs for food preparation workers in the metro in May 2025, or 6.9 of every 1,000 jobs. Its location quotient of 1.21 means the job is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole.

What is the pay range for food preparation workers in Bellingham, WA?

BLS wage estimates for food preparation workers in Bellingham, WA run from $35,040 at the 10th percentile to $35,910 at the 25th, $45,790 at the 75th, and $48,670 at the 90th. These are points in the wage distribution, not experience levels.

How much do food preparation workers take home after taxes in Bellingham, WA?

On a median gross salary of $38,240, an estimated $32,906 lands in net take-home pay per year ($1,266 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in Washington in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $5,334 (an effective rate of 13.9%).

How much do food preparation workers make per month in Bellingham, WA?

On the median annual salary of $38,240, gross monthly income is $3,187. After federal, FICA, and Washington state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $2,742 per month (or $1,266 every two weeks).

Is $38,240 a good salary in Bellingham, WA?

At $38,240, the median salary for food preparation workers is 46.8% of the Bellingham, WA median household income ($81,784). It is 34% below the $57,820 median for all jobs in the metro. The BEA regional price parity is 103.3, so prices here run 3.3% above the U.S. average.