Bellingham Employment

Employment and Industries in the Bellingham, Washington Area

The number of manufacturing jobs in Bellingham, Washington has declined and service jobs have now become more important to the city. Fishing, timber and agriculture are still important to the economy, however they are not as vital as there were in the past. The major agricultural industries are berries and dairy farming.

Jobs are provided by businesses that produce items such as transportation equipment, baked goods, processed frozen foods and wood products. Luxury yachts and military boats are the focus of the shipbuilding industry. In addition, healthcare has become a more important part of the economy.

The top fields of employment in Bellingham, Washington are government; trade, transportation and utilities; leisure and hospitality; healthcare, manufacturing, educational services, and professional and business services. About 33% of the labor force is employed in management, professional and related occupations. 30% of the workers are employed in sales and office jobs.

The Bellingham Whatcom Economic Development Council promotes local companies, products, and services and assists companies in interfacing with international, national, and regional markets. The council also provides a variety of other services.

Bellingham's largest job providers:

  • Western Washington University
  • St. Joseph Hospital
  • Bellingham School District
  • Whatcom County
  • City of Bellingham
  • Haggen Inc
  • Sodexho Services
  • Brown & Cole
  • T-Mobile
  • Fred Meyer Inc
  • Peacehealth Medical Group
  • Anvil Corporation
  • Interior Pacific Inc
  • Olympic Health Management Systems, Inc
  • Imco General Construction Inc
  • Portionables, Inc
  • Macy's Department Stores, Inc
  • Walmart
  • Costco Wholesale Corporation

Notable information regarding Bellingham, Washington: Adult population which has earned a bachelor's degree or higher: 33%. Average salary in 2009: $35,000. Cost of living index in 2008: 107.0 (U.S. average: 100).

Bellingham companies have opportunities to work with helpful organizations such as:

Those interested in Bellingham business and economic news may want to read the Bellingham Herald.

Jobs in Bellingham

RankTitleTotal EmployeesLocal Mean Salary (Per Year)Local Mean Salary (Per hour)National Growth % 2014-2024
1All Occupations89600$50,390$24.23100
2Office and Administrative Support Occupations11770$41,480$19.9413.75
3Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations9560$32,730$15.738.7
4Sales and Related Occupations9350$41,410$19.919.5
5Production Occupations7150$43,510$20.925.6
6Transportation and Material Moving Occupations6550$39,590$19.036.7
7Educational Instruction and Library Occupations6390$57,590$27.696
8Construction and Extraction Occupations6110$58,550$28.154.6
9Business and Financial Operations Occupations4160$66,640$32.045.35
10Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations3980$77,360$37.195.85
11Fast Food and Counter Workers3830$27,470$13.212.45
12Retail Salespersons3590$32,590$15.672.7
13Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations3550$52,010$253.75
14Management Occupations3520$107,960$51.96.35
15Healthcare Support Occupations3480$36,340$17.472.85
16Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations3400$33,160$15.943.6
17Office Clerks, General2360$40,510$19.481.9
18Cashiers2180$29,590$14.232.2
19Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners2000$33,150$15.941.5
20Community and Social Service Occupations1860$50,910$24.471.75
21Protective Service Occupations1840$63,900$30.722.2
22Personal Care and Service Occupations1820$36,460$17.534.65
23Waiters and Waitresses1800$40,870$19.651.65
24Customer Service Representatives1440$37,840$18.191.75
25Computer and Mathematical Occupations1430$82,810$39.813
26Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand1390$34,040$16.371.8
27Architecture and Engineering Occupations1290$82,770$39.81.7
28Construction Laborers1270$47,580$22.880.9
29Home Health and Personal Care Aides1180$28,940$13.910
30General and Operations Managers1130$113,870$54.741.5
31Maintenance and Repair Workers, General1130$43,650$20.990.9
32Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive1110$40,200$19.331.4
33Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products1090$80,820$38.860.85
34Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations1050$49,490$23.81.8
35Stockers and Order Fillers1040$33,130$15.931.25
36Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks1020$46,390$22.31.05
37Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers1000$53,250$25.61.2
38Cooks, Restaurant890$32,600$15.680.9
39Receptionists and Information Clerks850$33,270$160.7
40Accountants and Auditors820$67,420$32.410.9
41Nursing Assistants820$32,720$15.730.95
42First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers770$60,970$29.310.95
43Carpenters760$57,870$27.820.6
44Electricians730$60,950$29.30.45
45First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers720$46,150$22.190.95
46Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators700$37,860$18.20.8
47Project Management Specialists and Business Operations Specialists, All Other670$65,160$31.330.7
48Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations650$68,010$32.70.8
49First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers640$73,900$35.530.4
50Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners640$27,970$13.450.9
51First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers620$39,200$18.840.6
52First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers600$66,250$31.850.4
53Bartenders570$39,870$19.170.4
54Compliance Officers570$77,890$37.450.2
55Substitute Teachers, Short-Term550$36,560$17.580.4
56Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers510$33,580$16.140.75
57Packers and Packagers, Hand500$31,370$15.080.4
58Tellers500$34,180$16.430.25
59Light Truck Drivers490$42,790$20.570.6
60Social and Human Service Assistants490$41,750$20.070.3
61Counter and Rental Clerks480$31,250$15.030.3
62Software Developers and Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers460$104,910$50.440.65
63Dishwashers420$28,410$13.660.3
64Security Guards420$30,040$14.440.7
65Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks420$38,400$18.460.4
66Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters410$66,600$32.020.3
67Medical Assistants390$42,170$20.270.45
68Food Preparation Workers380$31,920$15.350.5
69Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers380$51,860$24.930.3
70Legal Occupations370$77,610$37.310.8
71Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists370$58,500$28.130.45
72Machinists360$51,760$24.890.2
73Dental Assistants340$45,050$21.660.2
74Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks340$27,840$13.390.15
75Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators340$74,960$36.040.25
76Personal Service Managers, All Other; Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling; and Managers, All Other340$104,160$50.080.7
77Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics330$48,700$23.410.5
78Child, Family, and School Social Workers330$55,840$26.850.2
79Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers330$46,200$22.210.35
80Passenger Vehicle Drivers, Except Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity330$41,710$20.050.3
81Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education330$30,920$14.860.3
82Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors330$56,170$27.010.2
83Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Occupations320$40,260$19.360.65
84First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers320$77,620$37.320.3
85Construction Managers310$91,010$43.750.3
86Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators300$42,040$20.210.4
87Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers300$80,180$38.550.4
88Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors290$48,800$23.460.2
89Computer User Support Specialists280$51,840$24.920.4
90Detectives and Criminal Investigators280$102,960$49.50.1
91Painters, Construction and Maintenance280$46,040$22.130.2
92Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel280$50,280$24.170.7
93Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders270$41,440$19.920.05
94Civil Engineers270$88,730$42.660.2
95Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers270$29,670$14.260.3
96Food Batchmakers270$32,380$15.570.1
97Billing and Posting Clerks260$39,130$18.810.3
98Industrial Machinery Mechanics260$48,960$23.540.2
99Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment250$30,570$14.70.3
100Firefighters250$69,390$33.360.2
Source: 2019 Occupational Employment Statistics and 2018-28 Employment Projections, Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS.gov
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Additional Details

Bellingham Colleges
Bellingham colleges and trade schools.

Jobs More Common Near Bellingham Than Most Other Cities

* Average job popularity for metro areas = 1.0

TitleMean Local SalaryLocal Jobs
All Occupations$50,39089,600
Office and Administrative Support Occupations$41,48011,770
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations$32,7309,560
Sales and Related Occupations$41,4109,350
Production Occupations$43,5107,150
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations$39,5906,550
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations$57,5906,390
Construction and Extraction Occupations$58,5506,110
Business and Financial Operations Occupations$66,6404,160
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations$77,3603,980
Fast Food and Counter Workers$27,4703,830
Retail Salespersons$32,5903,590
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations$52,0103,550
Management Occupations$107,9603,520
Healthcare Support Occupations$36,3403,480
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations$33,1603,400
Office Clerks, General$40,5102,360
Cashiers$29,5902,180
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$33,1502,000
Community and Social Service Occupations$50,9101,860
Protective Service Occupations$63,9001,840
Personal Care and Service Occupations$36,4601,820
Waiters and Waitresses$40,8701,800
Customer Service Representatives$37,8401,440
Computer and Mathematical Occupations$82,8101,430
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$34,0401,390
Architecture and Engineering Occupations$82,7701,290
Construction Laborers$47,5801,270
Home Health and Personal Care Aides$28,9401,180
General and Operations Managers$113,8701,130
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$43,6501,130
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$40,2001,110
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$80,8201,090
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations$49,4901,050
Stockers and Order Fillers$33,1301,040
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$46,3901,020
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$53,2501,000
Cooks, Restaurant$32,600890
Receptionists and Information Clerks$33,270850
Accountants and Auditors$67,420820
Nursing Assistants$32,720820
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$60,970770
Carpenters$57,870760
Electricians$60,950730
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers$46,150720
Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$37,860700
Project Management Specialists and Business Operations Specialists, All Other$65,160670
Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations$68,010650
First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$73,900640
Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$27,970640

Work Paying Relatively Well in the Bellingham, Washington Metro Area (2008 data)

* Average Salary Index for metro areas = 1.0

TitleMean Local SalaryLocal Jobs
All Occupations$50,39089,600
Office and Administrative Support Occupations$41,48011,770
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations$32,7309,560
Sales and Related Occupations$41,4109,350
Production Occupations$43,5107,150
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations$39,5906,550
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations$57,5906,390
Construction and Extraction Occupations$58,5506,110
Business and Financial Operations Occupations$66,6404,160
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations$77,3603,980
Fast Food and Counter Workers$27,4703,830
Retail Salespersons$32,5903,590
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations$52,0103,550
Management Occupations$107,9603,520
Healthcare Support Occupations$36,3403,480
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations$33,1603,400
Office Clerks, General$40,5102,360
Cashiers$29,5902,180
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$33,1502,000
Community and Social Service Occupations$50,9101,860
Protective Service Occupations$63,9001,840
Personal Care and Service Occupations$36,4601,820
Waiters and Waitresses$40,8701,800
Customer Service Representatives$37,8401,440
Computer and Mathematical Occupations$82,8101,430
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$34,0401,390
Architecture and Engineering Occupations$82,7701,290
Construction Laborers$47,5801,270
Home Health and Personal Care Aides$28,9401,180
General and Operations Managers$113,8701,130
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$43,6501,130
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$40,2001,110
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$80,8201,090
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations$49,4901,050
Stockers and Order Fillers$33,1301,040
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$46,3901,020
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$53,2501,000
Cooks, Restaurant$32,600890
Receptionists and Information Clerks$33,270850
Accountants and Auditors$67,420820
Nursing Assistants$32,720820
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$60,970770
Carpenters$57,870760
Electricians$60,950730
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers$46,150720
Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$37,860700
Project Management Specialists and Business Operations Specialists, All Other$65,160670
Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations$68,010650
First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$73,900640
Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$27,970640

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