Bartender Salary in Bellingham, WA
Bartenders in the Bellingham, WA metro area earn a median $56,110 a year — 63% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $47,264 take-home, or $3,939 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median bartender salary in Bellingham, WA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$4,553
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,479
- Medicare (1.45%)$814
- Washington income tax$0
- Take-home pay$47,264
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Bartender pay by experience in Bellingham, WA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $44,060 | $21.18 | $37,582 | $3,132 |
| 25th percentile | $47,600 | $22.88 | $40,427 | $3,369 |
| Median (50th) | $56,110 | $26.98 | $47,264 | $3,939 |
| 75th percentile | $60,050 | $28.87 | $50,430 | $4,203 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $79,690 | $38.31 | $64,892 | $5,408 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Washington resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $56,110 buys in Bellingham, WA
Prices in Bellingham, WA are 3.3% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.13× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median bartender's $47,264 take-home pay has the buying power of $45,739 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Bellingham, WA has 1.3× the national concentration of bartender jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for bartenders, adjusted for cost of living
Bellingham, WA ranks #4 of 237 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kahului, HI | $86,280 | $64,501 | $58,962 |
| 2 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $75,340 | $57,636 | $51,943 |
| 3 | Kennewick, WA | $55,820 | $47,031 | $46,994 |
| 4 | Bellingham, WA | $56,110 | $47,264 | $45,739 |
| 5 | Seattle, WA | $58,180 | $48,928 | $44,026 |
| 6 | New York, NY | $61,220 | $48,661 | $43,230 |
| 7 | Bremerton, WA | $53,810 | $45,416 | $43,005 |
| 8 | Portland, ME | $54,170 | $43,231 | $42,442 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 237 metros →
Bartender salaries elsewhere in Washington
- Kennewick, WA — $55,820
- Seattle, WA — $58,180
- Bremerton, WA — $53,810
- Spokane, WA — $50,210
- Olympia, WA — $50,180
Frequently asked questions
How much does a bartender make in Bellingham, WA?
The median bartender salary in the Bellingham, WA metro area is $56,110 a year, or about $26.98 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $47,600 and $60,050.
What is a bartender’s take-home pay in Bellingham, WA?
On the median $56,110 salary, a single filer living in Washington takes home about $47,264 a year ($3,939 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Bellingham, WA a good place to work as a bartender?
Pay here is 63% above the national median of $34,340. Local prices are 3.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $45,739 would in a typical U.S. city. Bellingham, WA ranks #4 of 237 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a bartender afford rent in Bellingham, WA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Bellingham, WA is $1,493 a month ($1,794 for two bedrooms) — 38% of a median bartender’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Bellingham, WA
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $58,520
- Waiter and Waitress — $56,700
- Cooks, Restaurant — $45,370
- Food Preparation Worker — $38,240
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $37,030