Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Bellingham, WA
Cooks, Restaurant in the Bellingham, WA metro area earn a median $45,370 a year — 21% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $38,635 take-home, or $3,220 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cooks, restaurant salary in Bellingham, WA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,264
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,813
- Medicare (1.45%)$658
- Washington income tax$0
- Take-home pay$38,635
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Cooks, Restaurant pay by experience in Bellingham, WA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,800 | $17.69 | $31,749 | $2,646 |
| 25th percentile | $39,320 | $18.90 | $33,774 | $2,814 |
| Median (50th) | $45,370 | $21.81 | $38,635 | $3,220 |
| 75th percentile | $47,420 | $22.80 | $40,282 | $3,357 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $56,700 | $27.26 | $47,738 | $3,978 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Washington resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $45,370 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 cooks, restaurant's $38,635 take-home pay has the buying power of $37,388 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 cooks, restaurant jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for cooks, restaurant, adjusted for cost of living
Bellingham, WA ranks #7 of 327 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yakima, WA | $44,390 | $37,847 | $39,612 |
| 2 | Mount Vernon, WA | $46,450 | $39,503 | $38,561 |
| 3 | Kennewick, WA | $45,280 | $38,562 | $38,532 |
| 4 | Barnstable Town, MA | $46,930 | $37,762 | $38,395 |
| 5 | Spokane, WA | $44,230 | $37,719 | $37,589 |
| 6 | Bremerton, WA | $46,460 | $39,511 | $37,413 |
| 7 | Bellingham, WA | $45,370 | $38,635 | $37,388 |
| 8 | Pittsfield, MA | $43,970 | $35,531 | $37,360 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 327 metros →
Cooks, Restaurant salaries elsewhere in Washington
- Yakima, WA — $44,390
- Mount Vernon, WA — $46,450
- Kennewick, WA — $45,280
- Spokane, WA — $44,230
- Bremerton, WA — $46,460
- Olympia, WA — $44,960
- Wenatchee, WA — $44,550
- Seattle, WA — $47,730
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, restaurant make in Bellingham, WA?
The median cooks, restaurant salary in the Bellingham, WA metro area is $45,370 a year, or about $21.81 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $39,320 and $47,420.
What is a cooks, restaurant’s take-home pay in Bellingham, WA?
On the median $45,370 salary, a single filer living in Washington takes home about $38,635 a year ($3,220 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Bellingham, WA a good place to work as a cooks, restaurant?
Pay here is 21% above the national median of $37,390. Local prices are 3.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $37,388 would in a typical U.S. city. Bellingham, WA ranks #7 of 327 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cooks, restaurant 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) — 46% of a median cooks, restaurant’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
- Bartender — $56,110
- Food Preparation Worker — $38,240
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $37,030