Waiter and Waitress Salary in Bellingham, WA
Waiters and Waitresses in the Bellingham, WA metro area earn a median $56,700 a year — 61% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $47,738 take-home, or $3,978 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median waiter and waitress salary in Bellingham, WA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$4,624
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,515
- Medicare (1.45%)$822
- Washington income tax$0
- Take-home pay$47,738
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Waiter and Waitress pay by experience in Bellingham, WA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,670 | $17.63 | $31,644 | $2,637 |
| 25th percentile | $45,120 | $21.69 | $38,434 | $3,203 |
| Median (50th) | $56,700 | $27.26 | $47,738 | $3,978 |
| 75th percentile | $66,960 | $32.19 | $55,936 | $4,661 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $89,830 | $43.19 | $72,025 | $6,002 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Washington resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $56,700 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 waiter and waitress's $47,738 take-home pay has the buying power of $46,198 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Waiter and Waitress jobs are about as common in Bellingham, WA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.09).
Best-paying cities for waiters and waitresses, adjusted for cost of living
Bellingham, WA ranks #3 of 375 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kahului, HI | $82,550 | $62,160 | $56,823 |
| 2 | Burlington, VT | $61,620 | $50,061 | $49,591 |
| 3 | Bellingham, WA | $56,700 | $47,738 | $46,198 |
| 4 | Bremerton, WA | $55,270 | $46,589 | $44,116 |
| 5 | Mount Vernon, WA | $53,060 | $44,814 | $43,745 |
| 6 | Yakima, WA | $49,060 | $41,600 | $43,539 |
| 7 | Kennewick, WA | $51,460 | $43,528 | $43,494 |
| 8 | Seattle, WA | $57,280 | $48,204 | $43,375 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 375 metros →
Waiter and Waitress salaries elsewhere in Washington
- Bremerton, WA — $55,270
- Mount Vernon, WA — $53,060
- Yakima, WA — $49,060
- Kennewick, WA — $51,460
- Seattle, WA — $57,280
- Olympia, WA — $53,000
- Spokane, WA — $48,560
- Wenatchee, WA — $49,820
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make in Bellingham, WA?
The median waiter and waitress salary in the Bellingham, WA metro area is $56,700 a year, or about $27.26 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $45,120 and $66,960.
What is a waiter and waitress’s take-home pay in Bellingham, WA?
On the median $56,700 salary, a single filer living in Washington takes home about $47,738 a year ($3,978 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Bellingham, WA a good place to work as a waiter and waitress?
Pay here is 61% above the national median of $35,230. Local prices are 3.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $46,198 would in a typical U.S. city. Bellingham, WA ranks #3 of 375 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a waiter and waitress 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 waiter and waitress’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
- Bartender — $56,110
- Cooks, Restaurant — $45,370
- Food Preparation Worker — $38,240
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $37,030