Chefs and Head Cooks pay range in Bellingham
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $48,560 a year or less, while the top 10% make $88,490 or more. The middle half of chefs and head cooks in Bellingham earn between $50,900 and $75,200.
- $49K10th
- $51K25th
- $70KMedian
- $75K75th
- $88K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $67,610 | $5,634 | $32.50 |
| Median | $70,410 | $5,868 | $33.85 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $50,900 | $4,242 | $24.47 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $75,200 | $6,267 | $36.15 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Chefs and Head Cooks pay in Bellingham vs. Washington and the U.S.
Chefs and head cooks in Bellingham earn 9% less than the Washington average ($74,670) and about the same as the U.S. average ($66,700). At the median the gap is +13% against the U.S. median of $62,470.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bellingham | $67,610 | $70,410 | $48,560 | $88,490 | 140 |
| Washington | $74,670 | $76,010 | $49,920 | $95,990 | 5,320 |
| United States | $66,700 | $62,470 | $37,900 | $98,560 | 200,040 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary after taxes in Bellingham
On the average salary of $67,610, a single filer in Bellingham takes home about $56,394 a year, or $4,699 a month and $2,169 every two weeks. Taxes take 17% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax. Washington's WA Cares (0.58%) and Paid Family and Medical Leave payroll premiums are not included.
Is Bellingham a good place for chefs and head cooks? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Bellingham area are 3% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.3), so the average $67,610 buys what about $65,429 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Bellingham ($57,820). A typical home costs $620,829, or 9.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary in other Washington cities
Bellingham ranks 7th of 10 Washington metro areas for this job; Seattle pays the most ($76,820).
Highest-paying cities for chefs and head cooks
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($91,380).
- Kahului, HI$91,380
- Napa, CA$83,750
- San Jose, CA$80,150
- Albany, NY$79,500
- Providence, RI$79,440
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Bellingham: questions
How much do chefs and head cooks make an hour in Bellingham?
$32.51 an hour on average, and $33.85 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level chefs and head cooks salary in Bellingham?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $48,560 a year and the 25th percentile is $50,900, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the chefs and head cooks take-home pay in Bellingham?
About $56,394 a year ($4,699 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $67,610. Washington has no state income tax; Washington's WA Cares (0.58%) and Paid Family and Medical Leave payroll premiums are not included.
Do chefs and head cooks earn more in Bellingham than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as the U.S. average for this job ($66,700).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 35-1011; area Bellingham, WA (13380). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.5%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax. Washington's WA Cares (0.58%) and Paid Family and Medical Leave payroll premiums are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.15, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.