Benchmark Salary Information

  • The number of Social Workers currently employed in Bellingham is 300.
  • Social Workers in Bellingham earn an average of $55,730 per year or $26.79 per hour.
  • The percentage of Washington Social Workers who work in Bellingham is 3%.
  • The percentage of U.S. Social Workers who work in Bellingham is less than 1%.

Rankings for Bellingham

  • Ranks #13 in Washington for salary and #5 when adjusted for cost-of-living.
  • Ranks #6 in Washington for the number of psychologists employed.
  • Ranks #105 in the nation for salary and #55 when adjusted for cost-of-living.
  • Ranks #216 in the nation for the number of psychologists employed.

Compared to Washington

Bellingham Social Workers earn an average of $55,730 or $26.79 per hour which is 7% less than the Washington average salary of $60,230.

AverageBellinghamWashington% Difference
Hourly Wage$26.79$28.96-7.49%
Annual Salary$55,730$60,230-7.47%
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Department of Commerce – 2022*

Compared to the U.S.

Bellingham Social Workers earn an average of $55,730 or $26.79 per hour which is 1% more than the U.S. average salary of $54,880.

AverageBellinghamU.S.%
Hourly Wage$26.79$26.391.52%
Annual Salary$55,730$54,8801.55%
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Department of Commerce – 2022*

Salary Adjusted for Cost-of-Living

When adjusted for cost-of-living, Social Workers in Bellingham earns an average annual salary of $54,482 which compares to the Washington average annual salary of $60,230. per year.

Cost-of-living in Bellingham is 2% higher than the Washington average, which means Bellingham residents have an overall higher cost for food, housing, utilities and transportation compared to Washington average.

  • Washington average salary is $60,230.
  • Washington cost-of-living adjusted salary is $56,101.
  • Bellingham average salary is $55,730.
  • Bellingham cost-of-living adjusted salary is $54,482.
LocationAverage Annual WageCost of LivingAdjusted COL Wage
Bellingham$55,730102.29%$54,482
Washington$60,230107.36%$56,101
U.S.$54,880$54,880
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Department of Commerce – 2022*

Salary Ranges for Education and Experience

In Bellingham, 50% of Social Workers earn between $44,310 and $67,550 a year, depending on factors such as level of education, experience, location and place of employment.

About 10% of Social Workers earn more than $72,750, which is a rate for highly skilled, experienced and educated Social Workers.

Approximately 10% of Social Workers earn under $36,910, a rate generally reserved for less experienced or entry level Social Workers.

PercentExperienceEmployedAnnual Salary
10%Less than a Year30Under $36,910
15%2 – 4 years45$36,910 – $44,310
25%5 – 9 years75$44,310 – $54,160
25%10 – 14 years75$54,160 – $67,550
15%15 – 20 years45$54,160 – $72,750
10%20+ years30Above $72,750
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Department of Commerce – 2022*

Salary Compared to Related Professions

With an average annual salary of $55,730, Bellingham Social Workers tend to earn less than School Psychologists ($91,420), and Health Care Social Workers ($60,990).

However, Social Workers tend to earn more than Substance Abuse Counselors ($55,170).

TitleAnnual Salary
School Psychologists$91,420
Health Care Social Workers$60,990
Social Workers$55,730
Substance Abuse Counselors$55,170
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Department of Commerce – 2022*

FAQ for Bellingham Social Workers

The number of Social Workers currently employed in Bellingham is 300.

Social Workers earn an average of $55,730 per year or $26.79 per hour in Bellingham.

When adjusted for Cost of Living in Bellingham Social Workers earn an average of $54,482 per year or $26 per hour.

The types of psychologists that are paid the highest annual salary in Bellingham are School Psychologists($91,420), Health Care Social Workers($60,990), Social Workers($55,730).


Additional Salary Reports for Social Workers in Washington cities and Metros and U.S. States.

Official Data Sources for Social Workers: Salary Data | Projected Employment | Cost of Living Data