How Much Does a CNA Make in Bellingham, WA in 2026?
Typical pay for CNAs in Bellingham, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Washington.
BLS OES May 2025 · Bellingham metro area
A typical CNA in Bellingham, Washington earns $23.10 per hour, or $48,040 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $4,003 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $42,910, and the top 10% of earners make over $59,040.
That pay is 2% below the Washington figure of $49,180 and 14% above the national figure of $42,260. Bellingham ranks 8th of 12 metro areas in Washington for CNA pay. About 790 CNAs work in the Bellingham area.
CNA pay in Bellingham at a glance
- Typical pay is $23.10 an hour, or $48,040 a year.
- That is 2% below the Washington figure, ranking 8th of 12 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $42,910; the top 10% make over $59,040.
- Typical pay rose +69% from 2015 to 2025, against +73% for Washington as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a CNA make in Bellingham?
Pay in Bellingham runs from entry-level positions at around $20.63 an hour to more than $28.39 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Washington and national figures.
CNA pay by career stage in Bellingham
| Career stage | Bellingham | Washington | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $42,910$20.63 an hour | $42,500$20.43 an hour | $33,940$16.32 an hour |
| First years | $46,890$22.54 an hour | $46,980$22.59 an hour | $37,260$17.91 an hour |
| Typical CNA | $48,040$23.10 an hour | $49,180$23.65 an hour | $42,260$20.32 an hour |
| Experienced | $54,230$26.07 an hour | $57,930$27.85 an hour | $47,220$22.70 an hour |
| Top 10% | $59,040$28.39 an hour | $62,660$30.13 an hour | $51,980$24.99 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Bellingham area as BLS defines it
CNA pay growth in Bellingham
Typical (median) annual wage for CNAs in the Bellingham area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical CNA pay in Bellingham was $28,460 a year. By 2025 it had reached $48,040, a change of +69%, compared with +73% for Washington over the same years.
How Bellingham compares with other Washington cities
Seattle pays CNAs the most in Washington at $51,990 a year, $3,950 more than Bellingham. The lowest-paying area in the state is Yakima at $47,080.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Bellingham | CNAs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle | $51,990 | $25.00 | +8% | 16,530 |
| 2 | Vancouver metro incl. Hillsboro | $50,350 | $24.21 | +5% | 8,890 |
| 3 | Bremerton metro incl. Silverdale · Port Orchard | $49,160 | $23.63 | +2% | 850 |
| 4 | Mount Vernon metro incl. Anacortes | $49,020 | $23.57 | +2% | 500 |
| 5 | East Wenatchee metro incl. Wenatchee | $48,520 | $23.33 | +1% | 440 |
| 6 | Tumwater | $48,060 | $23.11 | 0% | 1,040 |
| 7 | Kennewick metro incl. Richland | $48,060 | $23.11 | 0% | 1,060 |
| 8 | Bellingham | $48,040 | $23.10 | this city | 790 |
| 9 | Walla Walla | $47,990 | $23.07 | 0% | 290 |
| 10 | Kelso metro incl. Longview | $47,830 | $23.00 | 0% | 440 |
| 11 | Spokane metro incl. Spokane Valley | $47,240 | $22.71 | -2% | 2,780 |
| 12 | Yakima | $47,080 | $22.63 | -2% | 1,320 |
Every metro area in Washington with CNA wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Washington typical pay $49,180
Is Bellingham a good place to work as a CNA?
CNAs in Bellingham earn a strong wage by national standards: typical pay is $48,040 a year, 14% above the national figure. For every 1,000 jobs in the Bellingham area, about 8.6 are CNA positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 9.3. CNA jobs make up about the same share of the job market as they do across the country.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a CNA make in Bellingham, WA?
- A typical CNA in Bellingham earns $48,040 a year, or $23.10 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $42,910 and the top 10% earn over $59,040.
- How much does a CNA make an hour in Bellingham?
- Typical hourly pay for CNAs in Bellingham is $23.10. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $20.63, and the top 10% earn over $28.39 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a CNA in Bellingham?
- Entry-level CNA positions in Bellingham typically offer around $20.63 an hour, or $42,910 a year.
- Is CNA pay in Bellingham higher than in the rest of Washington?
- Bellingham pay is 2% below the Washington figure of $49,180 a year, ranking 8th of 12 metro areas in the state. Seattle pays the most in Washington at $51,990.