How Much Does an RN Make in Bellingham, WA in 2026?
Typical pay for RNs in Bellingham, from federal wage data (May 2024), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Washington.
BLS OES May 2024 · Bellingham
A typical RN in Bellingham, Washington earns $48.84 per hour, or $101,580 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2024). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $8,465 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $84,310, and the top 10% of earners make over $149,370.
That pay is 18% below the Washington figure of $124,200 and 4% above the national figure of $97,550. About 1,670 RNs work in Bellingham.
RN pay in Bellingham at a glance
- Typical pay is $48.84 an hour, or $101,580 a year.
- That is 18% below the Washington figure.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $84,310; the top 10% make over $149,370.
- Typical pay rose +32% from 2015 to 2024, against +61% for Washington as a whole.
BLS OES May 2024
How much does an RN make in Bellingham?
Pay in Bellingham runs from entry-level positions at around $40.54 an hour to more than $71.81 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Washington and national figures.
RN pay by career stage in Bellingham
| Career stage | Bellingham | Washington | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $84,310$40.54 an hour | $89,630$43.09 an hour | $68,940$33.14 an hour |
| First years | $97,160$46.71 an hour | $103,100$49.57 an hour | $80,330$38.62 an hour |
| Typical RN | $101,580$48.84 an hour | $124,200$59.71 an hour | $97,550$46.90 an hour |
| Experienced | $122,990$59.13 an hour | $134,240$64.54 an hour | $112,350$54.02 an hour |
| Top 10% | $149,370$71.81 an hour | $161,910$77.84 an hour | $137,470$66.09 an hour |
BLS OES May 2024 (the latest vintage BLS published for this area; state and national columns are May 2025) · city figures cover Bellingham as BLS defines it
RN pay growth in Bellingham
Typical (median) annual wage for RNs in Bellingham · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2024 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical RN pay in Bellingham was $77,210 a year. By 2024 it had reached $101,580, a change of +32%, compared with +61% for Washington over the same years.
How Bellingham compares with other Washington cities
Hillsboro pays RNs the most in Washington at $130,310 a year, $28,730 more than Bellingham. The lowest-paying area in the state is Yakima at $102,950.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Bellingham | RNs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hillsboro metro incl. Vancouver | $130,310 | $62.65 | +28% | 24,220 |
| 2 | Seattle | $128,260 | $61.66 | +26% | 39,900 |
| 3 | Tumwater | $125,020 | $60.11 | +23% | 2,250 |
| 4 | Walla Walla | $116,970 | $56.24 | +15% | 810 |
| 5 | Wenatchee metro incl. East Wenatchee | $112,280 | $53.98 | +11% | 1,330 |
| 6 | Spokane metro incl. Spokane Valley | $111,750 | $53.73 | +10% | 6,850 |
| 7 | Port Orchard metro incl. Silverdale · Bremerton | $107,220 | $51.55 | +6% | 1,410 |
| 8 | Mount Vernon metro incl. Anacortes | $106,730 | $51.31 | +5% | 1,190 |
| 9 | Kennewick metro incl. Richland | $106,410 | $51.16 | +5% | 2,560 |
| 10 | Yakima | $102,950 | $49.50 | +1% | 1,610 |
Every metro area in Washington with RN wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Washington typical pay $124,200
Is Bellingham a good place to work as an RN?
RN pay in Bellingham sits close to the national figure: $101,580 a year, 4% above the national rate.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does an RN make in Bellingham, WA?
- A typical RN in Bellingham earns $101,580 a year, or $48.84 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2024. Entry-level pay runs about $84,310 and the top 10% earn over $149,370.
- How much does an RN make an hour in Bellingham?
- Typical hourly pay for RNs in Bellingham is $48.84. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $40.54, and the top 10% earn over $71.81 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for an RN in Bellingham?
- Entry-level RN positions in Bellingham typically offer around $40.54 an hour, or $84,310 a year.
- Is RN pay in Bellingham higher than in the rest of Washington?
- Bellingham pay is 18% below the Washington figure of $124,200 a year. Hillsboro pays the most in Washington at $130,310.