Food Preparation Worker salary in Bellingham, WA
Food Preparation Workers in the Bellingham, WA metro area earn a median of $38,240 a year ($18.38 an hour), based on BLS data for 630 workers.
Pay ranges from $35,040 for the lowest-paid 10% to $48,670 for the top 10%. That is 8% higher than the national median of $35,320. Pay here is 7% lower than the Washington statewide median of $40,910. There are 6.9 food preparation workers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.2× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $40,960, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for food preparation workers in Bellingham, WA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,040 | $16.85 |
| 25th percentile | $35,910 | $17.27 |
| Median | $38,240 | $18.38 |
| 75th percentile | $45,790 | $22.01 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $48,670 | $23.40 |
| Average (mean) | $40,960 | $19.69 |
Half of food preparation workers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $3,186.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,593.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,470.77 |
| Weekly | $735.38 |
| Hourly | $18.38 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Food Preparation Worker salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $43,830 | 11,060 |
| Yakima, WA | $41,750 | 600 |
| Walla Walla, WA | $40,030 | 210 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $39,400 | 580 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $38,730 | 6,870 |
| Longview-Kelso, WA | $38,460 | 260 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | $38,390 | 810 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $37,950 | 680 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | $37,740 | 280 |
| Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | $36,580 | 330 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $36,360 | 1,310 |
| Lewiston, ID-WA | $35,780 | 170 |
Highest-paying states for food preparation workers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $40,910 |
| District of Columbia | $39,600 |
| California | $39,350 |
| Colorado | $38,960 |
| Massachusetts | $38,900 |
| Hawaii | $38,160 |
| Oregon | $37,450 |
| North Dakota | $36,800 |
| New Hampshire | $36,780 |
| Arizona | $36,750 |
See Food Preparation Worker pay in every state or the Washington statewide figures.
Related jobs in Bellingham, WA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $45,370 | $21.81 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $49,320 | $23.71 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $38,480 | $18.50 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $38,160 | $18.35 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $37,030 | $17.81 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $56,700 | $27.26 |
| Bartender | $56,110 | $26.98 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $58,520 | $28.14 |
| Dishwasher | $37,430 | $17.99 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $35,970 | $17.29 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $36,070 | $17.34 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $36,450 | $17.52 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $70,410 | $33.85 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Bellingham, WA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-2021. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make in Bellingham, WA?
The median salary for food preparation workers in the Bellingham, WA metro area is $38,240 a year, or $18.38 an hour. Pay ranges from $35,040 for the lowest-paid 10% to $48,670 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food preparation workers make in Bellingham, WA?
The top 10% of food preparation workers in the Bellingham, WA metro area earn at least $48,670 a year. The top 25% earn $45,790 or more.
What is the starting pay for food preparation workers in Bellingham, WA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $35,040 a year, and a quarter of food preparation workers earn $35,910 or less.
How many food preparation workers work in Bellingham, WA?
About 630 food preparation workers are employed in the Bellingham, WA metro area, not counting the self-employed.