Human Resources Specialist salary in Bellingham, WA
Human Resources Specialists in the Bellingham, WA metro area earn a median of $78,160 a year ($37.58 an hour), based on BLS data for 430 workers.
Pay ranges from $55,040 for the lowest-paid 10% to $123,070 for the top 10%. That is 3% higher than the national median of $75,940. Pay here is 8% lower than the Washington statewide median of $84,550. There are 4.7 human resources specialists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.80). The average (mean) salary is $83,790, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for human resources specialists in Bellingham, WA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $55,040 | $26.46 |
| 25th percentile | $63,940 | $30.74 |
| Median | $78,160 | $37.58 |
| 75th percentile | $100,810 | $48.47 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $123,070 | $59.17 |
| Average (mean) | $83,790 | $40.28 |
Half of human resources specialists 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 | $6,513.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,256.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,006.15 |
| Weekly | $1,503.08 |
| Hourly | $37.58 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Human Resources Specialist salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $92,770 | 14,120 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $90,290 | 710 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $86,700 | 1,410 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | $81,290 | 620 |
| Walla Walla, WA | $80,730 | 120 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $80,100 | 7,610 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | $78,800 | 230 |
| Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | $77,920 | 240 |
| Longview-Kelso, WA | $75,810 | 190 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $74,430 | 1,370 |
| Yakima, WA | $72,180 | 390 |
| Lewiston, ID-WA | $66,000 | 110 |
Highest-paying states for human resources specialists
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $110,970 |
| Massachusetts | $85,630 |
| Washington | $84,550 |
| New York | $84,380 |
| Maryland | $83,910 |
| California | $83,500 |
| Connecticut | $82,890 |
| Virginia | $82,090 |
| Colorado | $80,840 |
| New Jersey | $80,690 |
See Human Resources Specialist pay in every state or the Washington statewide figures.
Related jobs in Bellingham, WA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Project Management Specialist | $103,400 | $49.71 |
| Business Operations Specialists, All Other | $75,780 | $36.43 |
| Compliance Officer | $109,550 | $52.67 |
| Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists | $63,570 | $30.56 |
| Buyers and Purchasing Agents | $76,030 | $36.56 |
| Cost Estimator | $83,130 | $39.97 |
| Management Analyst | $84,620 | $40.69 |
| Training and Development Specialists | $68,090 | $32.73 |
| Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners | $64,630 | $31.07 |
| Fundraiser | $74,850 | $35.99 |
| Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists | $97,940 | $47.09 |
| Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators | $93,400 | $44.90 |
| Logistician | $74,730 | $35.93 |
| Labor Relations Specialist | $126,160 | $60.65 |
More: Business and Financial Operations Occupations · all salaries in Bellingham, WA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 13-1071. 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 human resources specialist make in Bellingham, WA?
The median salary for human resources specialists in the Bellingham, WA metro area is $78,160 a year, or $37.58 an hour. Pay ranges from $55,040 for the lowest-paid 10% to $123,070 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid human resources specialists make in Bellingham, WA?
The top 10% of human resources specialists in the Bellingham, WA metro area earn at least $123,070 a year. The top 25% earn $100,810 or more.
What is the starting pay for human resources specialists in Bellingham, WA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $55,040 a year, and a quarter of human resources specialists earn $63,940 or less.
How many human resources specialists work in Bellingham, WA?
About 430 human resources specialists are employed in the Bellingham, WA metro area, not counting the self-employed.