SOC 21-1012 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors — Bellingham
Bellingham, WA · 10 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Bellingham, WA comes to $69,800 a year, ahead of the national median of $64,330 by 8.5%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Bellingham, WA comes to $69,800 a year, ahead of the national median of $64,330 by 8.5%. Pay ranges from under $58,520 at the tenth percentile to more than $128,340 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $58,520 to $98,260.
Employment stands at 230, or 2.5 jobs per thousand held locally. Within the state, Bremerton records the highest median at $102,650. Of the 321 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 148th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $58,520 | −9.0% |
| 25th | $58,520 | −9.0% |
| Median (50th) | $69,800 | +8.5% |
| 75th | $98,260 | +52.7% |
| 90th | $128,340 | +99.5% |
| Mean | $80,800 | +25.6% |
Other metro areas in Washington
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bremerton | $102,650 | 150 | |
| 2 | Mount Vernon | $96,780 | 90 | |
| 3 | Yakima | $96,370 | 230 | |
| 4 | Kennewick | $88,900 | 260 | |
| 5 | Seattle | $87,280 | 3,570 | |
| 6 | Olympia | $83,050 | 220 | |
| 7 | Wenatchee | $82,300 | 80 | |
| 8 | Longview | $78,490 | 90 | |
| 9 | Spokane | $75,990 | 540 | |
| 10 | Walla Walla | $64,900 | 80 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Bellingham run 7.0% above the national average, so the median of $69,800 buys what $65,234 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 1.4% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$69,800as reported by BLSLocal price level
107.0US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$65,234US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $69,800 a year, 8.5% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $58,520 to $128,340 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 230 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Bremerton, at $102,650.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors in Bellingham, WA?
The median annual wage is $69,800, or $33.56 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $64,330, so pay in Bellingham, WA is 8.5% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Bellingham, WA earns more than $128,340 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $58,520 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Bremerton, at $102,650 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 230 jobs in this occupation in Bellingham, WA. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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