Recruiter salary in Bellingham, WA
The median recruiter in Bellingham earned $78,160 a year in May 20251. That is 2.9% above the US median of $75,940, even though it is 7.6% below the Washington statewide median of $84,550. That is in the top quarter of US areas (#56 of 521). About 430 recruiters work here, 2% of the Washington total.
BLS occupation 13-1071, area Bellingham, WA. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Bellingham against Washington and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bellingham, WA | $55,040 | $78,160 | $123,070 | |
| Washington | $57,030 | $84,550 | $136,070 | |
| United States | $47,180 | $75,940 | $128,720 |
The middle half of recruiters in Bellingham earns $63,940–$100,810. Pay is tightly grouped: the top tenth starts at $123,070, only 2.2 times the bottom tenth, against 2.7 times across the US, so the going rate is easier to read. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $36,870 wide, against $41,350 across Washington and $40,770 nationally: employers in Bellingham pay within a narrower band.
What to budget for a recruiter here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $55,040 | $4,587 | $26.46 | $71,019 |
| 25th percentile | $63,940 | $5,328 | $30.74 | $82,503 |
| Median | $78,160 | $6,513 | $37.58 | $100,852 |
| 75th percentile | $100,810 | $8,401 | $48.47 | $130,077 |
| 90th percentile | $123,070 | $10,256 | $59.17 | $158,800 |
Pay climbs faster above the median than below it here: the 75th percentile is $22,650 over the median, the 25th only $14,220 under it. An offer at the 75th percentile adds about $29,226 a year in employer cost. These percentiles describe what people in the job earn locally, not experience levels, so place your offer by the tasks and seniority you need.
For scale, the US median of $75,940 falls between the 25th percentile and the median in Bellingham, and the Washington statewide median of $84,550 falls between the median and the 75th percentile.
What a hire really costs in Bellingham
At the $78,160 median, a local hire costs about $100,852 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $22,692 here. Recruiting, equipment and office space come on top. Benefit levels vary by employer, so treat this as an estimate.
We place executive assistants, customer support and e-commerce staff today; for recruiters we answer within one business day whether we can help. Enter the monthly pay you have in mind to compare it with a local hire. The fee field shows our standard fee3; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool4.
Other roles in Bellingham
Of the 16 roles we track in Bellingham, this one ranks #3 by median pay, between accountants ($85,450) and executive assistants ($76,870). Project Coordinator is the highest at $103,400.
| Role | Median | vs recruiter | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | +32.3% | 660 | |
| Accountant | +9.3% | 870 | |
| Recruiter | this role | 430 | |
| Executive Assistant | -1.7% | 240 | |
| Office Manager | -2.1% | 920 |
Measured against the US median, recruiters rank #10 of the 16 roles we track in Bellingham (+2.9%), between HR assistants (+4.5%) and sales development representatives (+2.7%). The typical role here is at +4.7%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Recruiters hold 5.1% of the jobs in these 16 roles in Bellingham, 6.7% across Washington and 5.8% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
Other areas in Washington
Across the 13 areas of Washington with data for this job, the median runs from $72,180 in Yakima to $92,770 in Seattle-Tacoma, a gap of $20,590 a year. Of the 6 areas in Washington with more recruiters than Bellingham, 2 pay less: Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA ($74,430) and the Western Washington nonmetro area ($77,320).
| Area | Median | vs Bellingham | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | +4.0% | 620 | |
| Walla Walla, WA | +3.3% | 120 | |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | +0.8% | 230 | |
| Bellingham, WA | this area | 430 | |
| Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | -0.3% | 240 | |
| Eastern Washington (Nonmetro) | -0.8% | 430 | |
| Western Washington (Nonmetro) | -1.1% | 550 |
Bellingham against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Bellingham is #286 of 521 US areas for this job. It is a mid-sized market, and its pay is in the top quarter of US areas. Outside Washington, Chicago-Naperville and Minot pay just above Bellingham and Portland-South Portland and Helena just below. All four are within $140 a year of the median in Bellingham. Of the three markets with about as many recruiters, none pays as much.
| Metro area | Median | vs Bellingham | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minot, ND | +0.1% | 110 | pay | |
| Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN | +0.1% | 26,470 | pay | |
| Bellingham, WA | this area | 430 | ||
| Portland-South Portland, ME | -0.1% | 1,310 | pay | |
| Helena, MT | -0.2% | 280 | pay | |
| Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | -1.0% | 430 | jobs | |
| Greenville, NC | -15.3% | 430 | jobs | |
| Laredo, TX | -33.8% | 430 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a recruiter in Bellingham, WA?
About $100,852 a year at the median, or $8,404 a month: $78,160 in pay plus about $22,692 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for recruiters in Bellingham?
Pay here is higher than in three quarters of US areas. The median was $78,160 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $55,040, the 90th $123,070, and the middle half earned $63,940 to $100,810.
Is Bellingham cheaper than the rest of Washington for recruiters?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $78,160 against $84,550 statewide. The next area up in Washington is Mount Vernon-Anacortes at $78,800, the next down Wenatchee-East Wenatchee at $77,920.
How many recruiters work in Bellingham?
BLS counts about 430 in the May 2025 survey. That is 2% of the Washington total of 22,770. 6 areas in Washington have more; the closest in size is the Western Washington nonmetro area, with about 550.
Does a recruiter cost more than an executive assistant in Bellingham?
Yes: $1,290 a year more at the median. The medians are $78,160 and $76,870.
Sources
4 sources, with links
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 13-1071: bls.gov
- BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, private industry, June 2026: bls.gov
- Stafka pricing: stafka.com
- Deel pricing, contractor management: deel.com
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.