Quick answer: First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers in the Bellingham area earn a median $96,400 per year, above the national median of $79,860, and the metro employs about 340 of them (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
| Metric | Bellingham metro | Washington | National |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median annual wage | $96,400 | $94,420 | $79,860 |
| 10th percentile | $62,470 | $64,560 | $49,600 |
| 25th percentile | $76,790 | $75,660 | $62,690 |
| 75th percentile | $113,660 | $119,510 | $101,360 |
| 90th percentile | $138,990 | $144,790 | $126,790 |
| Employment | 340 | 14,680 | 617,500 |
| Location quotient | 0.92 | - | 1.00 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Metro figures cover the Bellingham, WA metropolitan statistical area.
The Bellingham median of $96,400 is above the national median of $79,860, and above the Washington statewide median of $94,420 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
The metro’s location quotient of 0.92 means maintenance supervisors are less concentrated here than in the average U.S. labor market (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Higher concentration generally means more employers competing for the same people, and an easier job change later.
Maintenance supervision is hired wherever the equipment is: hospitals, plants, campuses, data centers and property portfolios are all local employers.
| Metro area | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle | $93,230 | 7,820 |
| Spokane | $84,280 | 1,050 |
| Bremerton | $120,040 | 1,020 |
| Kennewick | $98,640 | 590 |
| Yakima | $83,610 | 420 |
| Olympia | $89,110 | 410 |
| Mount Vernon | $94,530 | 280 |
| Longview | $97,530 | 270 |
Figures: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
Licensing is a state matter, not a city one. Supervising mechanics and installers is not a licensed occupation, but the trades underneath it often are - electrical and HVAC work in particular - and EPA Section 608 certification is federally required for anyone handling refrigerants. Employers commonly ask for the trade credential plus a maintenance and reliability certification such as the CMRP from SMRP.
See the Washington licensing and pay overview for the statewide picture, and confirm current requirements with your state licensing board for the underlying trade.
Schools in our database near this area, ranked by BOC Score. The list favors schools with a related program on record, but program availability and delivery format change, so confirm directly with any school that it currently offers the program you want.
This page lists 2 schools within 104 miles, closest group first, then ordered by BOC Score with the highest at the top. 2 of them carry a score.
Scores come from IPEDS (2024) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are for all graduates of a school, not one program, so treat them as a signal about the institution rather than about this subject. Sponsored listings are paid placements and are labelled as such; they are separate from this ranking and never change it. Read the full methodology.
Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard
Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard
The median annual wage for maintenance supervisors in the Bellingham, WA metro area is $96,400, above the national median of $79,860 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
The Bellingham, WA metro area employs about 340 maintenance supervisors (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Licensing is handled at state level rather than by city. Supervising mechanics and installers is not a licensed occupation, but the trades underneath it often are - electrical and HVAC work in particular - and EPA Section 608 certification is federally required for anyone handling refrigerants. Employers commonly ask for the trade credential plus a maintenance and reliability certification such as the CMRP from SMRP. Confirm current requirements with your state licensing board for the underlying trade.
The academic portion of these programs is widely available online for working adults, while labs, clinical hours or supervised field work are completed in person. Check that the program's accreditation satisfies your state licensing board for the underlying trade.
The Bellingham metro median is $96,400 against a statewide median of $94,420 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Compare that gap with the difference in living costs before treating it as a raise.
Wage and employment figures describe the occupation as measured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, not the graduates of any particular program, and individual outcomes may vary. Licensing rules change; confirm current requirements with the responsible state board before enrolling.
About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.
