Quick answer:Human Resources Specialists in the Bellingham area earn a median $78,160 per year, above the national median of $75,940, and the metro employs about 430 of them (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Human Resources Management Pay in Bellingham, WA
Metric
Bellingham metro
Washington
National
Median annual wage
$78,160
$84,550
$75,940
10th percentile
$55,040
$57,030
$47,180
25th percentile
$63,940
$69,200
$58,610
75th percentile
$100,810
$110,550
$99,380
90th percentile
$123,070
$136,070
$128,720
Employment
430
22,770
912,430
Location quotient
0.8
-
1.00
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Metro figures cover the Bellingham, WA metropolitan statistical area.
What the Numbers Say About This Market
The Bellingham median of $78,160 is above the national median of $75,940, and below the Washington statewide median of $84,550 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
The metro’s location quotient of 0.8 means human resources specialists 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.
HR headcount tracks employer headcount. Metros with large corporate, health system or public sector employers support the deepest HR job markets.
Licensing is a state matter, not a city one. Human resources is not licensed. The recognized professional credentials are the PHR and SPHR from HRCI and the SHRM-CP and SHRM-SCP from SHRM, all of which pair an examination with an experience requirement. On the academic side, SHRM aligns degree programs to its curriculum guidelines, which is the nearest thing this field has to programmatic accreditation.
See the Washington licensing and pay overview for the statewide picture, and confirm current requirements with HRCI or SHRM for current certification requirements.
Schools Near You
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.
How we rank schools – graduation rate, graduate earnings, cost and retention.
Advertising plays no part.
This page lists 5 schools
within 242 miles, closest group first, then ordered by
BOC Score with the highest at the top.
5 of them carry a score.
LOCAL RANK
Location / proximity to this page
Defines the local group
Graduation rate how often students finish
30%
Median earnings, 10 years after entry whether it paid off
25%
Average net price what students actually pay after aid; lower ranks higher
20%
Retention rate how many come back for year two
15%
Fully online availability whether you can study while working
10%
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.
How much do human resources specialists make in Bellingham?
The median annual wage for human resources specialists in the Bellingham, WA metro area is $78,160, above the national median of $75,940 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
How many human resources specialists work in the Bellingham area?
The Bellingham, WA metro area employs about 430 human resources specialists (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Do human resources specialists in Bellingham need a license?
Licensing is handled at state level rather than by city. Human resources is not licensed. The recognized professional credentials are the PHR and SPHR from HRCI and the SHRM-CP and SHRM-SCP from SHRM, all of which pair an examination with an experience requirement. On the academic side, SHRM aligns degree programs to its curriculum guidelines, which is the nearest thing this field has to programmatic accreditation. Confirm current requirements with HRCI or SHRM for current certification requirements.
Can I study human resources management online from Bellingham?
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 HRCI or SHRM for current certification requirements.
Is Bellingham a better market than the rest of Washington?
The Bellingham metro median is $78,160 against a statewide median of $84,550 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Compare that gap with the difference in living costs before treating it as a raise.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 - Human Resources Specialists (SOC 13-1071), national, state and metropolitan estimates
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2024-34
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook - education and licensing requirements
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/.
