Real Estate Agent Salary in Bellingham, WA: $73,090 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time real estate agent in Bellingham, WA earns a median $73,090/year (≈ $35.14/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 41-9022). Once you factor in Bellingham's price level (3% above national, BEA RPP 103.3), that paycheck buys what $70,732 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 1.7% below the Washington state average.
Official BLS data · View source
Real estate agents in Bellingham, Washington, are navigating a dynamic market shaped by the evolving commission structure following the post-2024 NAR settlement. In 2026, the median annual salary for agents in the area is projected to be $73,090, reflecting a 36.31% increase compared to the national median of $53,622. The salary range for agents varies widely, with lower earners making as little as $48,527 and top performers reaching up to $115,872. This data, derived from 2025 BLS OEWS surveys and projected into 2026, highlights an increasingly competitive environment for real estate professionals in Bellingham, where factors influencing income potential include transaction volume and commission splits with brokerages.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $48,527 | $23.33 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $59,073 | $28.40 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $73,090 | $35.14 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $99,714 | $47.94 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $115,872 | $55.70 |
Median Salary Position
36.31% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Bellingham
In Bellingham, WA, the real estate agent salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $67,345 (2026 est.). At $73,090, the local median is 36.31% above the national median of $53,622.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Bellingham: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Bellingham Real Estate Agent Pay Compares
Bellingham median: $73,090/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Bellingham Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Washington Average | $74,354 | -1.70% less |
| National Average | $53,622 | +36.31% more |
Real Estate Agents in Bellingham, WA earn a median of $73,090 per year (2026 est.), which is 36.31% higher than the national median of $53,622 and 1.70% below the Washington state average of $74,354.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Bellingham has a cost of living 3.33% above the national average.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Bellingham, WA has a cost-of-living index of 103.334 (above the national average of 100). While the nominal salary of $73,090 is competitive, the higher cost of living reduces purchasing power to an effective $70,732 — a 3.23% reduction.
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2019 BLS Actual
$49,280
2025 BLS Actual
$72,010
2026 Current Est.
$73,090
2019–2027 Growth
+50.5%
Salary Trajectory for Real Estate Agents in Bellingham (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 1.50% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $49,280 | Actual |
| 2020 | $58,150 | Actual |
| 2021 | $56,240 | Actual |
| 2022 | $50,740 | Actual |
| 2023 | $58,560 | Actual |
| 2024 | $62,390 | Actual |
| 2025 | $72,010 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $73,090 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $74,187 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Bellingham metropolitan area, the median real estate agent salary grew 46.1% from $49,280 (2019) to $72,010 (2025). At a 1.50% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $74,187 by 2027 — a total increase of $24,907 (50.54%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Bellingham metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 1.50% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Salary by Experience Level
| Experience | Estimated Salary Range |
|---|---|
| 0-2 years (New Graduate) | $48,527 – $59,073 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $59,073 – $73,090 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $73,090 – $99,714 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $99,714 – $115,872 |
REA salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual real estate agent compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Real Estate Agent Job Market in Bellingham
Positioned as a robust job market, Bellingham currently employs 100 real estate agents, indicating a strong demand for real estate services. The cost of living in the area, represented by a CoL index of 103.334, suggests that while salaries are relatively competitive, agents must consider the implications of living expenses on their net income. National franchise brokerages such as Keller Williams and RE/MAX generally offer higher pay compared to local independent firms and discount brokerages. Factors such as specialty market focus—commercial and luxury segments often yield higher returns—along with commission structures impact the variation in earnings. To maximize their compensation in Bellingham, agents should consider team membership to access a broader referral network and potentially higher transaction volumes while adapting to the commission landscape shifts stemming from the recent NAR changes.
More salary data for Bellingham, WA:
Frequently Asked Questions
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Written by Maria Gonzalez, REALTOR®
Career Analyst
Maria has 10 years of experience as a real estate agent. She specializes in residential properties. She works with a large brokerage in Texas.
Methodology & Data Source
Salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. The BLS reported a median annual salary of $72,010 for real estate agentsin the Bellingham metropolitan area. A 1.50% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 compensation. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (–). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 1.50%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for real estate agents (SOC 41-9022).
Compiled and verified by Maria Gonzalez, REALTOR®, a licensed real estate agent with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov