Salary comparison
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria: Bellingham vs Hanford
Bellingham, WA pays about 4.2% more for cooks, institution and cafeteria on paper — $49,320 vs $47,310. But once you factor in what it costs to live there, Bellingham comes out ahead by $2,010 a year in real buying power.
Bellingham, WA
$49,320
$44,250
$57,110
$23.71
100
$49,320/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
Hanford, CA
$47,310
$39,730
$52,930
$22.75
100
$47,310/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
What the numbers mean in practice
The headline gap is $2,010 a year (4.2%) in favor of Bellingham. That is the raw salary difference before any living costs.
Bellingham runs a cost index of 100 against the national baseline of 100; Hanford sits at 100. After adjusting the median for those costs, Bellingham is the better deal by $2,010 a year — that is what each paycheck actually buys locally.
If you are weighing a move from Hanford to Bellingham for this role, the raise needs to beat 4.2% to come out ahead after living costs. Anything below that and you are earning more on paper but keeping less.
Common questions
Where do cooks, institution and cafeteria earn more, Bellingham or Hanford?
Bellingham pays $49,320 on median — about 4.2% more than Hanford ($47,310). Based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Which city is the better deal after living costs?
Bellingham. Once you divide each median by the local cost index, Bellingham gives you roughly$49,320 of real buying power versus $47,310 in the other city.