Salary comparison
Electricians: Bellingham vs Chicago
Chicago, IL pays about 4.9% more for electricians on paper — $102,350 vs $97,590. But once you factor in what it costs to live there, Chicago comes out ahead by $4,760 a year in real buying power.
Bellingham, WA
$97,590
$69,430
$124,960
$46.92
100
$97,590/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
Chicago, IL
$102,350
$74,400
$118,660
$49.21
100
$102,350/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
What the numbers mean in practice
The headline gap is $4,760 a year (4.9%) in favor of Chicago. That is the raw salary difference before any living costs.
Bellingham runs a cost index of 100 against the national baseline of 100; Chicago sits at 100. After adjusting the median for those costs, Chicago is the better deal by $4,760 a year — that is what each paycheck actually buys locally.
If you are weighing a move from Bellingham to Chicago for this role, the raise needs to beat 4.9% to come out ahead after living costs. Anything below that and you are earning more on paper but keeping less.
Common questions
Where do electricians earn more, Bellingham or Chicago?
Chicago pays $102,350 on median — about 4.9% more than Bellingham ($97,590). Based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Which city is the better deal after living costs?
Chicago. Once you divide each median by the local cost index, Chicago gives you roughly$102,350 of real buying power versus $97,590 in the other city.