Salary comparison
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters: Anchorage vs Bellingham
Bellingham, WA pays about 9.8% more for plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters on paper — $102,750 vs $93,600. But once you factor in what it costs to live there, Bellingham comes out ahead by $9,150 a year in real buying power.
Anchorage, AK
$93,600
$72,240
$102,090
$45.00
100
$93,600/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
Bellingham, WA
$102,750
$63,500
$144,540
$49.40
100
$102,750/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
What the numbers mean in practice
The headline gap is $9,150 a year (9.8%) in favor of Bellingham. That is the raw salary difference before any living costs.
Anchorage runs a cost index of 100 against the national baseline of 100; Bellingham sits at 100. After adjusting the median for those costs, Bellingham is the better deal by $9,150 a year — that is what each paycheck actually buys locally.
If you are weighing a move from Anchorage to Bellingham for this role, the raise needs to beat 9.8% to come out ahead after living costs. Anything below that and you are earning more on paper but keeping less.
Common questions
Where do plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters earn more, Anchorage or Bellingham?
Bellingham pays $102,750 on median — about 9.8% more than Anchorage ($93,600). 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$102,750 of real buying power versus $93,600 in the other city.