Job hunting? These job listings in Whatcom County pay a living wage with few requirements
Finding a job that pays enough to support for you and your family without a long list of job requirements can be difficult.
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology calculated the living wage by county by evaluating typical expenses to find how much an individual must make hourly to support themselves, or multiple children or dependents in a full-time job.
MIT records living wages for individuals, couples and families that vary based on the number of dependents, number of children and the number of adults who are working. The living wages have also increased compared to January’s calculations, according to previous reporting in The Bellingham Herald:
▪ Whatcom County’s living wage for an individual with no dependents is $17.47 per hour, working full time.
▪ For a household with two adults, no children, and only one individual working, a living wage in Whatcom County is $27.62 per hour.
▪ For a household with two adults, no children and both adults working, the living wage is $13.81 per hour.
▪ For a household with two adults, one child, and only one adult working, the living wage is $34.53 per hour. If this household had two children the living wage would be $39.51 an hour.
▪ For a household with two adults and two children and both adults working, the living wage is $25.98 per hour. If the family had three children, both individuals would need to make $32.10 per hour.
As Washington state’s minimum wage is $15.74 per hour, this amount is not considered a living wage in Whatcom County unless you have multiple adults working in a household with no dependents.
The Bellingham Herald has searched the job website Indeed and local Craiglist listings to find positions with minimal requirements that are available as of Monday, May 1, that advertise wages at or above living wages:
Customer service representative at Ashley Furniture
▪ Bellingham.
▪ Full-time.
▪ $19-$19.50 per hour.
▪ Requirements: must be at least 18 years old, with a high school diploma or equivalent and 1 year of customer service, office or administrative experience.
Delivery driver for FedEx Ground
▪ Bellingham.
▪ Full-time or part-time.
▪ $850-$1,100 per week.
▪ Requirements: valid driver’s license and work authorization.
▪ Bellingham.
▪ Full-time.
▪ $17-$21 per hour.
▪ Requirements: valid driver’s license.
Maintenance driver through Express Employment Professionals
▪ Bellingham.
▪ Full-time, six-month employment opportunity.
▪ $24.75 per hour with benefits.
▪ No requirements listed.
Team member at Whole Foods Market
▪ Bellingham.
▪ Full-time and part-time.
▪ $16-$24.40 per hour.
▪ Requirements: some physical requirements such as standing and walking for multiple hours and lifting products.
