Need a job? These Bellingham jobs pay an actual living wage and have few requirements
Finding a job that pays enough to support for you and your family without a long list of 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 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 15, that advertise wages at or above living wages:
Customer Service-Account Associate at T-Mobile
▪ $20 per hour.
▪ Full-time.
▪ Requirements: high school diploma or equivalent.
▪ $28.75 to $30.15 per hour.
▪ Part-time or full-time.
▪ Requirements: must be at least 17 years old.
▪ Full-time.
▪ $17-$21 per hour.
▪ Requirements: valid driver’s license.
Wash Bay Attendant at Toyota of Bellingham
▪ Full-time.
▪ $18 per hour.
▪ Requirements: a car C class license and the ability to drive both automatic and manual cars.
Line cook at Boomer’s Drive-In
▪ Part-time or full-time.
▪ $27 per hour.
▪ No requirements are listed.
