Global CityIntelligence

Economy & jobs

Economy and jobs in Bellingham

Bellingham has a regional economy with strengths in technology, aerospace and energy.

Economy type
Regional center
Economy score
81/100

Economy overview

Bellingham has a regional economy with strengths in technology, aerospace and energy.

Bellingham, United States is classified as a regional center in our deterministic economy index. These are planning estimates derived from country economic priors and existing city signals — not measured GDP or labour-market statistics. Data year 2025; last updated 2026-05-16.

Key industries

The sectors that most shape the local economy, derived deterministically from country and city signals.

Key industries

  • Technology
  • Aerospace
  • Energy
  • Manufacturing
  • Research
  • Tourism

Employment outlook

The breadth of the labour market and where opportunities concentrate.

Employment outlook

Employment80/100
Job market83/100

Bellingham's labour market is very strong, with opportunities concentrated in technology, tourism and hospitality and manufacturing.

Salary potential

Estimated pay levels and how far local incomes stretch against the cost of living.

Salary potential

Salary potential83/100
Affordability-adjusted income68/100

The affordability-adjusted income score combines estimated pay with the local cost of living, indicating how far a typical income stretches in Bellingham.

Business environment

Conditions for operating and growing a business locally.

Business environment

Business environment86/100

This reflects infrastructure, institutional capacity, and the scale of the local market relative to peer cities.

Startup ecosystem

How supportive the local ecosystem is for new ventures.

Startup ecosystem

Startup ecosystem81/100
Innovation85/100

The startup ecosystem in Bellingham is very strong, supported by universities and skilled talent, a favourable business environment and strong infrastructure.

Remote work suitability

Suitability for remote and distributed work.

Remote work suitability

Remote work83/100
Remote job availability84/100

Bellingham offers strong infrastructure and amenities for remote professionals, with a remote-work score of 83/100.

Career opportunities

Overall career opportunity and how it breaks down by sector.

Career opportunities

Overall career opportunity83/100
Technology85/100
Healthcare66/100
Finance60/100
Manufacturing73/100
Tourism74/100
Education66/100

Economy score

A 0–100 composite of employment, salary, business environment, startups, innovation, remote work, and affordability-adjusted income. Used consistently across the platform.

Economy score

Economy score81/100
Employment80/100
Salary83/100
Business environment86/100
Startup ecosystem81/100
Innovation85/100
Remote work83/100

Jobs score

A 0–100 labour-market composite and its sector components.

Jobs score

Job market83/100
Technology85/100
Healthcare66/100
Finance60/100
Manufacturing73/100
Tourism74/100
Education66/100
Remote availability84/100
Career opportunity83/100

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Continue researching this city across the platform's other planning surfaces.

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