BELLINGHAM, Wash. -- New data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics show that Bellingham workers overall earn five percent less than the national average.

Economist Tian Luo with the BLS says the latest data shows the average worker in the Bellingham area earned $20.71 per hour in May 2011.



He says in Bellingham, lower-paying occupations tended to have a higher concentration of workers, while the higher-paying occupations tended to have a lower concentration of workers compared to the national averages.

Food preparation and serving occupations accounted for 10.6 percent of total local employment, compared to 8.7 percent nationwide.

Management occupations in Bellingham were highest paid at $46.24-an-hour.