Nuclear Medicine Technologist Salary in Bellingham, WA: $114,173 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time nuclear medicine technologist in Bellingham, WA earns a median $114,173/year (≈ $54.89/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-2033). Once you factor in Bellingham's price level (7% above national, BEA RPP 107.4), that paycheck buys what $106,306 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 0.1% below the Washington state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
Nuclear medicine technologists in Bellingham, Washington, can expect a median annual salary of $114,173 in 2026, slightly above the national median of $106,398. With a salary range spanning from $85,011 at the 10th percentile to $156,649 at the 90th percentile, earning potential in this field reflects the impact of qualifications on compensation. The significant pay spread is influenced by the credential distinctions between PET/CT and SPECT-only roles, with those holding PET/CT certification generally attracting higher salaries. This local data is derived from 2025 BLS estimates projected into 2026, accounting for regional cost adjustments that factor into the overall compensation landscape for nuclear medicine technologists in Bellingham, WA.
About the Bellingham Market
Salary estimated from Washington average ($122,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $85,011 | $40.87 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $94,971 | $45.66 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $114,173 | $54.89 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $131,162 | $63.06 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $156,649 | $75.31 |
Median Salary Position
7.31% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Bellingham
In Bellingham, WA, the nuclear medicine technologist salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $71,638 (2026 est.). At $114,173, the local median is 7.31% above the national median of $106,398.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Bellingham: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Bellingham Nuclear Medicine Technologist Pay Compares
Bellingham median: $114,173/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Bellingham Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Washington Average | $114,288 | -0.10% less |
| National Average | $106,398 | +7.31% more |
Nuclear Medicine Technologists in Bellingham, WA earn a median of $114,173 per year (2026 est.), which is 7.31% higher than the national median of $106,398 and 0.10% below the Washington state average of $114,288.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Bellingham has a cost of living 7.40% above the national average.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Bellingham, WA has a cost-of-living index of 107.4 (above the national average of 100). While the nominal salary of $114,173 is competitive, the higher cost of living reduces purchasing power to an effective $106,306 — a 6.89% reduction.
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2019 BLS Actual
$83,646
2025 BLS Actual
$108,778
2026 Current Est.
$114,173
2019–2027 Growth
+43.3%
Salary Trajectory for Nuclear Medicine Technologists in Bellingham (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 4.96% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $83,646 | Actual |
| 2020 | $85,406 | Actual |
| 2021 | $84,516 | Actual |
| 2022 | $91,534 | Actual |
| 2023 | $99,260 | Actual |
| 2024 | $130,916 | Actual |
| 2025 | $108,778 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $114,173 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $119,836 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Bellingham metropolitan area, the median nuclear medicine technologist salary grew 30.0% from $83,646 (2019) to $108,778 (2025). At a 4.96% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $119,836 by 2027 — a total increase of $36,190 (43.27%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Bellingham metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 4.96% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Salary by Experience Level
| Experience | Estimated Salary Range |
|---|---|
| 0-2 years (New Graduate) | $85,011 – $94,971 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $94,971 – $114,173 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $114,173 – $131,162 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $131,162 – $156,649 |
NMT salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual nuclear medicine technologist compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Nuclear Medicine Technologist Job Market in Bellingham
With 13 professionals currently working in this field, Bellingham's nuclear medicine technologist job market exhibits solid local demand. However, the cost of living index at 107.4 indicates that living expenses are slightly higher than the national average, impacting take-home purchasing power. Among employers, outpatient PET/CT imaging centers and hospital nuclear medicine departments often provide the most competitive salaries, particularly for roles involving the latest theranostics therapies, such as lutetium-177 applications. To achieve higher pay, technologists should focus on obtaining PET/CT credentials, gain experience in theranostics, and be flexible in accepting on-call coverage. Cross-training in CT can further enhance their employment appeal within the varying structures between hospitals and outpatient facilities in Bellingham.
More salary data for Bellingham, WA:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do nuclear medicine technologists make in Bellingham, WA in 2026?
Is Bellingham, WA a good place to work as a nuclear medicine technologist?
Can nuclear medicine technologists make $100K in Bellingham?
What is the cost-of-living adjusted nuclear medicine technologist salary in Bellingham?
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Written by Alexandra Chen, MS, CNMT
Career Analyst
Alexandra has 10 years of experience in nuclear medicine. She specializes in PET imaging at a community hospital. She analyzes trends in the nuclear medicine job market.
Methodology & Data Source
Salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. The BLS reported a median annual salary of $108,778 for nuclear medicine technologistsin the Bellingham metropolitan area. A 4.96% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 compensation. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.
Data Sources & Methodology
Salary data for Bellingham is estimated from official BLS state-level occupational wage data (2025), adjusted for regional cost-of-living differences using BEA RPP (Regional Price Parities).
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.96%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for nuclear medicine technologists (SOC 29-2033).
Compiled and verified by Alexandra Chen, MS, CNMT, a licensed nuclear medicine technologist with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov