Are Whatcom County workers underpaid compared to elsewhere?

A long-held impression in Whatcom County is that wages here are lower than those in other parts of the country.

The real answer is much more complicated.

On the surface, economic data suggests workers are being paid less in Whatcom County. A recent report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates the average hourly wage in Whatcom County was $21.08 in May 2013, nearly 6 percent lower than the national average of $22.33 an hour.