Washington’s skilled trades are booming in construction, energy, transportation, and healthcare. From Seattle to Spokane, accredited trade schools across the state offer fast-track programs that help students gain real-world skills and pursue rewarding careers; outcomes vary by location and job market.
Programs often take less than 2 years and include options for apprenticeships, certifications, and state licensing.
Best Trade Schools In Washington
How We Rank Schools
We first gather the schools closest to the city or state page you are viewing, then rank that
local group by BOC Score, with the highest at the top. The BOC Score is computed from federal
IPEDS and College Scorecard data; schools without enough data to score appear last.
LOCAL RANK
Location / proximity to this page
Defines the local group
Graduation rate
30%
Median earnings, 10 years after entry
25%
Average net price (lower is better)
20%
Retention rate
15%
Fully online availability
10%
Schools without enough federal outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score.
Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.
#1
Skagit Valley College
📍
Mount Vernon, WA
•In-state option•BOC Score
72.9
Bates Technical College in Tacoma is highly rated for welding, HVAC, and electrician training. Renton Tech offers great programs in construction and culinary trades. Clover Park is known for its aviation and automotive training.
Are Washington community colleges considered trade schools?
Yes. Technical and community colleges across the state offer vocational training in trades like welding, HVAC, and marine tech with accreditation and job placement support.
What trades are in demand in Washington in 2025?
According to the Washington State Employment Security Department:
HVAC Technicians
Welders
Electricians
Plumbers
Marine Technicians
CDL Drivers
Diesel Mechanics
Washington’s trade schools help students launch essential careers that power the state’s economy. Whether you’re building homes, installing solar, or repairing engines, skilled trades offer a fast path to success.
Trade Schools by City in Washington
Compare accredited trade schools in 86 Washington cities. Each city page lists the closest local schools with tuition, median graduate earnings, and the trades hiring nearby.
About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.
Data sources
Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.
Data
Provider
Vintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
