How to Become an Electrician in Washington (2026)
Washington employs about 19,380 electricians earning a median $95,220 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Training as an electrician here means working through a trade school or registered apprenticeship and meeting the Department of Labor and Industries credentialing requirements.
Washington employs approximately 19,380 electricians according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $95,220 1. Nationally, electrician employment is projected to grow 9.5% from 2024 to 2034, with about 81,000 openings per year 2. This page covers how to become an Electrician in Washington, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.
At a Glance
- Training paths: trade school, community college, or apprenticeship
- Typical timeline: 1 to 5 years depending on the path
- Licensing authority: Department of Labor and Industries
- Median wage (Washington): $95,220 per year 1
- Exam requirement: State exam required
Quick Answers About How to Become an Electrician in Washington
How to become an Electrician in Washington? Washington requires credentials such as Electrician, Administrator (Electrical), Electrical Engineer. The licensing authority is the Department of Labor and Industries 3. You also need to complete an approved training program or apprenticeship.
How long does it take? The primary license lists approximately 24 hours of training or supervised practice. Confirm the current total with the state board 3.
Do I need a license in Washington? Yes. Washington has licensing or registration requirements for electricians. The Department of Labor and Industries oversees licensing 3. See the licensing section below for details.
What do electricians earn in Washington? The median annual wage for electricians in Washington is $95,220 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $52,170 and experienced professionals can earn $133,950 or more 1.
How to Become an Electrician in Washington
- Finish high school or earn a GED. Most Washington training programs and registered apprenticeships require a high school diploma or GED to enroll.
- Complete a training program or apprenticeship. Enroll in an approved trade school program or a registered apprenticeship in Washington that combines classroom instruction with supervised hands-on hours.
- Gain supervised work experience. Build documented on-the-job hours under a qualified supervisor; confirm the exact total currently required with the licensing board.
- Pass the state exam and apply for your license. Apply to the Department of Labor and Industries, pass the required examination, and obtain the electrician credential before working unsupervised in Washington.
Steps and hour totals vary by credential level; confirm current requirements with the state board before you apply.
Electrician License Requirements in Washington
The Department of Labor and Industries oversees electrician licensing in Washington 3.
License Types
| License | Requirements |
|---|---|
| Electrician | Individuals must have completed 24 hours of basic classroom instruction for general journey level and 48 hours more for specialties requiring 4,000 hours of experience or 24 hours more for specialties… |
| Administrator (Electrical) | Individuals must take and pass the administrator examination, pay the required fee and fill out the required form. |
| Electrical Engineer | Individuals must pass the engineer-in-training examination, pass the principles and practices of engineering examination for the electrical branch, have 8 years of professional-level experience under… |
Additional Requirements
- Background check: No criminal record prohibitions
- Exam: State exam required
- Experience: Work experience required
License information sourced from CareerOneStop 4.
Electrician Apprenticeship Information in Washington
Apprenticeships combine paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction and typically last 3 to 5 years. Washington’s apprenticeship program is administered by the Washington State of Labor and Industry - Apprenticeship 5.
Contact Information:
- Office: Washington State Department of Labor & Industries
- Address: 7273 Linderson Way SW, Tumwater, WA 98501-5414
- Phone: (360) 902-5320
- Email: [email protected]
Federal Prevailing Wage in Washington
Under the Davis-Bacon Act, electricians working on federally funded construction projects in Washington earn a prevailing wage set by the U.S. Department of Labor. Recent Washington general wage determinations show approximately $60.00 per hour in base pay plus $27.78 per hour in fringe benefits, for an effective hourly rate of about $87.78 (Source: DOL Wage and Hour Division, Davis-Bacon wage determinations, 2026) 6.
Prevailing wages apply to federal construction contracts above the Davis-Bacon threshold and may differ from typical private-sector pay reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Rates also vary by county and by classification within electrician work.
Electrician Wages by Metro Area in Washington
Electricians Wages by Metro Area in Washington
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), electricians wages in Washington vary by metro area.
| Metro Area | Employment | Median Annual Wage | Avg. Annual Wage | Entry Level (10th pctile) | Experienced (90th pctile) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria | 16,580 | $75,930 | $79,650 | $44,690 | $121,570 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue | 9,750 | $101,780 | $99,720 | $55,690 | $151,290 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro | 7,340 | $105,090 | $103,030 | $60,360 | $134,380 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley | 1,290 | $79,830 | $84,780 | $47,310 | $122,610 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard | 1,100 | $80,990 | $81,220 | $59,850 | $104,960 |
| Kennewick-Richland | 1,050 | $99,850 | $94,100 | $48,260 | $125,380 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes | 740 | $104,510 | $103,040 | $55,590 | $156,620 |
| Bellingham | 560 | $97,590 | $93,760 | $57,530 | $127,180 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater | 530 | $96,600 | $92,650 | $49,210 | $129,540 |
| Yakima | 390 | $78,630 | $87,410 | $49,360 | $124,700 |
| Wenatchee-East Wenatchee | 370 | $93,560 | $91,480 | $58,010 | $126,620 |
| Longview-Kelso | 300 | $96,860 | $92,290 | $56,670 | $126,100 |
| Lewiston | 230 | $77,130 | $73,400 | $45,890 | $104,590 |
| Walla Walla | 100 | $82,910 | $83,750 | $47,790 | $122,400 |
Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the job outlook for electricians in Washington? Washington currently employs approximately 19,380 electricians 1. Nationally, electrician employment is projected to grow 9.5% from 2024 to 2034 2.
Can I work as an electrician in Washington with an out-of-state license? Contact the Department of Labor and Industries for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.
What training programs are available in Washington? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in Washington. You can also contact the Washington State of Labor and Industry - Apprenticeship for apprenticeship opportunities.
How much do electricians earn in Washington compared to the national average? The median annual wage for electricians in Washington is $95,220, which is $32,870 above the national median of $62,350 according to BLS data 1.
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Citations
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/.
References
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎
Department of Labor and Industries - Licensing Information: http://www.lni.wa.gov ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
CareerOneStop - Licensed Occupations: https://www.careeronestop.org/Toolkit/Training/find-licenses.aspx ↩︎
Washington State of Labor and Industry - Apprenticeship: https://secure.lni.wa.gov/arts-public/#/ ↩︎
U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division - Davis-Bacon General Wage Determinations: https://sam.gov/wage-determinations ↩︎
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) | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | May 2025 |
| Employment Projections | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | 2024-2034 |
| Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System | National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS) | 2024 |
| College Scorecard (school-level outcomes) | U.S. Department of Education | latest release |
| College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings) | U.S. Department of Education | latest release (updated 2026-06-12) |
| Occupational licensing requirements | CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor) | latest release (updated 2026-02-22) |
| Registered apprenticeship programs | CareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor) | latest release (updated 2025-10-25) |
| O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones) | U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.) | O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13) |