According to the Employment Security Department of Washington State, electrician jobs will see a 21.8% increase between 2014 and 2024.
The reason for this lies in the new construction of residential and commercial buildings requiring the installation and maintenance of electrical systems.
So if you want to pursue an electrical career, now’s your chance to do so.
Here’s how you can become an electrician in Washington.
Page Navigation
- Potential Salary
- How to Become an Electrician in Washington
- How to Become an Independent Electrical Contractor in Washington
- Electrical Training Programs and Schools in Washington
- Electrician Schools by City
Potential Salary
Washington electricians have the following salary information as of May 2021 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics:
Mean Wage:
- Annually – $79,050
- Hourly – $38
| Percentile | Average Annual Wage |
| 10% | $46,280 |
| 25% | $58,410 |
| 50% | $76,710 |
| 75% | $99,720 |
| 90% | $124,900 |
Annual Salary Range:
Average Salary of Electricians in Washington
| City Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Seattle | $52,619 |
| Spokane | $47,567 |
| Tacoma | $51,120 |
| Vancouver | $49,990 |
| Bellevue | $52,619 |
| Everett | $51,307 |
| Kent | $51,018 |
| Yakima | $47,519 |
| Renton | $52,567 |
| Federal Way | $51,120 |
Regional Salary
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bellingham, WA | 540 | $90,830 | $43.67 | $123,930 | $53,850 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | 1,110 | $74,610 | $35.87 | $99,090 | $51,250 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | 970 | $98,440 | $47.33 | $127,430 | $54,800 |
| Longview-Kelso, WA | 270 | $86,940 | $41.80 | $122,030 | $50,900 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | 520 | $102,830 | $49.44 | $147,090 | $58,790 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | 490 | $90,980 | $43.74 | $137,260 | $49,240 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 9,160 | $100,230 | $48.19 | $139,230 | $59,020 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | 1,150 | $82,450 | $39.64 | $119,550 | $48,070 |
| Walla Walla, WA | 90 | $76,180 | $36.62 | $111,460 | $46,900 |
| Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | 450 | $100,470 | $48.30 | $126,130 | $59,130 |
| Yakima, WA | 440 | $86,010 | $41.35 | $119,210 | $50,080 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
How to Become an Electrician in Washington
The WA State Department of Labor and Industries (WDLI) oversees the licensing regulations for the following individuals:
- Electrical trainee
- Electrician
- General journey-level electrician
- Specialty electrician
- Master electrician
- Journey-level master electrician
- Specialty master electrician
- Electrical administrator
- General electrical administrator
- Specialty electrical administrator
- Telecommunications administrator
- Electrical contractor
- General electrical contractor
- Specialty electrical contractor
- Telecommunications contractor
Regarding the specialty classifications, these are as follows:
- Residential (02)
- Pump and irrigation (03)
- Domestic pump (03A)
- Signs (04)
- Limited energy system (06)
- HVAC/R systems – unrestricted (06A) and restricted (06B)
- Nonresidential maintenance (07)
- Nonresidential lighting maintenance and lighting retrofit (07A)
- Residential maintenance (07B)
- Restricted nonresidential maintenance (07C)
- Appliance repair (07D)
- Equipment repair (07E)
- Telecommunications (09)
- Door, gate, and similar systems (10)
For the scope of each specialty, please review WAC 296-46B-920(2).
Becoming an Electrical Trainee
Qualifications
To qualify, you must meet these requirements:
- Must be at least 16 years old
- Valid SSN
License Application
To apply for the trainee certificate, you must submit the following:
- Completed initial certificate application online
- Application fee
License Renewal
Your trainee certificate will need renewal every 2 years.
To renew, you must submit the following:
- Completed renewal application online
- Applicable renewal fee
- Proof of completing 48 hours of basic classroom instruction
- Affidavit of experience
Note: You can opt to apply for a nonrenewable trainee certificate provided you’ve met its qualifications.
- 6-Month Electrical Training Certificate; OR,
- 0% Supervision Modified Electrical Training Certificate and Specialty Examination
Becoming an Electrician
Qualifications
To qualify, you must meet these requirements:
- Successfully pass the required exam
-AND-
General Journey-level Electrician
- At least 8,000 hours of experience as an electrical trainee, of which 4,000 hours must be on commercial or industrial installations
- Must be under at least 75% supervision of a certified journey-level electrician
- Completed 96 hours of basic classroom instruction
Specialty Electrician
If you’re applying for residential (02), pump and irrigation (03), signs (04), limited energy system (06), HVAC/R system (06A), or nonresidential maintenance (07):
- At least 4,000 hours of experience in the chosen specialty
- Must be under at least 75% supervision of a certified journey-level or specialty electrician
- Completed 48 hours of basic classroom instruction
If you’re applying for domestic well (3A), HVAC/R – restricted (6B), nonresidential lighting maintenance and lighting retrofit (7A), residential maintenance (7B), restricted nonresidential maintenance (7C), appliance repair (7D), equipment repair (7E), door, gate, and similar systems (10):
- At least 2,000 hours of experience in the chosen specialty
- Must be under 100% supervision of a certified journey-level or specialty electrician
- Completed 24 hours of basic classroom instruction
License Application
To apply, you must submit the following:
For general journey-level and specialties with 4,000 hours of experience:
- Completed In-State Application for Electrical Examination form
- Application fee – $95.20
- Affidavits of experience
For specialties with 2,000 hours of experience:
- Completed 0% Supervision Modified Electrical Training Certificate and Specialty Examination form
- Application fee – $84.90
- Affidavit of experience
License Renewal
Your certificate will need renewal every 3 years, expiring on your birthday.
To renew, you must submit the following:
- Completed renewal application, online, in-person, or by mail
- Applicable renewal fee
- Proof of completing 24 hours of approved continuing education courses
Becoming a Master Electrician
Qualifications
To qualify, you must meet these requirements:
- Successfully pass the required exam
-AND-
Journey-level Master Electrician
- Must be a certified general journey-level electrician for at least 4 years
Specialty Master Electrician
- Must be a certified specialty electrician for at least 2 years
License Application
To apply, you must submit the following:
- Completed Application for Master Electrician Certification Examination form
- Application fee – $169.80
License Renewal
Your certificate will need renewal every 3 years, expiring on your birthday.
To renew, you must submit the following:
- Completed renewal application, online, in-person, or by mail
- Applicable renewal fee
- Proof of completing 24 hours of approved CE courses
Becoming an Electrical Administrator
Qualifications
To qualify for a general or specialty administrator certificate, you must only successfully pass the administrator exam.
License Application
To apply, you must submit the following:
- Exam score report
- Application fee – $132.80
License Renewal
Your certificate will need renewal every 3 years, expiring on your birthday.
To renew, you must submit the following:
- Completed renewal application, online, in-person, or by mail
- Applicable renewal fee
- Proof of completing 24 hours of approved CE courses
Becoming a Telecommunications Administrator
Qualifications
Same with the electrical administrator, you only need to successfully pass the telecommunications administrator exam to qualify.
License Application
To apply, you must submit the following:
- Exam score report
- Application fee – $88.30
License Renewal
Your certificate will need renewal every 2 years, expiring on your birthday.
To renew, you must submit the following:
- Completed renewal application, online, in-person, or by mail
- Applicable renewal fee
Exam Details for All Individual Electrical Licenses
WDLI has contracted with PSI to help administer the licensure exams.
Here are the details for the electrician exam:
- Exam eligibility period – 1 year
- Exam fee – on a per-hour basis
- Exam type – open book with only the authorized reference materials allowed
- Passing score – 70%
- Exam attempts – 3 attempts
Please refer to the WA Electrical Certification Candidate Information Bulletin for the exact fees and detailed exam content.
How to Become an Independent Electrical Contractor in Washington
Becoming an Electrical Contractor
Qualifications
To qualify for a general or specialty electrical contractor license, you must meet these requirements:
- Assigned a certified master electrician or electrical administrator
- Valid UBI number issued by the WA Secretary of State or Department of Revenue
- Surety bond of $4,000 or assignment of savings account
- Worker’s compensation, if applicable
- General liability insurance (optional)
License Application
To apply, you must submit the following:
- Completed Application for Electrical Contractor’s License form
- Application fee – $337.60
- Completed Change Assignment of Administrator/Master Certificate form
- Surety bond certificate or assignment of savings account form
License Renewal
Your license will need renewal 2 years from its effective date.
To renew, you must submit the following:
- Completed renewal application, online, in-person, or by mail
- Applicable renewal fee
- Current surety bond or assignment of savings account
- Current assigned master electrician or electrical administrator
Becoming a Telecommunications Contractor
Qualifications
To qualify for a general or specialty electrical contractor license, you must meet these requirements:
- Assigned a certified telecommunications administrator
- Valid UBI number issued by the WA Secretary of State or Business Licensing Service
- Surety bond of $4,000 or assignment of savings account
- General liability insurance – $17,000 minimum
- Worker’s compensation, if applicable
License Application
To apply, you must submit the following:
- Completed Application for Electrical Contractor’s License form
- Application fee – $337.60
- Completed Change Assignment of Administrator/Master Certificate form
- Surety bond certificate or assignment of savings account form
- General liability insurance certificate
License Renewal
Your license will need renewal 2 years from its effective date.
To renew, you must submit the following:
- Completed renewal application, online, in-person, or by mail
- Applicable renewal fee
- Current surety bond or assignment of savings account
- Current general liability insurance certificate
- Current assigned telecommunications administrator
Electrical Training Programs and Schools in Washington
The electrical industry needs highly-skilled electricians to provide services to customers.
That’s why as an aspiring electrician, you must possess the knowledge and skills the industry requires.
You can obtain this by enrolling in an accredited trade school or sponsored apprenticeship program.
Trade Schools
Attending a trade school ensures you’ll have the fundamental trade education and training to become a trainee or even apply for an entry-level position.
Some of the key areas you’ll learn include:
- Electrical codes
- Trades math
- Ohm’s Law
- Electrical circuits
- Wiring and protection
- Basic motor controls
- Safety practices
Apprenticeship Programs
An apprenticeship program is usually sponsored by a union (through JATCs) or a non-union (through private companies).
If you want to directly apply for an apprenticeship after high school, then you can browse WDLI’s website for accredited programs.
You may also refer to the table below for a list of schools and associations offering electrical training programs.
17 Electrician Schools in Washington
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Bates Tech | 1101 South Yakima Avenue Tacoma, WA |
| Bellingham Tech | 3028 Lindbergh Ave Bellingham, WA |
| Big Bend Community College | 7662 Chanute Street NE Moses Lake, WA 98837 |
| Clover Park Tech - Lakewood Campus | 4500 Steilacoom Boulevard Lakewood, WA |
| Clover Park Tech - South Hill Campus | 17214 110th Avenue East Puyallup, WA 98374 |
| IEC of Washington | 1712 Pacific Avenue Everett, WA 98201 |
| JATC of Kennewick | 8340 West Gage Boulevard Kennewick, WA 99336 |
| JATC of Northwest Washington | 306 Anderson Road Mt. Vernon, WA 98273 |
| JATC of Puget Sound | 550 Southwest 7th Street Renton, WA 98057 |
| JATC of the Inland Empire | 3210 East Ferry Avenue Spokane, WA 99202 |
| JATC of Southwest Washington | 3001 South 36th Street Tacoma, WA 98409 |
| North Seattle College | 9600 College Way North Seattle, Washington 98103 |
| Outside Linemen JATC | 9817 Northeast 54th Street Vancouver, WA 98662 |
| South Seattle College - Georgetown Campus (apprentice program) | 6737 Corson Avenue South Seattle, WA 98108 |
| Spokane Community | 1810 North Greene Spokane, WA |
| Wenatchee Valley College - Omak Campus | 116 West Apple Avenue Omak, WA 98841 |
| Wenatchee Valley College - Wenatchee College | 1300 Fifth Street Wenatchee, WA 98801 |
Electrician Schools by City
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