Electrician in Washington

Requirements, salary data, licensing costs, and career ROI for WA. Updated with 2024 BLS OEWS wage data.

Median annual salary

$96,530

trending_up +54.8% vs. national

BLS OEWS 2024, Washington.

engineering

18,380

Jobs (WA)

monitoring Surging

+9.5%

10-yr job growth

payments

$130

Licensing fees

schedule

Approximately 4 years of experience as an electrical trainee, plus classroom instruction.

Time to complete

route How to become an electrician in Washington

To become a certified electrician in Washington, you must obtain an electrical trainee certificate from the Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) and complete an approved electrical apprenticeship program. You'll need 8,000 hours of work experience, with at least 4,000 hours in commercial or industrial installation, and 96 hours of basic classroom instruction. After meeting these prerequisites, you can apply for and pass the Washington General Journeyman Electrician Examination.

bar_chart Salary percentiles

10th percentile (entry) $54,800

25th percentile $69,520

50th (median) $96,530

75th percentile $115,970

90th (experienced) $133,310

Source: BLS OEWS 2024 for Washington. Metro-area wages may differ significantly from the state aggregate.

checklist Washington requirements

Licensing body	Department of Labor & Industries
State license	Required
Education	Completion of 96 hours of basic classroom instruction for a general journey-level electrician. 48 hours for 4,000-hour specialty exams. All trainees must complete an electrical apprenticeship program approved by the state of Washington, effective July 2023.
Experience	8,000.0 hours
Exam	Washington General Journeyman Electrician Examination (PSI) ($44)
Application fee	$86
Renewal	Every 3.0 years
Continuing education	24.0 hours per cycle
Notes	Minimum age for an electrical trainee is 16 years old. At least 4,000 hours of the 8,000 experience hours for a general journey-level electrician must be in commercial or industrial installation.

Source: Department of Labor & Industries

workspace_premium Washington license tiers

Washington offers multiple tiers of electrician licensing:

Tier	Hours required
Trainee	N/A
Journeyman	8,000
Master	16,000

work_outline Job outlook

10-year growth

+9.5%

Much faster than average

Annual openings

81,000

Nationwide per year

Total employment

818,700

Nationwide

neurology

AI & tech impact

verified Low exposure -0.78/1.00

This career has low exposure to AI automation. Most tasks require physical presence, human judgment, or hands-on skills that AI cannot easily replicate.

hub

balance Is it worth it?

check_circleWashington license required — clearer credential signal to employers
check_circleStrong 10-year job growth (+9.5%)
check_circleLow AI disruption risk

psychology

Wondering if an electrician career is the right fit?

See what the day actually looks like, who the role suits, and who should skip it — grounded in real practitioner sources.

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Frequently asked questions

How do you get certified as an electrician in Washington? expand_more

In Washington, becoming an electrician requires you to complete the required education (Completion of 96 hours of basic classroom instruction for a general journey-level electrician. 48 hours for 4,000-hour specialty exams. All trainees must complete an electrical apprenticeship program approved by the state of Washington, effective July 2023.), gain 8,000.0 hours of supervised experience, pass the Washington General Journeyman Electrician Examination (PSI), and submit your application ($86 fee).

Do I need a license to work as an electrician in Washington? expand_more

You cannot practice as an electrician in Washington without a state license from Department of Labor & Industries. The required exam is the Washington General Journeyman Electrician Examination (PSI).

What is the average electrician salary in Washington? expand_more

The median electrician salary in Washington is $96,530 per year. That's 55% above the national median of $62,350. Wages range from $54,800 (10th percentile) up to $133,310 (90th percentile).

What's the total cost to get electrician certified in Washington? expand_more

The full cost to enter the field runs about varies, factoring in exam fee ($44) and application fee ($86) and required training.

How many months or years does electrician certification take in Washington? expand_more

In Washington, becoming an electrician generally takes Approximately 4 years of experience as an electrical trainee, plus classroom instruction., accounting for education requirements, hands-on training, and the exam process.

What are the continuing education requirements for electricians in Washington? expand_more

Washington requires 24.0 hours of continuing education every 3.0 years to maintain your electrician license.