Washington Electrician Pay by Trade
Updated 2026-10-29 · 0 trades with 5+ disclosed-pay postings
The Washington electrician labor market
Washington pairs Pacific Northwest institutional stability with some of the cheapest industrial power in the country — a combination that sustains both a deep commercial market and a growing data center footprint. Seattle's towers, hospital systems (UW Medicine, Swedish, Providence), university construction, and airport expansion provide steady commercial volume, while the eastern half of the state tells a different story: Quincy, Moses Lake, and the Columbia Basin host hyperscale campuses from Microsoft, Yahoo, Dell, and colocation developers drawn by Grant County PUD hydropower rates among the lowest on earth. Hanford's nuclear cleanup mission employs a specialized, cleared electrical workforce found nowhere else, and the aerospace cluster (Boeing's Everett and Renton operations plus a dense supplier base) sustains industrial electricians across the Puget Sound. Licensing is state-level through Labor & Industries (trainee, residential, journeyman, master, administrator) with genuine statewide portability and solid enforcement — one of the stronger credential regimes in the West. Union density is high in Seattle and on public work (locals include Local 46 Seattle, Local 77 Seattle linemen/utility, Local 112 Kennewick, Local 191 Everett), and Washington prevailing wage covers all public work, lifting the floor broadly. The clean-energy transition adds durable demand: transmission upgrades, wind integration east of the Cascades, and building-electrification retrofits in Seattle's commercial stock. Workforce pressure concentrates in specialty tickets — instrumentation, controls, and high-voltage distribution — while general commercial hands stay balanced. For electricians, the Seattle metro offers premium rates offset by housing costs; eastern Washington offers the rare mix of hyperscale volume, low living costs, and per-diem-friendly travel assignments.
No trade in Washington has 5 or more disclosed-pay postings yet — check back as coverage grows.
Frequently asked questions
What does an electrician make in Washington?
Based on 9 disclosed-pay postings tracked by ElectricianDB, the median hourly pay for journeyman electrician work in Washington is $38.67/hr. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a statewide electrician median of $45.78/hr.
Where are the highest-paying electrician jobs in Washington?
The strongest recent postings cluster around Manchester, Oak Harbor, Washington. Top-end rates on active postings run above the $38.67/hr median — see the highest-paying openings listed on this page for current examples.
Which employers pay electricians the most in Washington?
Among employers with repeated postings in Washington, a mix of regional contractors show the highest average disclosed minimums. Averages reflect posted ranges, not verified take-home pay.
Do you need a Washington electrician license to work there?
Most states require a license for unsupervised electrical work, and requirements vary by state and municipality — see our step-by-step licensing pathway for Washington for the exact hours, exam, and fees.
What's the prevailing wage for electricians in Washington?
Prevailing-wage coverage depends on federal and state funding rules that differ by project and jurisdiction — see Washington prevailing wage rates for the current determinations.
How many electrician jobs are posted in Washington right now?
ElectricianDB is currently tracking 9 disclosed-pay journeyman electrician postings in Washington. Counts change as contractors post and fill roles.