Electrician in Washington
Requirements, salary data, licensing costs, and career ROI for WA
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.
Electrician Requirements in Washington
| Detail | Washington |
|---|---|
| Licensing Body | Department of Labor & Industries |
| State License Required | Yes |
| 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 Required | 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
License Tiers
Washington offers multiple tiers of electrician licensing:
| Tier | Hours Required |
|---|---|
| Trainee | N/A |
| Journeyman | 8,000 |
| Master | 16,000 |
Electrician Salary in Washington
The median electrician salary in Washington is $96,530 per year, which is 54.8% above the national median of $62,350.
| Percentile | Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th (entry level) | $54,800 |
| 25th | $69,520 |
| 50th (median) | $96,530 |
| 75th | $115,970 |
| 90th (experienced) | $133,310 |
Washington employs approximately 18,380 electricians.
Electrician Job Outlook
AI Impact on Electricians
Low AI Exposure (Score: -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.
Is Becoming an Electrician in Washington Worth It?
Factors to consider: Washington's cost of living, the state licensing requirement, strong job growth, low AI disruption risk, and your personal career goals.