WA electrician median
$95,220 a year
Journey level path
Registered apprenticeship
School credit
Can count toward hours
Dean’s test
Hours + hands-on + math
There are a lot of electrical training options in Washington, and they’re not all equal. As a technical college dean, I look at programs for a living. Here’s how to tell a strong one from a weak one, followed by the main school and apprenticeship options around the state.
Looking for an apprenticeship? Search every registered apprenticeship program in Washington by trade, region and union or non-union, with starting and journey-level pay, in our free Washington Apprenticeship Finder.
What separates a good program from a bad one
From the dean’s desk
Two things. First, if your state has licensing, does the program give you hours toward that license? Second, is it a mix of classroom training, hands-on training and math? Electricians need to be able to work Ohm’s law mathematically, so a good training provider should be teaching you that too.
— Lester Burkes, Dean of Trades, Transportation & Apprenticeship
1. Does it count toward your license?
In Washington, L&I can credit time in an approved electrical training school program toward the work experience you need for a certificate. For specialty programs shorter than two years, that school credit can’t cover more than half of the required experience. Check that a program is on L&I’s list of approved training school programs before you enroll.
Keep in mind that since July 2023, general journey level (01) electricians in Washington must come up through a registered apprenticeship. A school program can still help you get hired, prepare for an apprenticeship and move into a specialty certificate. See How to Become an Electrician in Washington for the full licensing path.
2. Is it balanced?
- Classroom: electrical theory, the National Electrical Code and safety
- Hands-on: real wiring in a lab, not just worksheets
- Math: Ohm’s law, voltage drop and load calculations. If a program skips the math, keep looking.
Technical and community college programs
- Bates Technical College (Tacoma): Electrical Construction
- Bellingham Technical College: Electrician programs
- Renton Technical College: Residential Electrician
- Perry Technical Institute (Yakima): Electrical Technology
- Spokane Community College: Electrical Trainee
Apprenticeship programs
- Puget Sound Electrical JATC (union, western Washington)
- Southwest Washington Electrical JATC (union)
- Inland Northwest Electrical JATC (union, eastern Washington)
- CITC of Washington (open shop / non-union)
Apprenticeships are competitive. A good school program, strong math and a clean record of showing up can make your application stand out.
Questions to ask any program
1
Is this program approved by L&I?
And how many hours of credit toward certification will I get?
2
How much time is hands-on?
Ask to see the lab and what students wire in it.
3
How do you teach electrical math?
You want a clear answer that includes Ohm’s law and code calculations.
4
Where do graduates go?
Ask how many get into apprenticeships or electrical jobs. Washington’s Career Bridge also shows completion and employment results.
Frequently asked questions
Does electrical school count toward my license in Washington?
Approved training school programs can count toward the work experience required for certification, with limits. Shorter specialty programs can’t count for more than half of the required experience.
Do I need an apprenticeship to be an electrician in Washington?
For a general journey level (01) certificate, yes. Some specialty certificates can be earned without one.
How much do electricians make in Washington?
The median was $95,220 in May 2025, and $101,780 in the Seattle–Tacoma–Bellevue area.
Sources
- RCW 19.28.191: Training school credit
- Washington L&I: Approved training school programs
- BLS OEWS: Washington, May 2025
Related: Electrician in Washington · Tech Schools in Washington
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