Skilled Wages

Electrician salary in Washington

Median $45.78 an hour for 19,380 electricians, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.

$45.78/hrMedian hourly wageWashington, May data
$95,220/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$25.08 – $64.4010th to 90th percentilehourly range
19,380Jobs countedemployer survey

Data compiled by Skilled WagesBLS OEWS May 2025; prevailing wage as of 2026-11-06

Electrician pay in Washington: the full range

Wage percentiles, WashingtonMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$0$20$40$60$80/hrWashington: 10th $25.08 · 25th $32.04 · median $45.78 · 75th $58.43 · 90th $64.40Washington$45.78$25.08$64.40United States: 10th $20.50 · 25th $23.76 · median $30.38 · 75th $40.36 · 90th $52.17United States$30.38
Hourly wage percentiles for electricians: Washington vs United States, May 2025.

Washington ranks 4th of 51 states for median electrician pay, and 3rd once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $42.79). 19,380 electricians work in the state. The top 10% earn 2.6× what the bottom 10% earn.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry level$25.08 – $32.04$52,170 – $66,630roughly the 10th to 25th percentile
Journeyman$32.04 – $58.43$66,630 – $121,530the middle half, around the median
Master, foreman or specialist$58.43 – $64.40$121,530 – $133,950the 75th to 90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Electrician pay by metro in Washington

Ranked median wages$0$20$40$60/hrPortland: $50.53Portland$50.53Mount Vernon: $50.24Mount Vernon$50.24Seattle: $48.93Seattle$48.93Kennewick: $48.00Kennewick$48.00Bellingham: $46.92Bellingham$46.92Longview: $46.57Longview$46.57Olympia: $46.44Olympia$46.44Wenatchee: $44.98Wenatchee$44.98Walla Walla: $39.86Walla Walla$39.86Bremerton: $38.94Bremerton$38.94Spokane: $38.38Spokane$38.38Yakima: $37.81Yakima$37.81
Median hourly wage for electricians by metro area in Washington, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hrCost-of-living adjusted90thJobsvs state
Portland$29.02$50.53$47.94$64.617,34010% above
Mount Vernon$26.73$50.24$49.06$75.3074010% above
Seattle$26.77$48.93$44.04$72.749,7507% above
Kennewick$23.20$48.00$47.95$60.281,0505% above
Bellingham$27.66$46.92$45.42$61.155602% above
Longview$27.24$46.57$47.76$60.623002% above
Olympia$23.66$46.44$44.78$62.285301% above
Wenatchee$27.89$44.98$43.29$60.883702% below
Walla Walla$22.98$39.86$40.47$58.8510013% below
Bremerton$28.78$38.94$36.87$50.461,10015% below
Spokane$22.75$38.38$38.27$58.951,29016% below
Yakima$23.73$37.81$39.59$59.9539017% below
Lewiston$22.06$37.08$40.66$50.2823019% below

Cost-of-living adjusted: median divided by the BEA regional price parity for the metro (2024, US = 100).

Electrician wages in Washington over time

Washington, 1999-2025WashingtonUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$10$20$30$40$50200020052010201520202025$45.78Washington$30.38United States
Median hourly wage for electricians, Washington vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearWashington $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$22.51$43.50$19.1311,790
2000$22.10$41.32$19.2914,710
2001$22.29$40.52$19.6013,370
2002$24.85$44.47$19.9013,040
2003$25.26$44.20$20.0412,970
2004$24.94$42.51$20.3312,290
2005$24.56$40.49$20.5713,450
2006$24.11$38.50$20.9713,140
2007$25.02$38.85$21.5315,180
2008$27.12$40.55$22.3216,210
2009$29.40$44.12$22.6815,060
2010$30.26$44.68$23.2012,620
2011$29.29$41.92$23.7112,310
2012$28.44$39.88$23.9611,770
2013$29.71$41.06$24.2812,640
2014$31.00$42.16$24.5712,900
2015$30.46$41.37$24.9414,390
2016$30.45$40.85$25.3515,160
2017$29.74$39.06$26.0117,730
2018$31.56$40.46$26.5318,860
2019$32.71$41.19$27.0119,840
2020$35.16$43.74$27.3618,900
2021$36.88$43.82$28.8718,850
2022$38.77$42.65$28.9619,120
2023$39.44$41.67$29.6118,820
2024$46.41$47.63$29.9818,380
2025$45.78$45.78$30.3819,380

In today's dollars, the median electrician wage in Washington changed by +10.6% over the last ten years of data and by +11.1% since 2019.

Are there more electrician jobs in Washington?

-2.3%Jobs since 201919,840 then, 19,380 in 2025
+34.7%Jobs over 10 years2015 to 2025, employer survey
5.5Jobs per 1,000 in the stateconcentration 1.1× the US share, 21st of 51 states

Since 1999, the number of electricians counted in Washington has changed by +64.4%, against +23.7% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by -2.3%.

Electricians in Washington vs United States, 1999 = 100WashingtonUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages50100150200200020052010201520202025164Washington124United States
Jobs counted by the BLS employer survey, Washington vs United States, indexed to 1999 = 100. Shaded bands mark survey method changes.
Table
YearWashington jobsWashington indexUS index
199911,790100100
200014,710125105
200113,370113102
200213,04011197
200312,97011095
200412,29010495
200513,45011499
200613,140112101
200715,180129102
200816,210138103
200915,06012895
201012,62010784
201112,31010484
201211,77010085
201312,64010789
201412,90010993
201514,39012297
201615,16012999
201717,730150103
201818,860160107
201919,840168112
202018,900160107
202118,850160106
202219,120162113
202318,820160116
202418,380156121
202519,380164124

Job counts are BLS OEWS survey estimates built from three years of samples, so moves of a few percent from one year to the next are within the survey's margin. Self-employed tradespeople are not counted. Areas with fewer than 3,000 jobs or a large sampling error are shown as a single figure rather than a trend.

Outlook for electricians in Washington

+6.5%Projected growth in Washington2024–2034, state agency
2,490Openings per yeargrowth plus replacements
24,640Jobs in 202426,240 projected for 2034
+9.2%US projected growth2025-35, BLS, for comparison

Washington's labor market agency projects the number of electricians in the state to change by +6.5% between 2024 and 2034, from 24,640 to 26,240, with about 2,490 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +9.2% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 19,380 counted by the BLS employer survey.

Source: Washington labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034 long-term projections (state projections page).

Union scale and prevailing wage for electricians in Washington

On federally funded construction in Washington, contractors must pay electricians at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 38 of the 39 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $87.78 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $84.62). The market median for the state is $45.78.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, WAAdams: $68.64 (union)Asotin: $68.64 (union)Benton: $87.78 (union)Chelan: $82.35 (union)Clallam: $109.44 (union)Clark: $93.23 (union)Columbia: $87.78 (union)Cowlitz: $84.62 (survey)Douglas: $82.35 (union)Ferry: $68.64 (union)Franklin: $87.78 (union)Garfield: $87.78 (union)Grant: $72.25 (union)Grays Harbor: $91.70 (union)Island: $80.71 (union)Jefferson: $109.44 (union)King: $109.44 (union)Kitsap: $109.44 (union)Kittitas: $87.78 (union)Klickitat: $93.23 (union)Lewis: $91.70 (union)Lincoln: $68.64 (union)Mason: $91.70 (union)Okanogan: $72.25 (union)Pacific: $91.70 (union)Pend Oreille: $68.64 (union)Pierce: $91.70 (union)San Juan: $80.71 (union)Skagit: $84.21 (union)Skamania: $93.23 (union)Snohomish: $84.21 (union)Spokane: $68.64 (union)Stevens: $68.64 (union)Thurston: $91.70 (union)Wahkiakum: $93.23 (union)Walla Walla: $87.78 (union)Whatcom: $84.21 (union)Whitman: $68.64 (union)Yakima: $87.78 (union)Union / prevailing package, $/hr$70.81$84.21$87.78$92.31survey rate
Davis-Bacon base + fringe for electricians by county, Building construction. Hatched counties use a survey rate rather than a union contract.
Market median vs prevailing wage by countyMarket medianPrevailing (union)Prevailing (survey)$25$50$75$100$125/hrKitsap (Bremerton): market median $38.94, prevailing (union) $109.44, gap +$70.50Kitsap (Bremerton)+$70.50King (Seattle): market median $48.93, prevailing (union) $109.44, gap +$60.51King (Seattle)+$60.51Yakima (Yakima): market median $37.81, prevailing (union) $87.78, gap +$49.97Yakima (Yakima)+$49.97Walla Walla (Walla Walla): market median $39.86, prevailing (union) $87.78, gap +$47.92Walla Walla (Walla Walla)+$47.92Thurston (Olympia): market median $46.44, prevailing (union) $91.70, gap +$45.26Thurston (Olympia)+$45.26Clark (Portland): market median $50.53, prevailing (union) $93.23, gap +$42.70Clark (Portland)+$42.70Benton (Kennewick): market median $48.00, prevailing (union) $87.78, gap +$39.78Benton (Kennewick)+$39.78Cowlitz (Longview): market median $46.57, prevailing (survey) $84.62, gap +$38.05Cowlitz (Longview)+$38.05Chelan (Wenatchee): market median $44.98, prevailing (union) $82.35, gap +$37.37Chelan (Wenatchee)+$37.37Whatcom (Bellingham): market median $46.92, prevailing (union) $84.21, gap +$37.29Whatcom (Bellingham)+$37.29Skagit (Mount Vernon): market median $50.24, prevailing (union) $84.21, gap +$33.97Skagit (Mount Vernon)+$33.97Asotin (Lewiston): market median $37.08, prevailing (union) $68.64, gap +$31.56Asotin (Lewiston)+$31.56Spokane (Spokane): market median $38.38, prevailing (union) $68.64, gap +$30.26Spokane (Spokane)+$30.26
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for electricians, metro counties in Washington.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
ClallamUnion ELEC0046-006 2025-08-04$75.96$33.48$109.44WA20260022
JeffersonUnion ELEC0046-006 2025-08-04$75.96$33.48$109.44WA20260029
KingUnion ELEC0046-003 2025-08-04$75.96$33.48$109.44WA20260108
KitsapUnion ELEC0046-003 2025-08-04$75.96$33.48$109.44WA20260109
ClarkUnion ELEC0048-030 2025-01-01$63.50$29.73$93.23WA20260120
KlickitatUnion ELEC0048-004 2025-01-01$63.50$29.73$93.23WA20260031
SkamaniaUnion ELEC0048-030 2025-01-01$63.50$29.73$93.23WA20260120
WahkiakumUnion ELEC0048-032 2025-01-01$63.50$29.73$93.23WA20260040
Grays HarborUnion ELEC0076-005 2025-08-31$65.14$26.56$91.70WA20260027
LewisUnion ELEC0076-005 2025-08-31$65.14$26.56$91.70WA20260032
MasonUnion ELEC0076-005 2025-08-31$65.14$26.56$91.70WA20260034
PacificUnion ELEC0076-005 2025-08-31$65.14$26.56$91.70WA20260036
PierceUnion ELEC0076-003 2025-08-31$65.14$26.56$91.70WA20260111
ThurstonUnion ELEC0076-003 2025-08-31$65.14$26.56$91.70WA20260116
BentonUnion ELEC0112-012 2025-06-01$60.00$27.78$87.78WA20260102

Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-11-06. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the Washington prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination.

Is construction work growing in Washington?

223.9kConstruction jobsWashington, 2026-09
+0.7%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-202650k100k150k200k250k300k19901995200020052010201520202025224kSep 2026
Construction employment in Washington (thousands), construction supersector, BLS CES, not seasonally adjusted. Grey bands are recessions.

Contractor pay by county

Average pay at electrical contractors establishments by county (all employees, not just electricians), from the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2025 annual averages. Across the 34 counties that report both years, specialty trade contractor employment (all trades) went from 103,575 in 2015 to 131,891 in 2025, +27.3%.

CountyEstablishmentsEmployeesAverage annual payAvg weekly wage
Skagit County46976$123,679$2,378
Franklin County24423$123,342$2,372
King County5509,492$119,001$2,288
Grant County25268$102,178$1,965
Asotin County12186$100,673$1,936
Whitman County12103$99,613$1,916
Clallam County28206$97,975$1,884
Thurston County104796$96,920$1,864
Cowlitz County49382$96,341$1,853
Clark County2002,260$88,691$1,706
Grays Harbor County15272$87,569$1,684
Snohomish County3192,384$86,915$1,671

Keep comparing

Electrician pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in Washington

More on Washington

Questions this page answers

How much do electricians make in Washington?

The median electrician in Washington earned $45.78 an hour ($95,220 a year) in May 2025, 51% above the national median of $30.38. The middle half earn $32.04–$58.43; the top 10% earn more than $64.40.

Where does Washington rank for electrician pay?

Washington ranks 4th of 51 states for electrician pay, with a median of $45.78 an hour, and 3rd after adjusting for Washington's cost of living (BEA price parity 107.0, US = 100).

What is the union electrician rate in Washington?

Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for electricians in 38 counties, with a typical package of $87.78 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.

How many electricians work in Washington?

BLS counted 19,380 electricians in Washington in May 2025, 5.5 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.12; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Is electrician work growing in Washington?

The BLS employer survey count of electricians in Washington went from 14,390 in 2015 to 19,380 in 2025, +34.7%, and -2.3% since 2019. Washington's labor market agency projects +6.5% growth for electricians between 2024 and 2034, from 24,640 to 26,240 jobs.

How many electrician openings a year are there in Washington?

Washington projects about 2,490 openings a year for electricians over 2024–2034, counting both new positions and replacements for people who retire or change occupation. Nationally BLS projects about 72,700 a year.

Sources and notes

  • BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Washington and metro areas, SOC 47-2111. Job counts are survey estimates and exclude the self-employed.
  • BLS Current Employment Statistics, state construction employment through 2026-09.
  • BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2025 annual averages.
  • BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (cost-of-living adjustment).
  • SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations, current revisions as of 2026-11-06. Not the official determination.
  • BLS Employment Projections, national, 2025-35.
  • State projection: Washington labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.