BLS OEWS May 2025 · SOC 47-2111
Electrician Salary in Washington 2026
Snapshot 6 September 2026
$95,220/yr median · $45.78/hr
State Median
$95k
vs. National
+$32k
Top 10%
$134k
COL-Adjusted
$83k
Electrician Salary Range in Washington
The full wage spread for electricians (occupation 47-2111) in Washington, from the lowest-paid 10% to the highest-paid 10%. All three figures are reported directly by BLS. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, SOC 47-2111. Snapshot taken 6 September 2026.
10th percentile
$52k
$52,170/yr
Lowest-paid 10%
Median (50th)
$95k
$95,220/yr
Typical electrician
90th percentile
$134k
$133,950/yr
Highest-paid 10%
An electrician in the bottom 10% of Washington earners makes about $52,170/yr, while the top 10% earn $133,950/yr or more, a range of $81,780. The 10th percentile is a published BLS wage observation (it typically reflects apprentices and newly-licensed journeymen). OEWS publishes no separate entry-level figure, so none is shown.
Where Washington Ranks
Washington ranks #4 of 50 states for electrician median wages. The national median is $63,190 (BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, SOC 47-2111). Washington pays $32,030 above the national average.
Washington's cost-of-living index is 115 (MERIC 2026, where 100 = US average). After adjustment, the purchasing power of an electrician's salary here is equivalent to $82,800/yr in national-average dollar terms. This is a MERIC 2026 figure, not a BLS one. The high cost of living significantly reduces the real value of nominal wages.
Pay by Metro Area
Median annual wage for the major metropolitan areas in Washington. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 metropolitan wage estimates, occupation 47-2111. Metros are ordered highest to lowest.
| Metro Area | Median Annual | vs. State Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue | $101,780 | +6.6k |
| Kennewick-Richland (Tri-Cities) | $99,850 | +4.6k |
| Bellingham | $97,590 | +2.4k |
| Olympia-Lacey | $96,600 | +1.4k |
| Spokane | $79,830 | -15.4k |
Pay by Experience Level
Editorial estimates built from state apprenticeship wage schedules and IBEW/IEC agreement rates. Not BLS: OEWS reports all electricians together under 47-2111 and publishes no apprentice, journeyman or master split.
| Level | Hourly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Apprentice (Year 1) | $20 - $26/hr | $42,000 - $54,000 |
| Apprentice (Year 4-5) | $28 - $38/hr | $58,000 - $79,000 |
| Journeyman (Employee) | $35 - $50/hr | $73,000 - $104,000 |
| Master Electrician (Employee) | $42 - $58/hr | $87,000 - $121,000 |
| Self-Employed Contractor | $95 - $175/hr billed | $95,000 - $250,000 net |
Washington Licensing Requirements
See full 50-state licensing matrix at electriciansalary.com/licensing
Union Presence in Washington
IBEW Locals: IBEW Local 46 (Seattle - one of the highest-paying Inside locals in the US), Local 76 (Tacoma), Local 191 (Everett), Local 73 (Spokane)
Union membership (all workers): In 2025, 18% of all wage and salary workers in Washington were union members and 19.4% were covered by a union contract (BLS, all occupations, not electricians alone).
Union pay gap: Nationally in 2025, full-time union members in construction and extraction occupations had median weekly earnings of $1,561, against $1,004 for non-union workers, about 55% higher before benefits (BLS). BLS does not publish this split for electricians alone or by state.
Source: BLS, Union Members 2025 (Current Population Survey annual averages), Tables 4 and 5. BLS publishes no electrician-only union rate by state.
Full IBEW wage scale breakdown and union vs non-union analysis
Job Outlook in Washington
Washington electricians benefit from Amazon HQ2 in Bellevue, continued data center expansion in the Eastern Washington Columbia Basin (Microsoft, Amazon, Google, Meta - driven by low-cost hydroelectric power), Boeing facility electrical maintenance, and offshore wind development off the Washington coast. The state's clean energy goals are driving solar and battery storage installation.
Major Employers in Washington
Frequently Asked Questions
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How does Washington rank for electrician pay?
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Related Pages
State 10th-percentile, median and 90th-percentile wage figures: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, SOC 47-2111. Snapshot taken 6 September 2026. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor. Metro figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 metropolitan wage estimates, occupation 47-2111. Cost-of-living index: MERIC cost of living index, 2026 (100 = US average), a separate non-BLS source. Pay-by-level ladder: Editorial estimates built from state apprenticeship wage schedules and IBEW/IEC agreement rates. Not BLS: OEWS reports all electricians together under 47-2111 and publishes no apprentice, journeyman or master split. IBEW local agreements 2025-2026.