The career projection for electricians in Washington is as favorable as anywhere else. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a growth rate of more than 11%. As this figure is significantly higher than the average for other occupations and states, it is no surprise to see more and more individuals interested in pursuing a career as an electrician in Washington.
For interested individuals who would like to go through a straightforward path and make the right decisions along the way, we have provided the comprehensive guide below highlighting all the significant issues they’ll need to be familiar with, along with other valuable resources such as the top programs in the state and the annual average salary to expect.
How to Become an Electrician in Washington
The following are the steps involved in becoming an electrician in Washington.
Age and Basic Educational Requirements
To become an electrician in Washington, you need to be licensed. All aspiring electricians are expected to start by being a trainee at the primary level.
Most destinations offering training for aspiring electricians in Washington must verify that applicants are at least 16 years old and have a solid grasp of basic mathematics, physics, and other foundational high school subjects.
Training Paths
As an aspiring electrician in Washington, you must fulfill the training requirements, which include receiving classroom instruction in electrical topics and obtaining work experience under the supervision of a licensed electrician.
Classroom Requirements
Several community colleges and vocational schools in Washington offer students the opportunity to start their electrician careers by studying at top-quality programs. Thanks to their academic nature, these programs emphasize classroom topics, allowing students to meet the licensing requirements and fulfill the classroom hour specification.
In one of the upcoming sections below, we will examine some of Washington’s best training programs for aspiring electricians.
Work Experience Requirements
Candidates may enroll in apprenticeship programs to fulfill the work experience requirements that specify that aspiring electricians in Washington must work under licensed electricians. While including a particular aspect of classroom instruction, these programs are usually designed to have a great deal of hands-on training and actual work experience with under-qualified instructors.
Licensure & Certification Requirements
In Washington, aspiring electricians will start their careers as electricians in training. A trainee will then be able to receive a license as a journeyman electrician after completing the classroom instructions requirement along with the work experience requirements.
The body in charge of licensing electricians in Washington is the Department of Labor and Industries.
The department specifies 8000 hours of work experience and 96 hours of classroom instructions to qualify for the journeyman licensing exam. Of the 8000 work experience hours, 4000 must be spent in an industrial setting.
Journeyman electricians in Washington can become master electricians after working for 5 years. Master electricians can become Licensed Electrical Contractors if they want to start their own business.
Learn about electrician licensing and certification in neighboring states:
Top Electrician Schools in Washington
The following are some high-quality electrician schools in Washington.
Edmonds Community College
Edmonds Community College is one of the foremost destinations for comprehensive training as an aspiring electrician in Washington state. Based in the Linwood campus in Snohomish County, students of this program will become familiar with topics such as electrical components and systems wiring.
Renton Technical College
Renton Technical College offers an array of high-quality trade programs, including one in electrical plant maintenance. Through this program, students will become adept in critical electrical technology topics and graduate with a certificate in electrical plant maintenance. They may also pursue additional certification if they please.
Bellingham Technical College
Lastly, aspiring electricians in Washington may consider the programs offered by Bellingham Technical College. Accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, the school offers a 12-month certificate and 2-year associate degree programs.
Both of these options are available at the school’s Bellingham campus.
Notable Mentions
Other notable mentions include Perry Technical Institute, Bates Technical College, Yakima Valley College, and Spokane Community College.
Explore Electrician Schools by City:
Salary & Career Outlook
Electricians in Washington earn an annual average salary of $83,766 - an incredible 36% higher than the national average. There are electricians in the state who earn average yearly wages of up to $126,966, the figure for the top 10% of earners.
Entry-level electricians and those on the lower end of other optimizable factors still earn an annual average salary of $55,264.
As for the highest paying cities to be an electrician in Washington state, they include Fife, with an annual average salary of $103,813; Oak Harbor, with an average yearly salary of $95,507; and Renton, with an average annual wage of $94,427.
Electricians in Seattle earn an annual average salary of $89,500.
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