Electricians
$45.78/hr ($95,220/yr) · typical $32.04 to $58.43
Openings: 2,490/yrApprentices: 165
Washington trade pay
Washington trade pay runs from $22.57/hr for landscapers to $45.78/hr for electricians, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Electricians earn the most at $45.78/hr ($95,220/yr). The state expects about 20,730 trade openings a year from 2024 to 2034, and the DOL counted 536 active apprentices in FY2024.
Top trade median
$45.78/hr
Electricians
Trades published
10 of 10
BLS OEWS May 2025
Openings per year
20,730
2024 to 2034
Active apprentices
536
FY2024
Tracked metros
1
Seattle
State signals
What stands out in Washington
Electricians earn 51% more in Washington than the national median of $30.38/hr, the biggest pay premium of the 10 trades with published state pay.
Maintenance workers lead Washington hiring demand with about 4,500 openings a year, 22% of the 20,730 annual trade openings projected statewide.
Washington ranks #40 nationally for active plumbers apprentices, with 208 in FY2024.
All 10 trades in Washington
Statewide medians from BLS OEWS May 2025, ranked by median hourly pay. Each row opens the national trade hub.
Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters
$38.96/hr ($81,030/yr) · typical $28.86 to $51.64
Openings: 1,110/yrApprentices: 208
HVAC Technicians
$36.38/hr ($75,660/yr) · typical $28.93 to $45.18
Openings: 930/yrApprentices: 10
Carpenters
$35.67/hr ($74,190/yr) · typical $29.15 to $44.55
Openings: 3,280/yrApprentices: 6
Welders
$30.30/hr ($63,020/yr) · typical $26.32 to $35.41
Openings: 860/yrApprentices: 48
Roofers
$29.16/hr ($60,640/yr) · typical $25.15 to $38.21
Openings: 450/yrApprentices: 15
Painters (Construction & Maintenance)
$28.68/hr ($59,650/yr) · typical $23.53 to $31.32
Openings: 1,290/yrApprentices: 41
Maintenance & Repair Workers
$28.44/hr ($59,160/yr) · typical $23.20 to $34.78
Openings: 4,500/yrApprentices: 7
Automotive Service Technicians
$27.54/hr ($57,270/yr) · typical $21.99 to $37.00
Openings: 1,500/yrApprentices: 31
Landscaping & Groundskeeping Workers
$22.57/hr ($46,950/yr) · typical $20.68 to $27.12
Openings: 4,320/yrApprentices: 5
Wages: BLS OEWS May 2025. Openings: Projections Central, 2024-2034 average annual openings. Apprentices: DOL Registered Apprenticeship, FY2024 active apprentices; trades the DOL did not publish show n/a.
Metro pay pages
Washington metros with trade pay pages
City-level BLS pay with year-over-year change and worker-submitted rates.
- SeattleTrade pay in Seattle
Apprenticeship pipeline
Registered apprentices in Washington
536 active apprentices across all 10 trades, per DOL Registered Apprenticeship, FY2024. Top trades:
Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters208
Electricians165
Welders48
Painters (Construction & Maintenance)41
Automotive Service Technicians31
Active apprentices, not new entrants. Find open programs at Apprenticeship.gov.
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Washington trade pay questions
How much do trades workers make in Washington?
Median pay for the 10 tracked trades in Washington ranges from $22.57/hr for landscapers to $45.78/hr for electricians, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Electricians top the ranking at $45.78/hr, equal to $95,220/yr for full-time work. These are statewide medians; pay varies by city and experience.
Which trade pays the most in Washington?
Electricians lead Washington at a median $45.78/hr ($95,220/yr a year), ahead of plumbers at $38.96/hr. The full ranking below covers all 10 tracked trades from BLS OEWS May 2025 statewide data. Union scale, shift differentials, and overtime can push actual take-home above these medians.
How many trade job openings are there in Washington?
Projections Central expects about 20,730 trade openings a year in Washington from 2024 to 2034, across the 10 tracked trades. Maintenance workers lead with about 4,500 a year, followed by landscapers at 4,320. Most openings come from retirements and turnover, not new job growth.
How do I start an apprenticeship in Washington?
Start with a registered apprenticeship: paid on-the-job training plus classroom instruction, with wages rising as you learn. The DOL counted 536 active trade apprentices in Washington in FY2024, including 208 plumbers. Programs run three to five years; find open programs at Apprenticeship.gov.
Which Washington cities pay trades workers the most?
Of the tracked metros in Washington, Seattle pays electricians the most at $48.93/hr. Each metro pay page breaks down all 10 trades with year-over-year change and worker-submitted rates. Statewide medians above blend every metro and rural area together into one statewide figure.