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Electricians in Washington

Thinking about a career as an Electricians in Washington? Here’s what you need to know. Install, maintain, and repair electrical wiring, equipment, and fixtures. Ensure that work is in accordance with relevant codes. May install or service street lights, intercom systems, or electrical control systems. Excludes “Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers” (49-2098).

What do Electricians Make in Washington?

For electricians working in Washington, the typical annual salary is $96,530 per year (or about $46.41/hour).Pay can range from $54,800 at the 10th percentile to $133,310 at the 90th percentile.

Wage Statistic	Annual	Hourly
10th percentile	$54,800	$26.35
25th percentile	$69,520	$33.43
Median (50th)	$96,530	$46.41
75th percentile	$115,970	$55.75
90th percentile	$133,310	$64.09

The job concentration index in Washington nationwide is 1.08.

National Wage Comparison

Nationally, electricians earn a median of $57,376 per year ($27.59/hour), higher than the Washington median.

Employment Outlook

There are roughly 267,745 electricians nationwide. In Washington alone, around 18,380 people work in this role. That’s more than the typical state, which employs around 9,740 electricians.

Top Washington Metros for Electricians

These are the Washington metros with the most electricians in Washington.

Metro Area	Number Employed	Annual Median Salary
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA	9,160	$101,600
Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA	1,150	$79,230
Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA	1,110	$75,750
Kennewick-Richland, WA	970	$108,740
Bellingham, WA	540	$86,170
Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA	520	$103,270
Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA	490	$85,620
Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA	450	$102,160
Yakima, WA	440	$80,870
Longview-Kelso, WA	270	$83,870
Walla Walla, WA	90	$75,250

Top States for Electricians Employment

These states have the highest employment of electricians work.

State	Number Employed
California	73,420
Texas	71,880
Florida	47,980
New York	40,380
Ohio	27,150
Michigan	24,670
Virginia	24,300
North Carolina	23,660
Illinois	22,880
Pennsylvania	21,860
Arizona	21,280
Georgia	20,740
Tennessee	19,500
Washington	18,380
Indiana	17,370
Colorado	17,140
Massachusetts	16,570
New Jersey	15,230
Maryland	14,750
Minnesota	12,970

Highest-Paying States for Electricians

Where electricians earn the most: electricians.

State	Annual Median Salary
Oregon	$97,320
Washington	$96,530
Illinois	$96,360
Hawaii	$83,200
Massachusetts	$82,120
District of Columbia	$81,950
Alaska	$81,860
Minnesota	$81,430
New York	$77,460
Connecticut	$76,790

Skills

The most important electricians skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Knowledge Areas

Core knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Abilities

The abilities that matter most for electricians, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Daily Tasks

Day-to-day, electricians typically:

• Prepare sketches or follow blueprints to determine the location of wiring or equipment and to ensure conformance to building and safety codes.
• Place conduit, pipes, or tubing, inside designated partitions, walls, or other concealed areas, and pull insulated wires or cables through the conduit to complete circuits between boxes.
• Work from ladders, scaffolds, or roofs to install, maintain, or repair electrical wiring, equipment, or fixtures.
• Use a variety of tools or equipment, such as power construction equipment, measuring devices, power tools, and testing equipment, such as oscilloscopes, ammeters, or test lamps.
• Assemble, install, test, or maintain electrical or electronic wiring, equipment, appliances, apparatus, or fixtures, using hand tools or power tools.
• Connect wires to circuit breakers, transformers, or other components.
• Maintain current electrician's license or identification card to meet governmental regulations.
• Plan layout and installation of electrical wiring, equipment, or fixtures, based on job specifications and local codes.
• Direct or train workers to install, maintain, or repair electrical wiring, equipment, or fixtures.
• Test electrical systems or continuity of circuits in electrical wiring, equipment, or fixtures, using testing devices, such as ohmmeters, voltmeters, or oscilloscopes, to ensure compatibility and safety of system.
• Diagnose malfunctioning systems, apparatus, or components, using test equipment and hand tools to locate the cause of a breakdown and correct the problem.
• Inspect electrical systems, equipment, or components to identify hazards, defects, or the need for adjustment or repair, and to ensure compliance with codes.

Work Activities

• Performing General Physical Activities
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
• Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
• Getting Information
• Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
• Handling and Moving Objects
• Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others
• Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems

Tools & Technology

Common tools and software used in this occupation include: Hot technologies: Adobe Acrobat

What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?

Several college majors map to this occupation:

• Electrical & Power Installation

Related Careers

Related occupations to electricians include:

• Lighting Technicians
• Boilermakers
• Carpenters
• Insulation Workers, Mechanical
• Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters
• Sheet Metal Workers

Also Known As

Airport Electrician, Antenna Installer, Antenna Rigger, Commercial Electrician, Conduit Installer, Conduit Mechanic, Construction Electrician, Control Electrician, Conventional System Lightning Protection Technician, Diesel Electrician, Diesel Maintenance Electrician, Electric Sign Wirer, Electric Stop Installer, Electric Wirer, Electrical Installer.

References

• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
• O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
• BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
• O*NET-SOC code: 47-2111.00