What do skilled trades pay in Washington in 2026?

Which trade is best in Washington?

Different trades win on different measures — here's the top on each. Pick the one that matters to you.

Across 29 trades: $51,840–$137,180 (median $77,520).

Trades ranked by pay in Washington

Where is the union premium biggest in Washington?

Named locals and the premium over the BLS all-worker median.

We don't have union scale data for Washington across our trades yet — these trades are predominantly non-union, or we haven't added IBEW/UA data. Submitting your pay helps build complete data for Washington.

Union landscape in Washington

Washington has a visible union presence across several skilled trades, but TradesPays does not have collective bargaining agreement scale data for this state in our current set. That's a straight limit of what we can report — not a statement about union density or coverage. If you're working under a collective bargaining agreement, or think you might be, your actual scale rate, fringe benefits, and hours guarantees are going to be set in that agreement — not in a statewide BLS average. Some workers in Washington may be covered by a collective bargaining agreement depending on their trade, employer, and project type. For the current negotiated rates that apply to your specific situation, check directly with your local. They'll have the wage schedules, benefit contributions, and any recent adjustments that a statewide survey figure simply cannot capture. The BLS numbers on this page represent a mix of union and non-union workers across all employment types, which means the averages can run above or below what a union scale worker actually sees on their check. Use the figures here as a reference point, not a substitute for your agreement.

Cost-of-living context

The wages on this page are nominal BLS dollars — meaning they're the raw figures reported by employers, with no adjustment for what those dollars actually buy in Washington. That distinction matters. Washington, particularly the Puget Sound corridor, carries a cost of living that sits well above the national average in housing, transportation, and general expenses. A wage that looks strong on paper can feel different when you're pricing rent in a high-demand area. TradesPays does not apply cost-of-living indices to these figures, and we're not going to invent one — COL adjustments require assumptions that can quietly distort a comparison if they're not done carefully and transparently. What you can do is use the nominal figures here to understand where your trade ranks within the state and against other trades, then separately factor in your own housing and living costs for wherever you're actually working. The top of Washington's trade wage table — elevator installers at $137,180, power-line workers at $133,060 — reflects trades with high barriers to entry and significant on-the-job risk. Whether that pay goes far depends heavily on where in the state you're working and what your expenses look like on the ground.

Trades in Washington: FAQ

How many skilled trades does TradesPays track in Washington?

TradesPays currently tracks 29 skilled trades in Washington using BLS OEWS data from May 2025.

What is the highest-paying skilled trade in Washington?

Elevator installer is the top-paying trade in Washington at $137,180, followed closely by power-line worker at $133,060.

What is the lowest-paying skilled trade tracked in Washington?

Of the 29 trades tracked, plasterers have the lowest reported wage in Washington at $51,840.

Does TradesPays have union scale rates for Washington trades?

No. TradesPays does not have collective bargaining agreement scale data for Washington in our current set. If you're covered by a union agreement, contact your local directly for current negotiated rates and benefit contributions.

Are these wages adjusted for Washington's cost of living?

No. All figures are nominal BLS dollars with no cost-of-living adjustment applied. Washington, especially in high-demand metro areas, has living costs that can significantly affect purchasing power — factor that in separately when evaluating these numbers.

Does TradesPays break down wages by apprentice, journeyman, or master level in Washington?

Not at this time. The BLS OEWS data underlying these figures doesn't support a reliable apprentice-to-journeyman-to-master split, so TradesPays doesn't publish one for Washington.

Where does the Washington wage data come from?

All figures come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2025 release. TradesPays does not supplement or adjust these figures.

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