OPENUNION JATCRELOCATION OK
UA Local 32 (Seattle, WA)
UA Local 32
Renton, WA · Plumber / Steamfitter / HVAC-R / Marine Pipefitter
Year 1 wage
$22–$28/hr
Journeyman
$48–$58/hr
Verified May 18, 20265 yr · 10,000 OJT hrs · No app fee
Apprenticeships
Washington.
Free to attend. Paid from day one. No debt. Real numbers from the Department of Labor.
495
active construction apprentices
likely undercounted — SAA state
30+
registered programs (DOL)
1
verified open now
DOL RAPIDS data as of FY26 Q1 (March 2026)
Active Apprentices by Trade
Washington · DOL RAPIDS FY26 Q1 · 495 total · federal data may undercount this state
Electrician
141 apprentices$23.34/hr avg start
Pipefitter/Steamfitter
129 apprentices$23.06/hr avg start
Other Construction
52 apprentices$23.91/hr avg start
Carpenter
41 apprentices$30.93/hr avg start
Plumber
37 apprentices$19.19/hr avg start
Painter
27 apprentices$22.05/hr avg start
Roofer
19 apprentices$21.95/hr avg start
Laborer
17 apprentices$22.52/hr avg start
+7 additional trades not shown
Electrician
$23.34/hr
avg starting wage
Pipefitter/Steamfitter
$23.06/hr
avg starting wage
Other Construction
$23.91/hr
avg starting wage
Carpenter
$30.93/hr
avg starting wage
What journeymen earn in Washington · BLS OEWS 2025 · median hourly
Electricians
$44.21/hr
~$92K/yr
Plumbers & Pipefitters
$38.86/hr
~$81K/yr
HVAC Techs
$32.85/hr
~$68K/yr
Line Installers
$59.41/hr
~$124K/yr
BLS OEWS median across 13 metro areas in Washington. Apprentices start at ~40–50% and graduate to full journeyman scale.
Verified Programs
Manually confirmed by PlumbSquare — application status current as of research date
1 manually verified. Washington has additional DOL-registered programs below and at Apprenticeship.gov →
DOL-Registered Programs
All active registered apprenticeship programs in Washington with 10+ active apprentices · Source: DOL RAPIDS FY26 Q1 · 30 shown
| Program / Sponsor | City | Trade(s) | Active | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Washington State UBC JATC | Spokane | Painter/FinisherCarpenter | 1,777 | UNION |
Northwest Laborers Apprenticeship Committee | Kingston | Laborer | 1,596 | UNION |
Puget Sound Electrical Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee | Renton | Electrician | 1,129 | UNION |
Construction Industry Training Council of Washington - Construction Electrician | Bellevue | Electrician | 1,127 | non-union |
Seattle Area Plumbers Housing Plumbers Pipefitters HVAC-Service Controls Technician/Refrigeration Mechanics and Marine Pipefitters Apprenticeship Committee | Renton | PlumberHVAC TechnicianPipefitter/Steamfitter | 830 | UNION |
Northwest Washington Electrical Industry Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee | Mount Vernon | Electrician | 757 | UNION |
Puget Sound Naval Shipyard | BREMERTON | ElectricianPainter/FinisherPipefitter/Steamfitter+3 | 629 | UNION |
Western Washington Sheet Metal JATC | Everett | HVAC TechnicianSheet Metal Worker | 556 | UNION |
Northwest Line Construction Industry JATC | Battle Ground | Line Worker | 538 | UNION |
Electrical Management Group of Washington | Brush Prairie | Electrician | 508 | non-union |
Northwest Line JATC | Battle Ground | Other Construction | 469 | UNION |
Columbia Basin Electrical Training Alliance Committee | Kennewick | Electrician | 465 | UNION |
Washington Cement Masons Apprenticeship Committee | Seattle | Bricklayer/Mason | 383 | UNION |
Operating Engineers Regional Training Program JATC | Ellensburg | Operating Engineer | 359 | UNION |
Construction Industry Training Council of Washington - Plumber | Bellevue | Plumber | 330 | non-union |
Pacific Northwest Ironworkers and Employers Local #86 Apprenticeship Committee | Tukwila | Ironworker | 298 | UNION |
International Union of Elevator Constructors Local 19 - National Elevator Industry Educational Program | Seattle | Elevator Constructor | 269 | UNION |
Eastern Washington - Northeast Oregon Pipe Trades Apprenticeship Committee | Pasco | PlumberPipefitter/SteamfitterHVAC Technician | 258 | UNION |
Western Washington Masonry Trades Apprenticeship Committee | Seattle | Bricklayer/Mason | 251 | UNION |
Southwest Washington Electrical Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee | Tacoma | Electrician | 247 | UNION |
Southeastern Washington/Northeastern Oregon Sheet Metal Workers Apprenticeship Committee | Pasco | Sheet Metal Worker | 225 | UNION |
Inland Northwest Chapter Associated General Contractors Laborers Apprenticeship Committee | Spokane | Laborer | 218 | non-union |
Pacific Northwest Ironworker & Employers Apprenticeship and Training Committee Local #14 | Spokane Valley | Ironworker | 205 | UNION |
Greater Western Washington Pipe Trades Apprenticeship Committee | Burlington | HVAC TechnicianPlumberPipefitter/Steamfitter | 194 | UNION |
Western Washington Painting Apprenticeship | Seattle | Painter/Finisher | 171 | UNION |
Inland Empire Electrical Training Trust | Spokane | Electrician | 165 | UNION |
Greater Spokane Electrical Training Apprenticeship | Spokane | Electrician | 143 | non-union |
Seattle and Vicinity Sprinkler Fitters Apprenticeship Committee | Seattle | Sprinkler Fitter | 142 | UNION |
Seattle Area Roofers Apprenticeship Committee | Kent | Roofer | 128 | UNION |
City of Seattle Washington Apprenticeship Committee | Seattle | ElectricianLine Worker | 123 | UNION |
Programs with fewer than 10 active apprentices are not shown. Total DOL-registered programs in Washington may be higher. For the complete list, visit Apprenticeship.gov.
Common Questions
How do I become a trade apprentice in Washington?
Apply to a JATC or non-union program. Requirements: high school diploma or GED, basic math test, proof of age (18+). Some programs add physical requirements or drug testing. Application windows open and close seasonally — check program status before applying.
Are apprenticeships in Washington free?
Yes. Every DOL-registered apprenticeship is free to attend. Apprentices are employees, not students — you earn a wage from day one. No tuition, no student loans.
Union vs. non-union — which should I choose?
Union JATCs (IBEW, UA, SMART, UBC) typically offer higher wages, defined pension plans, and health insurance. Non-union programs (ABC, IEC) may have faster acceptance and work with open-shop contractors. Both paths are DOL-registered. Apply to both — take whoever accepts you first.
How long is a trade apprenticeship?
Most trades are 4–5 years (8,000–10,000 OJT hours). HVAC programs run 3–4 years. Lineman training is typically 3–4 years with specialized fieldwork. Every year your wage increases — you're earning near journeyman scale by your final year.
Washington Licensing
Washington is an SAA state and is not right-to-work — unions have strong density in construction. The Dept. of Labor and Industries (L&I) licenses electrical contractors and certifies electricians and plumbers statewide. HVAC contractors register through L&I. Washington uses the Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC) rather than the IPC.
Electrician / Plumber / Contractor
Washington State Dept. of Labor and Industries (L&I)
Board website →