Moving between states / Washington
Coloradoto
Washington, Truck driverMoving from Colorado to Washington as a CDL holder
What a CDL holder licensed in Colorado has to do to work in Washington, what the move does to your pay, and who in Washington is hiring from out of state.
Transfers at the DMV. A commercial driver's licence transfers like any licence: within 30 days of becoming a Washington resident you surrender the Colorado CDL at a Washington driver licence office, pass the vision test, pay the fee, and your endorsements carry over. A hazmat endorsement needs a fresh TSA threat assessment in Washington. Your driving record follows you through the federal CDLIS system.
What the move does to your paycheck
On a $60,000 salary Washington leaves you roughly $2,640 a year more than Colorado does, because Washington has no state income tax on wages.
| Salary | Colorado state tax | Washington state tax | Difference a year |
|---|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $1,760 | $0 | +$1,760 |
| $60,000 | $2,640 | $0 | +$2,640 |
| $90,000 | $3,960 | $0 | +$3,960 |
Rough figures for a single filer: exact in the flat-rate and no-tax states, approximated at 70% of the top bracket in the progressive ones. In Washington: no tax on wages; a 7% tax on large capital gains and a payroll premium for long-term care. Property and sales tax are not in it.
CNA: Colorado to Washington
Transfers by reciprocity. Your Colorado certificate stays on the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies, Nurse Aide Registry; to work in Washington you apply to the Washington State Department of Health, Nursing Assistant Certified program for reciprocity. Washington certifies nursing assistants (NA-C) and credentials out-of-state CNAs by endorsement. Most registries list you within two to six weeks.
RN and LPN: Colorado to Washington
Works on day one. Both Colorado and Washington are in the Nurse Licensure Compact. A multistate RN or LPN licence from Colorado is valid in Washington the day you arrive. Once Washington is your primary residence, apply there for a Washington multistate licence; most boards allow 30 to 60 days.
Electrician: Colorado to Washington
Reciprocity likely. Washington licenses electricians at state level through the Washington Department of Labor and Industries, and reciprocity with a short list of states for general journeymen with recent hours. Your Colorado licence comes from the Colorado State Electrical Board (DORA), a state body, which is what a reciprocity application needs: ask it for a verification letter before you move.
Does Washington pay you to come?
No statewide program in Washington pays people to move in. Towns sometimes list an offer through MakeMyMove, and employers in short-staffed trades pay relocation themselves; ask for it in writing before you accept.
Openings filed in Washington
171 open positions filed with the Department of Labor by Washington employers who could not fill them locally.
- Director, Engineering - ObservabilityUber · Seattle
- Credit Analyst II/Credit Underwriter I-Commercial Real Estate CreditBank of America · Seattle
- Senior Account Manager, FulfillmentFlexport · Bellevue
- Manager, Ocean FreightFlexport · Bellevue
- Customs SpecialistFlexport · Bellevue
- Sr. Sales Manager (Global Starlink Enterprise Sales)SpaceX · Redmond
Your own route from Colorado to Washington
Tell us your trade and your licence. We write the steps for your case, check the job offer for scams, and keep your resume ready for Washington employers.
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CNA: Colorado to Washington · RN or LPN: Colorado to Washington · Electrician: Colorado to Washington · All licences: Colorado to Washington
From Colorado to the states next to Washington
Oregon (progressive, top rate 9.9%) · Idaho (flat 5.3% state income tax)
To Washington from the states next to Colorado
Wyoming · Nebraska · Kansas · Oklahoma · New Mexico · Arizona · Utah
Everything about working in Washington · All moves between states · All 50 states