Moving between states / Washington
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Washington, RN or LPNMoving from Maine to Washington as a registered or practical nurse
What a registered or practical nurse licensed in Maine has to do to work in Washington, what the move does to your pay, and who in Washington is hiring from out of state.
Works on day one. Both Maine and Washington are in the Nurse Licensure Compact. A multistate RN or LPN licence from Maine 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.
What the move does to your paycheck
On a $60,000 salary Washington leaves you roughly $3,003 a year more than Maine does, because Washington has no state income tax on wages.
| Salary | Maine state tax | Washington state tax | Difference a year |
|---|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $2,002 | $0 | +$2,002 |
| $60,000 | $3,003 | $0 | +$3,003 |
| $90,000 | $4,505 | $0 | +$4,505 |
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: Maine to Washington
Transfers by reciprocity. Your Maine certificate stays on the Maine Registry of Certified Nursing Assistants and Direct Care Workers; 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.
Electrician: Maine 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 Maine licence comes from the Maine Electricians' Examining Board, a state body, which is what a reciprocity application needs: ask it for a verification letter before you move.
CDL: Maine to Washington
Transfers at the DMV. A commercial driver's licence transfers like any licence: within 30 days of becoming a Washington resident you surrender the Maine 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.
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.
Going the other way? Maine has Student Loan Repayment Tax Credit. See moving from Washington to Maine.
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 Maine 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.
Plan my move to WashingtonSame move, by trade
CNA: Maine to Washington · Electrician: Maine to Washington · Truck driver: Maine to Washington · All licences: Maine to Washington
From Maine 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 Maine
Everything about working in Washington · All moves between states · All 50 states