Moving between states / Washington
Missourito
Washington, RN or LPNMoving from Missouri to Washington as a registered or practical nurse
What a registered or practical nurse licensed in Missouri 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 Missouri and Washington are in the Nurse Licensure Compact. A multistate RN or LPN licence from Missouri 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 $1,974 a year more than Missouri does, because Washington has no state income tax on wages.
| Salary | Missouri state tax | Washington state tax | Difference a year |
|---|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $1,316 | $0 | +$1,316 |
| $60,000 | $1,974 | $0 | +$1,974 |
| $90,000 | $2,961 | $0 | +$2,961 |
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. In Missouri: Kansas City and St. Louis add a 1% earnings tax. Property and sales tax are not in it.
CNA: Missouri to Washington
Transfers by reciprocity. Your Missouri certificate stays on the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, Certified Nurse Assistant 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.
Electrician: Missouri to Washington
Exam likely. Washington licenses at state level through the Washington Department of Labor and Industries and reciprocates with other state boards, but Missouri licenses locally through the Missouri Division of Professional Registration (optional statewide licence) and city building departments, which is not a party to those agreements. Expect to document your hours and sit the Washington journeyman exam.
CDL: Missouri 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 Missouri 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.
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 Missouri 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: Missouri to Washington · Electrician: Missouri to Washington · Truck driver: Missouri to Washington · All licences: Missouri to Washington
From Missouri 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 Missouri
Iowa · Illinois · Kentucky · Tennessee · Arkansas · Oklahoma · Kansas · Nebraska
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