Top 10 Tech Apprenticeships, Internships and Entry-Level Jobs in Spokane, WA in 2026

Table of Contents

• Your Tech Career in Spokane
• Apprenti Washington
• Avista Enterprise Technology Internship
• Itron Hardware & Software Development Internships
• Itron IT Solutions Delivery Trainee
• Providence Digital & Health-Tech Internships
• Emerging Technology Apprenticeship
• Avista Communications/ET Apprenticeship
• SCC Multi-Occupational Trades AAS
• Numerica Credit Union Tech & Data Internships
• Local Startup & University Research Roles
• Your Recipe for 2026
• Frequently Asked Questions

Apprenti Washington

If you're looking for the most versatile starter kit, Apprenti Washington is your foundational spice rack. This isn't a single company's program but a statewide registered apprenticeship, acting as a direct gateway into high-demand roles like Software Developer and Cybersecurity Analyst for career-changers, veterans, and underrepresented groups across the state, including Spokane.

The structure is clear and financially supportive: begin with 2-4 months of paid, full-time technical training at a starting compensation of $42,000+ with benefits, followed by a full year of on-the-job training with a local employer partner. Graduates earn a nationally recognized "Journey Level Worker" credential, a powerful asset for long-term career mobility.

The program's strength is its vast network and clear purpose, described in its materials as providing "a path and a plan to a career in technology". For Spokane residents, this translates to direct connections within Washington's booming tech sector. It's designed to efficiently funnel talent, linking apprentices to a network of over 8,000 tech job openings statewide.

For those in Spokane seeking to pivot into tech without a traditional four-year degree, Apprenti is the essential, structured entry point. You can explore their current opportunities page to find the right 2026 intake for your goals.

Avista Enterprise Technology Internship

For a premier corporate summer experience, the Avista Enterprise Technology (ET) Internship is the paid simmer that can launch your career. This highly structured program immerses students in the critical tech needs of a regional utility, offering formal mentorship, behind-the-scenes tours of hydroelectric facilities, and substantial project work.

Interns engage in cutting-edge areas vital to modern infrastructure, including cybersecurity, AI/machine learning, and customer-facing web and mobile development through Avista's Innovation Lab. Compensation is competitive and scales with academic level, ranging from $19.51 per hour for freshmen to $32.13 per hour for graduate students.

"Are you a college student ready to kickstart your career in the utility industry?" - Avista Utilities, on its official social media channels.

The application window for the 2026 cohort typically closes in late November 2025, so preparation is essential. The program is renowned for its high conversion rate to full-time roles, making it a direct pipeline into Avista's IT organization and a standout opportunity for students from Gonzaga, WSU Spokane, and Eastern Washington University to gain invaluable local industry experience.

Itron Hardware & Software Development Internships

Step into the physical world of smart technology with Itron's Hardware & Software Development Internships, a hands-on lab focused on the Internet of Things (IoT) and embedded systems. Based in Liberty Lake, this global leader offers roles in Hardware Product Development, Embedded Systems, and Mobile Application Development, where you'll gain tangible experience with PCB design, sensor technologies, and full-stack development for utility solutions.

Compensation is robust, typically ranging from $15 to $45 per hour depending on the specific role and your experience level. For the summer 2026 cycle, applications often open in late 2025, with some listings, like the Mobile Application Development Intern, advising applicants to "Apply by Dec 1, 2025."

This internship is the ideal proving ground for engineering and computer science students from Gonzaga University or WSU Spokane who want to move beyond code and touch the physical tech driving smart cities and grids. As detailed in a Hardware Product Development intern posting, you'll support real product qualification and launch processes, gaining a rare glimpse into the full product lifecycle from a major tech employer in our region.

Itron IT Solutions Delivery Trainee

For those ready to start immediately, the Itron IT Solutions Delivery Trainee role is your direct, apprenticeship-style pathway. Distinct from seasonal internships, this "Start ASAP" position offers paid, on-the-job training from day one within Itron's global IT operations center based in the Spokane region.

Trainees dive into critical enterprise systems, building hands-on skills in SQL/PL-SQL, Oracle EBS, and cloud infrastructure. While the starting wage varies based on prior experience, the role includes professional benefits and establishes a clear track for career progression within a major technology employer.

This opportunity is tailor-made for individuals who have completed a coding bootcamp or an associate degree from a local institution like Spokane Community College and are seeking immediate, skilled employment. It represents a pragmatic way to bypass the traditional summer internship cycle and enter the workforce with a global leader in utility solutions. By engaging with the complex systems that power a corporation like Itron, you build a resume grounded in real-world enterprise IT from the very first day.

Providence Digital & Health-Tech Internships

For a truly mission-driven tech experience, Providence Digital & Health-Tech Internships offer a unique blend of software development and lifesaving service. As a cornerstone employer in the Inland Northwest, Providence provides roles focused on developing health-tech software, patient-facing digital tools, and complex healthcare data analytics.

These internships are tailored for computer science and data science students from Gonzaga University and WSU Spokane, offering unparalleled experience in a highly regulated industry where technology has an immediate human impact. Success in this arena requires demonstrating not just technical skill in your portfolio, but also a keen understanding of user experience and data privacy - critical ingredients in the health-tech space.

While specific salary data isn't always published, Providence offers competitive regional compensation, and the experience serves as a powerful differentiator. It represents a chance to contribute to the technological backbone of a major healthcare system, a sector with growing tech demands in Spokane. For insight into how local educational pipelines feed into such specialized roles, you can explore how Spokane Valley tech programs prepare students for high-demand fields.

Emerging Technology Apprenticeship

If your strategy is to build a career from the ground up with industry-recognized credentials, the Emerging Technology Apprenticeship is your blueprint. Managed through local partners like Apprenticeship Spokane, this formal program provides paid training focused on earning critical certifications for today's infrastructure roles.

Apprentices engage in a blend of classroom learning and applied skill-building to achieve credentials like CompTIA A+, Network+, Security+, and even Niagara 4 for building automation systems. This credential-first approach is detailed on the official Emerging Technology Apprenticeship Program page, outlining a direct pathway into IT support, networking, and operational technology.

This pathway is perfectly calibrated for Spokane's high-demand fields, preparing you for stable positions at local hospitals like Providence Sacred Heart, universities such as Gonzaga and EWU, and major manufacturing plants. It represents a strategic, hands-on route for those who want to enter the workforce with verifiable, in-demand skills that are immediately applicable across the Inland Northwest's diverse tech and operational landscape, as outlined in broader Washington state IT career pathways.

Avista Communications/ET Apprenticeship

For a long-term investment in the critical infrastructure that powers technology, Avista's formal Communications or Enterprise Technology (ET) Apprenticeships offer a multi-year, paid journey. These programs involve 2-4 years of structured classroom and on-the-job training in enterprise systems and the physical communications infrastructure essential to utility operations.

As Avista highlights in its internal communications, apprentices are vital to operations, with the company encouraging people to "Celebrate apprentices" and their role in maintaining reliable service. These pathways often prioritize current employees or applicants through dedicated portals, emphasizing internal growth and deep institutional knowledge.

Completion leads to a journeyman position characterized by strong union wages and benefits, offering exceptional stability in the Spokane market. This apprenticeship is for those who want more than a job; it's for building a career with a deep, systems-level understanding of the utility technology that underpins our region's economy, as outlined in Avista's guide to getting into the trades.

SCC Multi-Occupational Trades AAS

For the pragmatic learner seeking both a paycheck and a diploma, Spokane Community College's Multi-Occupational Trades pathway is a structural game-changer. This program allows you to formally convert your paid apprenticeship work hours into college credits, building toward an Associate in Applied Science (AAS) degree concurrently with your on-the-job training.

The Multi-Occupational Trades pathway is designed for apprentices from any registered program, effectively bridging hands-on technical skill with the management and theoretical knowledge that opens doors to leadership roles. It embodies the practical Spokane ethos, leveraging the resources of the Riverpoint campus to add academic weight to trade expertise.

This credential-building approach has demonstrated success, with some related pre-apprenticeship programs reporting a 15% articulation rate into full-time roles. It's a powerful career bridge builder, ensuring that your time spent mastering a trade also builds a formal educational foundation, a combination highly valued by local employers from Avista to Providence. For a broader view of how such pathways integrate into state systems, you can explore resources from the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges.

Numerica Credit Union Tech & Data Internships

To get a taste of the fast-paced world of financial technology right here in Spokane, Numerica Credit Union's seasonal Tech & Data internships serve as an excellent fintech incubator. As a local financial institution with a strong digital focus, Numerica offers roles in data science, cybersecurity, and software development, providing exposure to secure transaction systems and data analytics for member services.

These internships are highly accessible to Spokane students, as Numerica actively partners with local universities for career fairs and recruitment. This regional focus creates a supportive environment where interns can understand the unique intersection of technology, finance, and community service that defines a local credit union.

The experience gained here is a valuable and specific niche in the broader tech landscape. Working on financial cybersecurity or member-service analytics within a regional, supportive context provides a distinct advantage, blending the rigor of fintech with the accessible scale of the Inland Northwest market. For students exploring various career pathways into tech, an internship at a pillar institution like Numerica offers a clear view of how digital innovation powers even the most established local industries.

Local Startup & University Research Roles

For the agile self-starter, Spokane's growing tech ecosystem around the Riverpoint Campus offers a dynamic, project-based kitchen. This environment, fueled by startups and research labs at WSU Spokane and Eastern Washington University, generates a steady stream of entry-level and research roles that prioritize autonomy and breadth over formal corporate structure.

Success in this arena often comes from proactive networking and demonstrable skill. As evidenced by local success stories, students who engage with this ecosystem can see direct results. For example, one EWU graduate landed an internship at Spokane Valley-based EasyStreet Systems Inc., which resulted in a full-time job there after graduation.

Landing these roles requires a different recipe: proactive networking at local tech meetups, a standout portfolio on platforms like GitHub, and a willingness to wear multiple hats. It’s the ultimate taste test for a budding technologist, offering the chance to contribute meaningfully to innovative projects and gain experience that is both deep and diverse, directly within Spokane's collaborative community.

Your Recipe for 2026

Your tech career in Spokane isn't a pre-packaged meal. It's a dish you'll cook for years, and 2026 is time to start collecting your ingredients. An apprenticeship is the slow-cooked stew - paid, methodical, and credential-rich, ideal for building a foundation. An internship is the summer sizzle - intense, exploratory, and a potential direct feed into a company like Avista or Itron.

The "best" choice depends entirely on your timeline, learning style, and financial needs in our unique ecosystem. Remember the local advantages: no state income tax, a lower cost of living, and a tech scene growing from the ground up at Riverpoint. Your path could mirror successful locals, like the EWU Eagle who turned a Spokane Valley internship into a full-time tech job.

Start your recipe now. Polish your portfolio, mark the November 2025 deadlines for top corporate internships, and explore registered apprenticeships that begin with a paycheck and a plan. In the Inland Northwest's thriving pantry - stocked with everything from utility tech and health IT to fintech and IoT - you have all the ingredients needed to cook up a remarkable career.

Frequently Asked Questions