How to Become a Carpenter in Colorado (2026)

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Colorado employs about 12,740 carpenters earning a median $62,830 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Most carpenters train through a trade school program or a registered apprenticeship before entering the field in Colorado.

Compare Carpenter Schools in Colorado

BOC Score, tuition, graduation rate, and median graduate earnings from federal IPEDS and U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard data. Tuition is the published annual figure for the latest reported year and excludes room, board, books and fees. Earnings are reported across all programs at the school (all majors), not a single trade. Distance is measured from the page's primary location.
#SchoolBOC Score (0–100)Tuition (published, per year)Median grad earnings (all majors)Graduation rateOnlineDistance
184.8Contact school for pricing$47,35595%—179 mi
274.9Contact school for pricing$45,93597%—0 mi
366.7Contact school for pricingNot reported73%Yes*177 mi
465.7$3,600 in-state / $4,530 out-of-state$47,85854%Yes*241 mi
559.7Contact school for pricing$64,65286%—266 mi
656.0$3,690 in-state / $4,320 out-of-state$45,94950%Yes*254 mi
753.0$1,928 in-state / $5,412 out-of-state$46,78637%Yes*268 mi
852.8$2,258 in-state / $11,786 out-of-state$51,70440%Yes*47 mi
948.5$4,800 in-state / $11,100 out-of-state$43,06837%Yes*289 mi
1043.4$1,474 in-state / $3,418 out-of-state$38,11128%Yes*285 mi

Schools closest to the page's primary location are gathered first, then ranked by BOC Score; distance from the page's primary location is shown for reference. The BOC Score is an independent measure of school outcomes (graduation, earnings, net price, retention) expressed as a 0–100 percentile within each school's peer group; higher is better and advertising never affects it. *Online availability refers to coursework; hands-on trade training is completed in person. Read the full methodology.

Colorado employs approximately 12,740 carpenters according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $62,830 1. Nationally, carpenter employment is projected to grow 4.5% from 2024 to 2034, with about 74,100 openings per year 2. This page covers how to become a Carpenter in Colorado, including requirements, training programs, and salary data.

At a Glance

  • Training paths: trade school, community college, or apprenticeship
  • Typical timeline: 1 to 5 years depending on the path
  • Median wage (Colorado): $62,830 per year 1

Quick Answers About How to Become a Carpenter in Colorado

How to become a Carpenter in Colorado? Complete a training program or apprenticeship, gain work experience, and meet any state or employer requirements for carpenters in Colorado.

How long does it take? Most paths into the carpenter field take 1 to 5 years, depending on whether you complete a trade school program, a registered apprenticeship, or a combination of both.

What do carpenters earn in Colorado? The median annual wage for carpenters in Colorado is $62,830 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $47,020 and experienced professionals can earn $90,740 or more 1.

How to Become a Carpenter in Colorado

  1. Finish high school or earn a GED. Most Colorado training programs and registered apprenticeships require a high school diploma or GED to enroll.
  2. Complete a training program or apprenticeship. Enroll in an approved trade school program or a registered apprenticeship in Colorado that combines classroom instruction with supervised hands-on hours.
  3. Gain supervised work experience. Build documented on-the-job hours under a qualified supervisor; confirm the exact total currently required with the licensing board.
  4. Meet state and employer requirements. Confirm any registration, certification, or employer requirements that apply to carpenters in Colorado before you start working.

Steps and hour totals vary by credential level; confirm current requirements with the state board before you apply.

Carpenter Apprenticeship Information in Colorado

Apprenticeships combine paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction and typically last 3 to 5 years. Colorado’s apprenticeship program is administered by the Department of Employment Services - Registered Apprenticeship 3.

Contact Information:

  • Office: Colorado Department of Labor and Employment - Apprenticeship
  • Address: 633 17th Street, Denver, CO 80202-3660
  • Phone: (720) 204-8608
  • Email: [email protected]

Federal Prevailing Wage in Colorado

Under the Davis-Bacon Act, carpenters working on federally funded construction projects in Colorado earn a prevailing wage set by the U.S. Department of Labor. Recent Colorado general wage determinations show approximately $33.11 per hour in base pay plus $12.17 per hour in fringe benefits, for an effective hourly rate of about $45.28 (Source: DOL Wage and Hour Division, Davis-Bacon wage determinations, 2026) 4.

Prevailing wages apply to federal construction contracts above the Davis-Bacon threshold and may differ from typical private-sector pay reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Rates also vary by county and by classification within carpenter work.

Carpenter Wages by Metro Area in Colorado

Carpenters Wages by Metro Area in Colorado

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), carpenters wages in Colorado vary by metro area.

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)		Experienced
(90th pctile)
Denver-Aurora-Centennial7,250$64,910$68,130$48,160$89,990
Colorado Springs1,220$57,430$61,230$43,090$77,040
Greeley560$57,880$58,820$45,870$73,380
Boulder540$59,760$63,570$42,670$81,310
Fort Collins-Loveland510$58,310$60,560$40,840$76,810
Grand Junction340$60,230$62,280$44,290$80,100
Pueblo180$56,150$58,130$38,510$77,380

Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for carpenters in Colorado? Colorado currently employs approximately 12,740 carpenters 1. Nationally, carpenter employment is projected to grow 4.5% from 2024 to 2034 2.

What training programs are available in Colorado? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in Colorado. You can also contact the Department of Employment Services - Registered Apprenticeship for apprenticeship opportunities.

How much do carpenters earn in Colorado compared to the national average? The median annual wage for carpenters in Colorado is $62,830, which is $3,520 above the national median of $59,310 according to BLS data 1.

In Colorado

Top local programs

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Citations

About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.

References

  1. Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎

  2. Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎

  3. Department of Employment Services - Registered Apprenticeship: https://www.apprenticeship.gov/ ↩︎

  4. U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division - Davis-Bacon General Wage Determinations: https://sam.gov/wage-determinations ↩︎

Data sources

Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.

DataProviderVintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsMay 2025
Employment ProjectionsU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data SystemNational Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)U.S. Department of Educationlatest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)U.S. Department of Educationlatest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirementsCareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programsCareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor)latest release (updated 2025-10-25)
O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones)U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.)O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13)