What apprenticeships are available for cnc machinists in Colorado?

In Colorado, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Department of Employment Services - Registered Apprenticeship, which works with employers and trade union locals to register programs. See the apprenticeship section above for office contact details.

How to Become a CNC Machinist in Colorado (2026)

Q: How much do cnc machinists earn in Colorado?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), cnc machinists in Colorado earned a median annual wage of approximately $60,200. Employment concentration in Colorado is roughly 0.53 of the national average, meaning fewer workers per capita than the U.S. as a whole.

Q: What is the job outlook for cnc machinists in Colorado?

Colorado currently employs approximately 2,800 workers, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 0.0% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034.

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Colorado machinists earn a median annual wage of $60,200 ($28.94/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 2,800 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately 2.5% above the national median of $58,750 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $60,200 ($28.94/hr)
25th percentile: $49,170 per year
75th percentile: $74,110 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $84,510 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $44,650 per year
Workers employed in Colorado: 2,800
Versus national median: 2.5% above the U.S. median of $58,750
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.53 - this occupation is less concentrated in Colorado than the national average

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Last reviewed June 8, 2026.

Colorado employs about 2,800 cnc machinists earning a median $60,200 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Most cnc machinists train through a trade school program or a registered apprenticeship before entering the field in Colorado.

Compare CNC Machinist 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.
#	School	BOC Score (0–100)	Tuition (published, per year)	Median grad earnings (all majors)	Graduation rate	Online	Distance
1	Emily Griffith Technical College	74.9	Contact school for pricing	$45,935	97%	—	32 mi
2	Red Rocks Community College	64.2	$4,859 in-state / $17,459 out-of-state	$62,695	32%	Yes*	22 mi
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3	Casper College	62.5	$4,470 in-state / $10,770 out-of-state	$46,963	43%	Yes*	218 mi
4	Seward County Community College	61.3	$4,032 in-state / $5,408 out-of-state	$53,375	50%	Yes*	313 mi
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5	Front Range Community College	61.3	$4,663 in-state / $17,263 out-of-state	$50,353	35%	Yes*	31 mi
6	Eastern Wyoming College	60.4	$4,290 in-state / $10,590 out-of-state	$38,259	52%	Yes*	177 mi
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7	Colorado Mesa University	56.7	$9,927 in-state / $25,124 out-of-state	$58,601	41%	Yes*	165 mi
8	Western Wyoming Community College	52.1	$4,230 in-state / $10,530 out-of-state	$52,871	32%	Yes*	231 mi
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9	Pueblo Community College	51.5	$5,049 in-state / $17,649 out-of-state	$49,179	31%	Yes*	113 mi
10	Pikes Peak State College	50.3	$4,510 in-state / $17,110 out-of-state	$48,538	21%	Yes*	79 mi
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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 2,800 cnc machinists according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $60,200 ¹. Nationally, cnc machinist employment is projected to grow 0.0% from 2024 to 2034, with about 29,500 openings per year ². This page covers how to become a CNC Machinist 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): $60,200 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a CNC Machinist in Colorado

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

How long does it take? Most paths into the cnc machinist 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 cnc machinists earn in Colorado? The median annual wage for cnc machinists in Colorado is $60,200 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $44,650 and experienced professionals can earn $84,510 or more ¹.

How to Become a CNC Machinist in Colorado

Finish high school or earn a GED. Most Colorado training programs and registered apprenticeships require a high school diploma or GED to enroll.
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.
Gain supervised work experience. Build documented on-the-job hours under a qualified supervisor; confirm the exact total currently required with the licensing board.
Meet state and employer requirements. Confirm any registration, certification, or employer requirements that apply to cnc machinists in Colorado before you start working.

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

CNC Machinist 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]

CNC Machinist Wages by Metro Area in Colorado

Machinists Wages by Metro Area in Colorado

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Denver-Aurora-Centennial	1,050	$60,620	$64,370	$46,810	$84,510
Fort Collins-Loveland	480	$61,500	$61,100	$47,460	$76,950
Colorado Springs	380	$57,510	$58,730	$38,080	$76,910
Greeley	260	$58,340	$60,720	$41,540	$80,550
Boulder	240	$63,990	$71,010	$48,770	$103,170
Grand Junction	100	$49,180	$52,190	$39,070	$68,060
Pueblo	90	$57,230	$58,640	$46,730	$73,440

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 cnc machinists in Colorado? Colorado currently employs approximately 2,800 cnc machinists ¹. Nationally, cnc machinist employment is projected to grow 0.0% 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 cnc machinists earn in Colorado compared to the national average? The median annual wage for cnc machinists in Colorado is $60,200, which is $4,050 above the national median of $56,150 according to BLS data ¹.

In Colorado

Best Trade Schools in Colorado (2026)

Top local programs

Explore More Trades in Colorado

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

Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎
Department of Employment Services - Registered Apprenticeship: https://www.apprenticeship.gov/ ↩︎

Data sources

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

Data	Provider	Vintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	May 2025
Employment Projections	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System	National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)	2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirements	CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programs	CareerOneStop / 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)