What apprenticeships are available for construction trades workers 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 Construction Trades Worker in Colorado (2026)

Q: How much do construction trades workers earn in Colorado?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), construction trades workers in Colorado earned a median annual wage of approximately $47,900.

Q: What is the job outlook for construction trades workers in Colorado?

Colorado currently employs approximately 18,680 workers, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 7.3% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034.

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Colorado employs about 18,680 construction trades workers earning a median $47,900 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Most construction trades workers train through a trade school program or a registered apprenticeship before entering the field in Colorado.

Compare Construction Trades Worker 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	Front Range Community College	61.3	$4,663 in-state / $17,263 out-of-state	$50,353	35%	Yes*	31 mi
4	Arapahoe Community College	57.3	$4,434 in-state / $17,034 out-of-state	$57,589	29%	Yes*	31 mi
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5	Colorado Mesa University	56.7	$9,927 in-state / $25,124 out-of-state	$58,601	41%	Yes*	165 mi
6	Pickens Technical College	55.0	$5,140 in-state / $9,250 out-of-state	$44,693	76%	—	42 mi
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7	Pueblo Community College	51.5	$5,049 in-state / $17,649 out-of-state	$49,179	31%	Yes*	113 mi
8	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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9	Otero College	49.9	$4,576 in-state / $7,286 out-of-state	$38,328	38%	Yes*	164 mi
10	Community College of Aurora	47.0	$4,470 in-state / $17,070 out-of-state	$51,722	33%	Yes*	41 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 18,680 construction trades workers according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $47,900 ¹. Nationally, construction trades worker employment is projected to grow 7.3% from 2024 to 2034, with about 129,400 openings per year ². This page covers how to become a Construction Trades Worker 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): $47,900 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a Construction Trades Worker in Colorado

How to become a Construction Trades Worker in Colorado? Complete a training program or apprenticeship, gain work experience, and meet any state or employer requirements for construction trades workers in Colorado.

How long does it take? Most paths into the construction trades worker 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 construction trades workers earn in Colorado? The median annual wage for construction trades workers in Colorado is $47,900 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $38,410 and experienced professionals can earn $62,010 or more ¹.

How to Become a Construction Trades Worker 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 construction trades workers in Colorado before you start working.

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

Construction Trades Worker 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]

Construction Trades Worker Wages by Metro Area in Colorado

Construction Laborers Wages by Metro Area in Colorado

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), construction laborers 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	9,650	$48,760	$50,940	$38,990	$63,070
Colorado Springs	1,790	$46,340	$47,780	$37,630	$60,290
Greeley	1,430	$46,150	$49,200	$38,400	$62,400
Fort Collins-Loveland	930	$47,550	$49,620	$37,800	$62,420
Grand Junction	570	$44,740	$48,490	$36,040	$83,780
Boulder	540	$47,980	$51,160	$38,160	$66,560
Pueblo	530	$45,530	$47,950	$38,200	$58,220

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 construction trades workers in Colorado? Colorado currently employs approximately 18,680 construction trades workers ¹. Nationally, construction trades worker employment is projected to grow 7.3% 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 construction trades workers earn in Colorado compared to the national average? The median annual wage for construction trades workers in Colorado is $47,900, which is $1,170 above the national median of $46,730 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)