Do electricians need a license in Colorado?

Yes. Colorado requires state-level licensing or registration for electricians, administered by the Department of Regulatory Agencies - Board of Electrical. See the licensing section above for credential types and current requirements.

What apprenticeships are available for electricians 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 an Electrician in Colorado (2026)

Q: How much do electricians earn in Colorado?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), electricians in Colorado earned a median annual wage of approximately $62,230. Employment concentration in Colorado is about 1.22 times the national average for this occupation.

Q: What is the job outlook for electricians in Colorado?

Colorado currently employs approximately 17,010 workers, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 9.5% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034.

Q: What is the federal prevailing wage for electricians in Colorado?

Under the Davis-Bacon Act, electricians on federally funded construction projects in Colorado earn a prevailing wage of approximately $31.75 per hour in base pay plus $13.25 per hour in fringe benefits, for an effective hourly rate of about $45.00 (Source: U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division, Davis-Bacon wage determinations, 2026).

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Colorado electricians earn a median annual wage of $62,230 ($29.92/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 17,010 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -1.5% below the national median of $63,190 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $62,230 ($29.92/hr)
25th percentile: $48,880 per year
75th percentile: $78,470 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $94,160 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $45,520 per year
Workers employed in Colorado: 17,010
Versus national median: -1.5% below the U.S. median of $63,190
Job concentration: Location quotient 1.22 - this occupation is more 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 17,010 electricians earning a median $62,230 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Training as an electrician here means working through a trade school or registered apprenticeship and meeting the Department of Regulatory Agencies - Board of Electrical credentialing requirements.

Colorado employs approximately 17,010 electricians according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $62,230 ¹. The state’s concentration of electrician jobs is 1.22x the national average, indicating strong demand. Nationally, electrician employment is projected to grow 9.5% from 2024 to 2034, with about 81,000 openings per year ². This page covers how to become an Electrician in Colorado, including licensing 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
Licensing authority: Department of Regulatory Agencies - Board of Electrical
Median wage (Colorado): $62,230 per year ¹
Exam requirement: Third-party exam required

Quick Answers About How to Become an Electrician in Colorado

How to become an Electrician in Colorado? Colorado requires credentials such as Journeyman Electrician, Electrician Apprentice, Master Electrician. The licensing authority is the Department of Regulatory Agencies - Board of Electrical. You also need to complete an approved training program or apprenticeship.

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

Do I need a license in Colorado? Yes. Colorado has licensing or registration requirements for electricians. See the licensing section below for details.

What do electricians earn in Colorado? The median annual wage for electricians in Colorado is $62,230 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $45,520 and experienced professionals can earn $94,160 or more ¹.

How to Become an Electrician 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.
Pass the state exam and apply for your license. Apply to the Department of Regulatory Agencies - Board of Electrical, pass the required examination, and obtain the electrician credential before working unsupervised in Colorado.

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

Electrician License Requirements in Colorado

The Department of Regulatory Agencies - Board of Electrical oversees electrician licensing in Colorado.

License Types

License	Requirements
Journeyman Electrician	The State Electrical Board licenses, registers, and regulates electricians, apprentices, and electrical contractors.
Electrician Apprentice	The State Electrical Board licenses, registers, and regulates electricians, apprentices, and electrical contractors.
Master Electrician	The State Electrical Board licenses, registers, and regulates electricians, apprentices, and electrical contractors.
Residential Wireman	The State Electrical Board licenses, registers, and regulates electricians, apprentices, and electrical contractors.

Additional Requirements

Exam: Third-party exam required
Experience: Work experience required

License information sourced from CareerOneStop ³.

Electrician 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 ⁴.

Contact Information:

Office: Denver Joint Electrical Apprenticeship & Training Committee
Address: 5610 Logan St,, Denver, CO 80216
Phone: (303) 295-1903
Email: [email protected]

Federal Prevailing Wage in Colorado

Under the Davis-Bacon Act, electricians 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 $31.75 per hour in base pay plus $13.25 per hour in fringe benefits, for an effective hourly rate of about $45.00 (Source: DOL Wage and Hour Division, Davis-Bacon wage determinations, 2026) ⁵.

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 electrician work.

Electrician Wages by Metro Area in Colorado

Electricians Wages by Metro Area in Colorado

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), electricians 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	10,450	$63,150	$67,590	$46,070	$94,160
Colorado Springs	1,290	$59,210	$61,310	$40,410	$81,630
Greeley	1,240	$63,290	$67,230	$43,010	$94,540
Fort Collins-Loveland	830	$61,410	$64,930	$44,720	$91,880
Grand Junction	430	$56,550	$58,790	$39,140	$80,190
Boulder	420	$64,120	$68,220	$47,110	$94,890
Pueblo	360	$60,200	$63,720	$38,770	$94,900

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 electricians in Colorado? Colorado currently employs approximately 17,010 electricians ¹. Nationally, electrician employment is projected to grow 9.5% from 2024 to 2034 ².

Can I work as an electrician in Colorado with an out-of-state license? Contact the Department of Regulatory Agencies - Board of Electrical for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

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 electricians earn in Colorado compared to the national average? The median annual wage for electricians in Colorado is $62,230, which is $120 below the national median of $62,350 according to BLS data ¹.

In Colorado

Best Trade Schools in Colorado (2026)

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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

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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
CareerOneStop - Licensed Occupations: https://www.careeronestop.org/Toolkit/Training/find-licenses.aspx ↩︎
Department of Employment Services - Registered Apprenticeship: https://www.apprenticeship.gov/ ↩︎
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.

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)