How to Become a Plumber in Colorado (2026)

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Colorado employs about 10,080 plumbers earning a median $63,240 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Training as a plumber here means working through a trade school or registered apprenticeship and meeting the Department of Regulatory Agencies - Board of Plumbers credentialing requirements.

Compare Plumber 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
174.9Contact school for pricing$45,93597%—0 mi
266.7Contact school for pricingNot reported73%Yes*177 mi
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364.2$4,859 in-state / $17,459 out-of-state$62,69532%Yes*9 mi
460.4$8,294$49,93054%Yes*314 mi
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551.8$2,060 in-state / $8,684 out-of-state$48,65231%Yes*334 mi
650.8$3,680 in-state / $4,960 out-of-state$48,24233%Yes*348 mi
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746.6$1,851 in-state / $4,131 out-of-state$53,85523%Yes*291 mi
846.0$6,400 in-state / $14,328 out-of-state$61,77429%Yes*266 mi
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943.0$4,346Not reported12%Yes*329 mi
1030.0$4,714$51,79715%Yes*334 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 10,080 plumbers according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $63,240 1. Nationally, plumber employment is projected to grow 4.5% from 2024 to 2034, with about 44,000 openings per year 2. This page covers how to become a Plumber 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 Plumbers
  • Median wage (Colorado): $63,240 per year 1
  • Exam requirement: Third-party exam required

Quick Answers About How to Become a Plumber in Colorado

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

How long does it take? Most paths into the plumber 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 plumbers. See the licensing section below for details.

What do plumbers earn in Colorado? The median annual wage for plumbers in Colorado is $63,240 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $47,770 and experienced professionals can earn $100,240 or more 1.

How to Become a Plumber 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. Pass the state exam and apply for your license. Apply to the Department of Regulatory Agencies - Board of Plumbers, pass the required examination, and obtain the plumber credential before working unsupervised in Colorado.

Steps and hour totals vary by credential level; confirm current requirements with the apprenticeship sponsor or state apprenticeship office.

Plumber License Requirements in Colorado

The Department of Regulatory Agencies - Board of Plumbers oversees plumber licensing in Colorado.

License Types

LicenseRequirements
Plumbing ApprenticeThe State Plumbing Board licenses, registers, and regulates plumbers, apprentices, and plumbing contractors. The Board does not regulate pipe fitters, drain cleaners, or gas pipe installers.
Journeyman PlumberThe State Plumbing Board licenses, registers, and regulates plumbers, apprentices, and plumbing contractors. The Board does not regulate pipe fitters, drain cleaners, or gas pipe installers.
Residential PlumberThe State Plumbing Board licenses, registers, and regulates plumbers, apprentices, and plumbing contractors. The Board does not regulate pipe fitters, drain cleaners, or gas pipe installers.
Water Conditioning InstallerThe State Plumbing Board licenses, registers, and regulates plumbers, apprentices, and plumbing contractors. The Board does not regulate pipe fitters, drain cleaners, or gas pipe installers.
Master PlumberThe State Plumbing Board licenses, registers, and regulates plumbers, apprentices, and plumbing contractors. The Board does not regulate pipe fitters, drain cleaners, or gas pipe installers.
Water Conditioning PrincipalThe State Plumbing Board licenses, registers, and regulates plumbers, apprentices, and plumbing contractors. The Board does not regulate pipe fitters, drain cleaners, or gas pipe installers.

Additional Requirements

  • Background check: No criminal record prohibitions
  • Exam: Third-party exam required
  • Experience: Work experience required

License information sourced from CareerOneStop 3.

Plumber 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: 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, plumbers 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 $41.32 per hour in base pay plus $16.01 per hour in fringe benefits, for an effective hourly rate of about $57.33 (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 plumber work.

Plumber Wages by Metro Area in Colorado

Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters Wages by Metro Area in Colorado

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

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)		Experienced
(90th pctile)
Denver-Aurora-Centennial5,750$63,900$71,910$48,640$102,770
Colorado Springs1,060$60,510$64,940$46,070$87,730
Fort Collins-Loveland800$60,610$64,440$45,070$93,320
Greeley520$59,350$62,400$46,790$81,180
Boulder420$64,890$72,550$49,470$101,270
Grand Junction300$61,430$64,630$45,170$91,580
Pueblo150$64,700$72,220$44,550$112,390

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 plumbers in Colorado? Colorado currently employs approximately 10,080 plumbers 1. Nationally, plumber employment is projected to grow 4.5% from 2024 to 2034 2.

Can I work as a plumber in Colorado with an out-of-state license? Contact the Department of Regulatory Agencies - Board of Plumbers 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 plumbers earn in Colorado compared to the national average? The median annual wage for plumbers in Colorado is $63,240, which is $270 above the national median of $62,970 according to BLS data 1.

In Colorado

Top local programs

Related trades & nearby areas

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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. CareerOneStop - Licensed Occupations: https://www.careeronestop.org/Toolkit/Training/find-licenses.aspx ↩︎

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

  5. 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)