Apprentice Electrician Pay in Colorado
Updated 2026-10-30 · Based on 6 active job postings with disclosed pay · Compared to BLS OES data · 8 postings in the last 90 days, up 88% vs. run rate
ElectricianDB tracks 6 active apprentice electricians openings in Colorado, 6 with disclosed pay. Median hourly pay is $28.55, with the middle 50% earning $22.49–$32.62.
Compared to the national median of $30/hr, Colorado pays 4.83% below average.
The Colorado electrician labor market
Colorado is a stable, skilled-trade-friendly electrician market centered on Denver's commercial base, institutional work, and a growing advanced-industry perimeter. The Denver metro — downtown towers, hospital expansions, airport-area logistics, and the Denver Tech Center corridor — provides steady commercial volume, while the state university system, K-12 bond programs, and federal installations (Buckley Space Force Base, NREL's Golden campus, the Denver Federal Center) add prevailing-wage-covered public work. Advanced manufacturing is the growth edge: microchip and aerospace suppliers along the Front Range, EV and battery facilities, and a semiconductor-adjacent ecosystem that rewards instrumentation and controls electricians. Data centers are scaling in the Denver suburbs and Colorado Springs, drawn by climate and power. Licensing is state-level through DORA (residential wireman, journeyman, master electrician) with consistent statewide enforcement — one of the cleaner credential regimes in the West, and genuinely portable within the state. Colorado is not right-to-work in the strictest sense but union density outside Denver public work is moderate (locals include Local 68 Denver, Local 111 Denver linemen/utility, Local 113 Colorado Springs, and Local 969 Grand Junction); state prevailing wage covers public projects above thresholds. The workforce skews experienced and stable — Colorado attracts and retains journeymen with lifestyle and pay rather than churning travelers — but the retirement wave is visible and apprentice pipelines, while healthy, trail demand in the mountain and rural counties where service electricians command surprising premiums. For electricians seeking a balance of rate, stability, and quality of life, the Front Range is among the best combinations in the country; for rate maximization, cleared federal work and the advanced-manufacturing builds lead.
Government data (BLS)
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports Colorado Electricians wages (May 2025 OES): median $29.92, 75th percentile $37.73, 90th percentile $45.27.
Source: BLS OES Colorado (May 2025 OES)
Our postings median ($32.25/hr) runs 8% above the BLS statewide median — posted openings skew toward higher-paying roles than the survey average.
Union data (IBEW)
| Local | City | Journeyman base ($/hr) | Contract | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 68 | Denver | $49.35 | 2025 | asksparkyai.com |
| 113 | Colorado Springs | $40.70 | 2025 | asksparkyai.com |
| 12 | Pueblo | $35.40 | 2023 | asksparkyai.com |
| 111 | Grand Junction | $31.60 | 2026 | asksparkyai.com |
Pay comparison
| Metric | Our Data | BLS | IBEW |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median ($/hr) | $28.55 | $29.92 | $38.05 |
| 25th percentile ($/hr) | $22.49 | — | — |
| 75th percentile ($/hr) | $32.62 | $37.73 | — |
| 90th percentile ($/hr) | — | $45.27 | — |
| Sample size | 6 postings | OES survey | 4 locals |
| Source | ElectricianDB | BLS OES | Listed above |
Why the columns differ: our percentiles come from 6 live postings (median + middle 50%). The BLS column shows the three percentiles our dataset carries (median, 75th, 90th) — BLS publishes more than we import. IBEW figures are journeyman base rates (median across 4 in-state locals), not survey percentiles. How we calculate pay →
Pay by license tier in Colorado
| Tier | Median ($/hr) | Postings |
|---|---|---|
| helper | $33 | 1 |
| apprentice | $31.49 | 7 |
Tier medians come from posting classifications, not license verification.
Highest-paying apprentice electricians openings in Colorado
- Critical Facilities Technician - Electrician (TS/SCI with Polygr — Fluor Corporation (Aurora) · $24.04–$44.71/hr
- Electrical Technician - Low Voltage Systems — Voyager Technologies, Inc (Penrose) · $31.50–$40/hr
- TRILLIUM IS HIRING DORA LICENSED ELECTRICIANS FOR A PROJECT IN PARKER, CO!! $40/HR PLUS PER DIEM!!! — Trillium Construction (Parker) · $35–$40/hr
- Apprentice Electrician (TS/SCI with Polygraph Clearance Required — Fluor Corporation (Aurora) · $23.08–$39.90/hr
- Energy Storage Electrical Helper I — Mortenson (Brush) · $30–$36/hr
Active projects driving demand
- Denver metro commercial, hospital, and airport-area construction (commercial)
- Front Range advanced manufacturing and aerospace facilities (industrial)
- Federal installations (Buckley SFB, NREL, Denver Federal Center) (commercial)
- Denver suburbs/Colorado Springs data center development (data center)
IBEW locals in Colorado
Sample postings
Pay above is sourced from active postings including:
- IES Holdings – Electrical Apprentice – $18/hr (Longmont, CO) View posting →
- Fluor Corporation – Apprentice Electrician (TS/SCI with Polygraph Clearance Required – $23.08 – $39.90/hr (Aurora, CO) View posting →
- Fluor Corporation – Critical Facilities Technician - Electrician (TS/SCI with Polygr – $24.04 – $44.71/hr (Aurora, CO) View posting →
Top employers hiring apprentice electricians in Colorado
Apprentice Electrician openings in Colorado
Frequently asked questions
What does a apprentice electrician earn in Colorado?
Based on 6 active postings on ElectricianDB, median hourly pay is $28.55, with the middle 50% earning $22.49–$32.62. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a Colorado median of $29.92 for Electricians (May 2025 OES). IBEW journeyman base rates across 4 in-state locals median $38.05/hr.
How does Colorado compare to the national median?
Colorado pays 4.83% below the national median of $30/hr for apprentice electricians.
Who pays apprentice electricians the most in Colorado?
Among employers with disclosed pay, the most active are Interstates (2 postings), IES Holdings (1 posting), Mortenson (1 posting).
What does an electrician make in Colorado?
Based on 8 disclosed-pay postings tracked by ElectricianDB, the median hourly pay for apprentice electrician work in Colorado is $32.25/hr. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a statewide electrician median of $29.92/hr.
Where are the highest-paying electrician jobs in Colorado?
The strongest recent postings cluster around Aurora, Penrose, Parker. Top-end rates on active postings run above the $32.25/hr median — see the highest-paying openings listed on this page for current examples.
Which employers pay electricians the most in Colorado?
Among employers with repeated postings in Colorado, a mix of regional contractors show the highest average disclosed minimums. Averages reflect posted ranges, not verified take-home pay.
Do you need a Colorado electrician license to work there?
Most states require a license for unsupervised electrical work, and requirements vary by state and municipality — see our step-by-step licensing pathway for Colorado for the exact hours, exam, and fees.
What's the prevailing wage for electricians in Colorado?
Prevailing-wage coverage depends on federal and state funding rules that differ by project and jurisdiction — see Colorado prevailing wage rates for the current determinations.
How many electrician jobs are posted in Colorado right now?
ElectricianDB is currently tracking 8 disclosed-pay apprentice electrician postings in Colorado. Counts change as contractors post and fill roles.
More on Colorado
More pay data in Colorado
Already licensed in Colorado? Check Colorado reciprocity →