Automotive Mechanic Apprenticeship in Colorado

Wages, programs & career outlook

Automotive mechanics diagnose and repair cars, SUVs, and light trucks — engines, brakes, transmissions, electrical systems, and the computer controls that tie it all together. Work happens in dealership service bays, independent repair shops, or fleet maintenance garages.

CO Median Salary
$59,340/yr
+19% vs. national
National Median
$49,670/yr
CO Employment
11,960
Automotive Mechanics employed
CO Sponsors
10
Registered programs
Training Term
4.0 yrs
Time-Based
Job Growth
4.2%
2024–2034 projected
Annual Openings
70,000
Nationally, per yr

Automotive Mechanic Apprenticeship in Colorado: Quick Facts

What apprenticeship means here

A registered automotive mechanic apprenticeship in Colorado combines paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction. Programs typically run 4.0 years and follow a time-based structure. You earn wages from day one — apprentices are employees, not students.

Colorado pay vs. national

Median automotive mechanic wages in Colorado are $59,340/year, +19% above the national median of $49,670. Wages scale with experience — journey-level workers earn substantially more than apprentices.

Where to find programs

Colorado has 10 registered apprenticeship sponsors for automotive mechanic listed in the U.S. Department of Labor's apprenticeship.gov directory. The sponsor list further down includes joint labor-management programs (JATCs), individual employers, and contractor associations.

Job-market outlook

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 4.2% job growth for automotive mechanics nationally between 2024 and 2034, with approximately 70,000 annual openings each year (replacement plus growth combined). Apprenticeship demand tends to track local construction and infrastructure spending — Colorado-specific outlook can vary from national figures.

Colorado Wage Spread

Annual wages for Automotive Mechanics in Colorado across all experience levels.

10th pct
$39,210
Median
$59,340
90th pct
$92,660
Middle 50% of workers earn $46,750$76,290

Current Automotive Mechanic Apprenticeship Openings in Colorado

No automotive mechanic apprenticeship openings are currently listed on apprenticeship.gov for Colorado. The sponsors listed below accept applications on a rolling basis — contact them directly. Consider setting up an alert on apprenticeship.gov to be notified when new listings are posted.

Listings aggregated from apprenticeship.gov (US Dept. of Labor). Data refreshed daily.

Automotive Mechanic Apprenticeship Sponsors in Colorado

10 automotive mechanic-related registered sponsors identified in the DOL ApprenticeshipUSA directory for Colorado. Directory lists sponsor names only — contact each organization directly to confirm current automotive mechanic apprenticeship openings.

Organization City County
Asbury Automotive Group Aurora Arapahoe County
Stevinson Toyota East Aurora
Mike Maroone Cadillac Buick GMC Boulder
Stang Auto Tech, Inc. Broomfield
Arapahoe Hyundai Centennial
Mike Maroone Automotive Colorado Springs El Paso County
Larry H. Miller Chrysler Dodge Ram FIAT Denver DDR Denver
EAGLE AUTOMOTIVE SERVICE Littleton Arapahoe County
Grease Monkey Littleton Arapahoe County
Jeremy's Garage, LLC Pueblo West Pueblo County
Search apprenticeship.gov for current Automotive Mechanic openings

Filter by occupation code 49-3023 and state CO for the most relevant results.

Automotive Mechanic Apprenticeship in Colorado

Colorado has 10 registered sponsors our directory identifies as Automotive Mechanic-adjacent — a functional apprenticeship pipeline concentrated in metro areas. Union locals and joint apprenticeship committees account for most placements.

Frequently Asked Questions

What do Automotive Mechanics earn in Colorado?
Automotive Mechanics in Colorado earn a median salary of $59,340/yr according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2024). This is above the national median of $49,670 for the trade.
What is the length of an Automotive Mechanic apprenticeship program?
Most Automotive Mechanic apprenticeships run 4 years. Apprentices work under a journeyman while attending classes, typically earning wages from day one with scheduled increases.
Is an apprenticeship better than trade school for Automotive Mechanics?
The key difference: apprenticeships pay you during training while trade schools charge tuition. Many employers prefer apprenticeship-trained Automotive Mechanics, but trade school can give you a head start on the classroom requirements.
How do I find an Automotive Mechanic apprenticeship in Colorado?
Contact one of the 10 Automotive Mechanic-adjacent registered sponsors in Colorado (listed below), or search apprenticeship.gov for current openings. Local union halls, community colleges, and the state apprenticeship agency are good first stops.
Do Automotive Mechanic apprentices get paid during training?
Apprentices are paid employees from the start. In Colorado, a first-year Automotive Mechanic apprentice might earn around $29,670/yr (roughly half the $59,340 journeyman median), with scheduled raises throughout the 4-year program.

Prefer Trade School Instead?

Apprenticeships pay from day one, but the classroom-first path may fit better for some. Automotive Mechanics also train through trade school programs — shorter timeline, more upfront cost.

Compare Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies programs in Colorado →
Or see all 337 programs nationwide.

Automotive Mechanic in Other States

Other Apprenticeships in Colorado

Data: Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS May 2024, DOL RAPIDS Registered Apprenticeship database, ApprenticeshipUSA Sponsor Directory.