Diesel Mechanic Apprenticeship in Colorado

Wages, programs & career outlook

Diesel mechanics service the engines that power commercial trucks, buses, construction equipment, and farm machinery. The work ranges from routine fleet maintenance to diagnosing electronic engine faults on rigs that can't sit idle long.

CO Median Salary
$66,330/yr
+9% vs. national
National Median
$60,640/yr
CO Employment
4,650
Diesel Mechanics employed
CO Sponsors
1
Registered programs
Training Term
4.0 yrs
Time-Based
Job Growth
2.4%
2024–2034 projected
Annual Openings
26,500
Nationally, per yr

Diesel Mechanic Apprenticeship in Colorado: Quick Facts

What apprenticeship means here

A registered diesel 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 diesel mechanic wages in Colorado are $66,330/year, +9% above the national median of $60,640. Wages scale with experience — journey-level workers earn substantially more than apprentices.

Where to find programs

Colorado has 1 registered apprenticeship sponsor for diesel 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 2.4% job growth for diesel mechanics nationally between 2024 and 2034, with approximately 26,500 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 Diesel Mechanics in Colorado across all experience levels.

10th pct
$47,330
Median
$66,330
90th pct
$95,240
Middle 50% of workers earn $56,450$78,680

Current Diesel Mechanic Apprenticeship Openings in Colorado

No diesel 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.

Diesel Mechanic Apprenticeship Sponsors in Colorado

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

Organization City County
Cummins Inc. Henderson Adams County
Search apprenticeship.gov for current Diesel Mechanic openings

Filter by occupation code 49-3031 and state CO for the most relevant results.

Diesel Mechanic Apprenticeship in Colorado

With 1 trade-specific sponsor in our directory, Colorado's Diesel Mechanic apprenticeship landscape is limited. Candidates should also consider nearby states or contact national union offices for referrals.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average Diesel Mechanic salary in Colorado?
The median annual wage for Diesel Mechanics in Colorado is $66,330 as of May 2024. Wages range from $47,330 at the 10th percentile to $95,240 at the 90th percentile.
What is the length of a Diesel Mechanic apprenticeship program?
A typical Diesel Mechanic apprenticeship lasts approximately 4 years (8,000 hours of on-the-job training). The program combines paid work experience with related classroom instruction.
What's the difference between a Diesel Mechanic apprenticeship and trade school?
The key difference: apprenticeships pay you during training while trade schools charge tuition. Many employers prefer apprenticeship-trained Diesel Mechanics, but trade school can give you a head start on the classroom requirements.
Where can I apply for a Diesel Mechanic apprenticeship in Colorado?
Contact one of the 1 Diesel Mechanic-adjacent registered sponsor 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 Diesel Mechanic apprentices get paid during training?
Yes. Apprentices earn wages from day one, typically starting at 40–60% of the journeyman rate (roughly $33,165/yr in Colorado). Wages increase at regular intervals — usually every 6 months — as you progress through the program.

Prefer Trade School Instead?

Apprenticeships pay from day one, but the classroom-first path may fit better for some. Diesel 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.

Diesel Mechanic in Other States

Other Apprenticeships in Colorado

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