Industrial Machinery Mechanic Apprenticeship in Colorado

Wages, programs & career outlook

Industrial machinery mechanics (millwrights and maintenance mechanics) keep factory equipment running — production lines, conveyors, pumps, robotic cells, and packaging machines. It's heavy diagnostic work with downtime pressure: a stopped line costs money every minute.

CO Median Salary
$73,770/yr
+16% vs. national
National Median
$63,760/yr
CO Employment
5,850
Industrial Machinery Mechanics employed
CO Sponsors
7
Registered programs
Training Term
4.0 yrs
Time-Based
Job Growth
16.1%
2024–2034 projected
Annual Openings
45,700
Nationally, per yr

Industrial Machinery Mechanic Apprenticeship in Colorado: Quick Facts

What apprenticeship means here

A registered industrial machinery 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 industrial machinery mechanic wages in Colorado are $73,770/year, +16% above the national median of $63,760. Wages scale with experience — journey-level workers earn substantially more than apprentices.

Where to find programs

Colorado has 7 registered apprenticeship sponsors for industrial machinery 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 16.1% job growth for industrial machinery mechanics nationally between 2024 and 2034, with approximately 45,700 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 Industrial Machinery Mechanics in Colorado across all experience levels.

10th pct
$51,770
Median
$73,770
90th pct
$101,470
Middle 50% of workers earn $61,090$83,930

Current Industrial Machinery Mechanic Apprenticeship Openings in Colorado

No industrial machinery 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.

Industrial Machinery Mechanic Apprenticeship Sponsors in Colorado

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

Organization City County
Equipment Maintenance Technicians Aurora Adams County
Timken Motor and Crane LLC Broomfield Broomfield County
Stolle Machinery - Centennial Plant Centennial Arapahoe County
Colorado Wyoming Millwright and Machinery Erectors Denver Denver County
King Soopers Bakery IUOE Local 1 JATC Denver Denver County
PSCO-Production Fossil Fuel Denver Denver County
Stolle Machinery - Englewood Plant Englewood Arapahoe County
Search apprenticeship.gov for current Industrial Machinery Mechanic openings

Filter by occupation code 49-9041 and state CO for the most relevant results.

Industrial Machinery Mechanic Apprenticeship in Colorado

The 7 Industrial Machinery Mechanic-related registered sponsors in Colorado mean apprenticeship programs exist but aren't abundant. Building relationships with local contractors and trade unions is often more effective than waiting for formal application windows.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do Industrial Machinery Mechanics make in Colorado?
Industrial Machinery Mechanics in Colorado earn a median salary of $73,770/yr according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2024). This is above the national median of $63,760 for the trade.
How long is an Industrial Machinery Mechanic apprenticeship?
Most Industrial Machinery Mechanic apprenticeships run 4 years. Apprentices work under a journeyman while attending classes, typically earning wages from day one with scheduled increases.
Should I do an Industrial Machinery Mechanic apprenticeship or go to trade school?
The key difference: apprenticeships pay you during training while trade schools charge tuition. Many employers prefer apprenticeship-trained Industrial Machinery Mechanics, but trade school can give you a head start on the classroom requirements.
Where can I apply for an Industrial Machinery Mechanic apprenticeship in Colorado?
Contact one of the 7 Industrial Machinery 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 Industrial Machinery Mechanic apprentices get paid during training?
Yes. Apprentices earn wages from day one, typically starting at 40–60% of the journeyman rate (roughly $36,885/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. Industrial Machinery Mechanics also train through trade school programs — shorter timeline, more upfront cost.

Compare 66 Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies programs nationwide →
Too few Colorado-based programs to compare locally — see the national list and filter.

Industrial Machinery Mechanic in Other States

Other Apprenticeships in Colorado

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