Welder Apprenticeship in Colorado

Wages, programs & career outlook

Welders join metal using heat and filler material — structural steel, pressure piping, aerospace alloys, automotive assemblies. Process matters: MIG for production speed, TIG for precision, stick for field repairs, and certified procedures for pressure or critical welds.

CO Median Salary
$57,200/yr
+12% vs. national
National Median
$51,000/yr
CO Employment
4,470
Welders employed
CO Sponsors
2
Registered programs
Training Term
3.0 yrs
Time-Based
Job Growth
2.2%
2024–2034 projected
Annual Openings
45,600
Nationally, per yr

Welder Apprenticeship in Colorado: Quick Facts

What apprenticeship means here

A registered welder apprenticeship in Colorado combines paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction. Programs typically run 3.0 years and follow a time-based structure. You earn wages from day one — apprentices are employees, not students.

Colorado pay vs. national

Median welder wages in Colorado are $57,200/year, +12% above the national median of $51,000. Wages scale with experience — journey-level workers earn substantially more than apprentices.

Where to find programs

Colorado has 2 registered apprenticeship sponsors for welder 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 2.2% job growth for welders nationally between 2024 and 2034, with approximately 45,600 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 Welders in Colorado across all experience levels.

10th pct
$44,070
Median
$57,200
90th pct
$77,690
Middle 50% of workers earn $48,360$65,120

Current Welder Apprenticeship Openings in Colorado

No welder 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.

Welder Apprenticeship Sponsors in Colorado

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

Organization City County
FABco, LLC Denver Denver County
Most Wanted Welding Grand Junction
Search apprenticeship.gov for current Welder openings

Filter by occupation code 51-4121 and state CO for the most relevant results.

Welder Apprenticeship in Colorado

The 2 Welder-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 Welders make in Colorado?
The BLS reports a median wage of $57,200/yr for Welders in Colorado (May 2024 data). Experience, union membership, and specialization all affect where you fall in the range.
How long is a Welder apprenticeship?
Most Welder apprenticeships run 3 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 Welders?
An apprenticeship lets you earn while you learn over 3 years with no tuition cost. Trade school is faster (6–24 months) but costs money upfront. Both can lead to the same journeyman credential.
Where can I apply for a Welder apprenticeship in Colorado?
Contact one of the 2 Welder-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.
How much do Welder apprentices earn?
Apprentices are paid employees from the start. In Colorado, a first-year Welder apprentice might earn around $28,600/yr (roughly half the $57,200 journeyman median), with scheduled raises throughout the 3-year program.

Prefer Trade School Instead?

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

Compare Precision Metal Working programs in Colorado →
Or see all 332 programs nationwide.

Welder in Other States

Other Apprenticeships in Colorado

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