Trade Schools in Colorado

Two paths into the skilled trades in Colorado. Compare both before you commit.
Path 1 · Trade School
216 programs
at 55 Colorado schools · pay tuition, finish faster
Top-paying program
$104,021/yr
Allied Health Professions · Red Rocks Community College
Avg grad earnings
$40,024/yr
first year after graduation
Browse programs ↓
Path 2 · Apprenticeship
20 trades
963 registered sponsors · get paid to learn
Top-paying trade
$108,040/yr
Electrical Power-Line Worker · median wage
Avg median wage
$67,624/yr
across all apprenticeable trades
See Colorado apprenticeships →

Apprenticeship Trades in Colorado

Earn-while-you-learn apprenticeship pathways available in Colorado, sorted by median wage. Click any trade to see Colorado-specific sponsors and live openings.

Trade Median Wage vs. National Employment
Elevator & Escalator Mechanic $117,770 +10% 380
Electrical Power-Line Worker $108,040 +17% 2,120
Boilermaker $86,980 +19%
Firefighter $76,560 +29% 6,170
Industrial Machinery Mechanic $73,770 +16% 5,850
Diesel Mechanic $66,330 +9% 4,650
Plumber & Pipefitter $63,610 +1% 9,970
Bricklayer & Blockmason $63,480 +4% 1,030
HVAC Technician $63,420 +6% 8,870
Electrician $62,090 17,140
Glazier $61,340 +11% 1,880
Ironworker $61,220 +3% 400
Carpenter $59,490 13,840
Automotive Mechanic $59,340 +19% 11,960
Machinist $58,890 +5% 2,580
Sheet Metal Worker $57,870 -5% 1,620
Welder $57,200 +12% 4,470
Roofer $55,800 +9% 3,240
Construction Painter $50,650 +4% 3,700
Insulation Worker $48,630 980

See the full Colorado apprenticeship picture — sponsors + live openings →

Browse by City in Colorado

Narrow to your metro — each city page shows local trade schools, programs, and (where available) apprenticeship listings.

Trade School Programs in Colorado

Most common skilled trade programs at Colorado trade schools. Pick a trade to compare programs across Colorado.

Vehicle Repair Technology
10 schools in CO
$40,880/yr avg grad
Welding & Metalworking
5 schools in CO
$38,947/yr avg grad
Electrical Installation
3 schools in CO
$64,511/yr avg grad
Plumbing
1 school in CO
$63,386/yr avg grad
Precision Systems Repair
1 school in CO
$39,981/yr avg grad
HVAC Technology
1 school in CO
$35,919/yr avg grad

Highest-paying trade program in Colorado: Electrical Installation at Trinidad State College — $73,424/yr first-year earnings. See full state rankings →

Browse by Category

Skilled Trades (26 programs)

Program School Score Earnings
Electrical Installation Trinidad State College
Trinidad
86 $73,424/yr
Vehicle Repair Technology Aims Community College
Greeley
76 $47,529/yr
Vehicle Repair Technology Aims Community College
Greeley
76 $42,120/yr
Vehicle Repair Technology Community College of Aurora
Aurora
74 $57,677/yr
Welding & Metalworking Aims Community College
Greeley
74 $47,680/yr
Vehicle Repair Technology Front Range Community College
Westminster
72 $41,745/yr
Electrical Installation Colorado Mesa University
Grand Junction
70 $49,330/yr
Electrical Installation Emily Griffith Technical College
Denver
69 $70,780/yr
Vehicle Repair Technology Pickens Technical College
Aurora
69 $38,503/yr
Vehicle Repair Technology Arapahoe Community College
Littleton
68 $38,845/yr
Welding & Metalworking Front Range Community College
Westminster
64 $34,125/yr
Plumbing Emily Griffith Technical College
Denver
63 $63,386/yr
Vehicle Repair Technology Front Range Community College
Westminster
61 $36,836/yr
Vehicle Repair Technology Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology
Broomfield
60 $55,219/yr
Vehicle Repair Technology Lincoln College of Technology-Denver
Denver
60 $42,896/yr
Welding & Metalworking Pueblo Community College
Pueblo
59 $43,715/yr
Vehicle Repair Technology Emily Griffith Technical College
Denver
59 $40,358/yr
Welding & Metalworking Emily Griffith Technical College
Denver
56 $44,943/yr
Vehicle Repair Technology Lincoln College of Technology-Denver
Denver
56 $35,905/yr
Vehicle Repair Technology Intellitec College-Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs
55 $34,423/yr
Welding & Metalworking Pueblo Community College
Pueblo
55 $25,970/yr
Vehicle Repair Technology Intellitec College-Grand Junction
Grand Junction
53 $30,348/yr
Welding & Metalworking Lincoln College of Technology-Denver
Denver
52 $37,249/yr
Vehicle Repair Technology Intellitec College-Grand Junction
Grand Junction
52 $29,909/yr
HVAC Technology Intellitec College-Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs
49 $35,919/yr
Precision Systems Repair Colorado School of Trades
Lakewood
47 $39,981/yr

Healthcare (88 programs)

Program School Score Earnings
Nursing Pueblo Community College
Pueblo
89 $69,953/yr
Practical Nursing Otero College
La Junta
88 $74,405/yr
Nursing Colorado Mountain College
Glenwood Springs
88 $68,039/yr
Nursing Morgan Community College
Fort Morgan
86 $76,759/yr
Nursing Arapahoe Community College
Littleton
86 $73,926/yr
Practical Nursing Morgan Community College
Fort Morgan
86 $64,066/yr
Nursing Front Range Community College
Westminster
85 $76,014/yr
Nursing Otero College
La Junta
85 $74,179/yr
Nursing Pikes Peak State College
Colorado Springs
85 $72,869/yr
Nursing Pueblo Community College
Pueblo
85 $72,520/yr
Nursing Colorado Northwestern Community College
Rangely
84 $70,087/yr
Nursing Trinidad State College
Trinidad
84 $66,009/yr
Practical Nursing Pickens Technical College
Aurora
82 $53,360/yr
Nursing Northeastern Junior College
Sterling
81 $68,853/yr
Allied Health Professions Red Rocks Community College
Lakewood
80 $104,021/yr
Mental Health Services Pueblo Community College
Pueblo
80 $59,198/yr
Allied Health Professions Community College of Denver
Denver
78 $72,086/yr
Allied Health Professions Arapahoe Community College
Littleton
76 $59,024/yr
Allied Health Professions Aims Community College
Greeley
76 $51,145/yr
Health Administration Arapahoe Community College
Littleton
76 $43,631/yr
Dental Assisting Pueblo Community College
Pueblo
75 $62,355/yr
Allied Health Professions Colorado Mountain College
Glenwood Springs
75 $48,148/yr
Nursing Concorde Career College-Aurora
Aurora
73 $70,663/yr
Nursing Denver College of Nursing
Denver
73 $70,197/yr
Health Administration Front Range Community College
Westminster
73 $43,801/yr
Practical Nursing Arapahoe Community College
Littleton
73 $36,234/yr
Dental Assisting Community College of Denver
Denver
72 $76,712/yr
Allied Health Professions Aims Community College
Greeley
72 $46,643/yr
Medical Assisting Front Range Community College
Westminster
71 $35,838/yr
Clinical Laboratory Science Arapahoe Community College
Littleton
70 $63,746/yr
Allied Health Professions Red Rocks Community College
Lakewood
70 $62,663/yr
Allied Health Professions Community College of Denver
Denver
70 $57,873/yr
Practical Nursing Front Range Community College
Westminster
70 $29,021/yr
Dental Assisting Colorado Northwestern Community College
Rangely
69 $62,148/yr
Practical Nursing Concorde Career College-Aurora
Aurora
69 $57,339/yr
Practical Nursing Pima Medical Institute-Aurora
Aurora
69 $54,021/yr
Allied Health Professions Community College of Aurora
Aurora
69 $37,502/yr
Allied Health Professions Front Range Community College
Westminster
68 $58,164/yr
Medical Assisting Arapahoe Community College
Littleton
68 $42,853/yr
Allied Health Professions Front Range Community College
Westminster
67 $38,793/yr
Allied Health Professions Pueblo Community College
Pueblo
66 $48,715/yr
Medical Assisting Pueblo Community College
Pueblo
66 $42,297/yr
Medical Assisting Concorde Career College-Aurora
Aurora
65 $49,680/yr
Practical Nursing Technical College of the Rockies
Delta
65 $42,451/yr
Allied Health Professions Pueblo Community College
Pueblo
65 $35,555/yr
Medical Assisting Pima Medical Institute-Denver
Denver
63 $44,175/yr
Dental Assisting Front Range Community College
Westminster
63 $37,396/yr
Practical Nursing Community College of Denver
Denver
63 $23,614/yr
Practical Nursing Emily Griffith Technical College
Denver
62 $37,744/yr
Allied Health Professions Pima Medical Institute-Denver
Denver
61 $62,420/yr
Medical Assisting Emily Griffith Technical College
Denver
61 $39,475/yr
Health Administration Concorde Career College-Aurora
Aurora
61 $29,536/yr
Dental Assisting Concorde Career College-Aurora
Aurora
60 $65,693/yr
Allied Health Professions Concorde Career College-Aurora
Aurora
60 $57,831/yr
Allied Health Professions Pima Medical Institute-Aurora
Aurora
60 $56,805/yr
Medical Assisting Pickens Technical College
Aurora
60 $27,724/yr
Practical Nursing Pueblo Community College
Pueblo
60 $25,507/yr
Health Administration Colorado Christian University
Lakewood
59 $37,801/yr
Clinical Laboratory Science Front Range Community College
Westminster
59 $33,294/yr
Health Administration Pima Medical Institute-Denver
Denver
59 $28,219/yr
Health Administration Pima Medical Institute-Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs
59 $28,219/yr
Health Administration IBMC College
Fort Collins
58 $33,672/yr
Health Administration Pima Medical Institute-Aurora
Aurora
58 $26,557/yr
Practical Nursing Pima Medical Institute-Denver
Denver
57 $28,834/yr
Medical Assisting Pima Medical Institute-Denver
Denver
56 $31,915/yr
Medical Assisting Pima Medical Institute-Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs
56 $31,915/yr
Dental Assisting Pickens Technical College
Aurora
56 $31,002/yr
Medical Assisting Concorde Career College-Aurora
Aurora
56 $30,907/yr
Medical Assisting Pima Medical Institute-Aurora
Aurora
56 $30,654/yr
Medical Assisting Intellitec College-Grand Junction
Grand Junction
55 $30,095/yr
Medical Assisting Intellitec College-Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs
55 $29,358/yr
Medical Assisting IBMC College
Fort Collins
54 $32,618/yr
Health Administration Colorado Technical University-Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs
52 $25,841/yr
Clinical Laboratory Science Pima Medical Institute-Aurora
Aurora
49 $33,825/yr
Clinical Laboratory Science Pima Medical Institute-Denver
Denver
47 $31,071/yr
Dental Assisting Pima Medical Institute-Aurora
Aurora
47 $29,935/yr
Dental Assisting IBMC College
Fort Collins
45 $31,222/yr
Dental Assisting Pima Medical Institute-Denver
Denver
45 $27,301/yr
Dental Assisting Pima Medical Institute-Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs
45 $27,301/yr
Dental Assisting Concorde Career College-Aurora
Aurora
44 $26,058/yr
Alternative Medicine Front Range Community College
Westminster
44 $25,956/yr
Dental Assisting Intellitec College-Grand Junction
Grand Junction
43 $24,157/yr
Massage Therapy Colorado School of Healing Arts
Lakewood
42 $27,724/yr
Massage Therapy Intellitec College-Grand Junction
Grand Junction
41 $23,916/yr
Alternative Medicine Front Range Community College
Westminster
39 $28,076/yr
Massage Therapy Academy of Natural Therapy Inc
Greeley
38 $18,343/yr
Massage Therapy Dr. Ida Rolf Institute
Boulder
37 $16,723/yr
Massage Therapy Technical College of the Rockies
Delta
36 $14,804/yr

Engineering & Technology (13 programs)

Program School Score Earnings
Information Sciences Colorado State University Global
Aurora
82 $61,737/yr
Information Sciences Front Range Community College
Westminster
81 $45,174/yr
Computer Networking Front Range Community College
Westminster
80 $52,583/yr
Information Sciences Front Range Community College
Westminster
79 $53,219/yr
Computer Networking Front Range Community College
Westminster
75 $52,244/yr
Environmental Technology Front Range Community College
Westminster
74 $70,888/yr
Environmental Technology Pickens Technical College
Aurora
62 $40,146/yr
Computer Networking Intellitec College-Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs
55 $29,427/yr
Electrical Engineering Technology Pueblo Community College
Pueblo
53 $42,852/yr
Computer Networking Intellitec College-Grand Junction
Grand Junction
53 $27,510/yr
Drafting & Design Technology Front Range Community College
Westminster
52 $33,893/yr
Computer Networking Intellitec College-Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs
52 $26,192/yr
Environmental Technology Lincoln College of Technology-Denver
Denver
51 $40,778/yr

Criminal Justice & Public Safety (12 programs)

Program School Score Earnings
Criminal Justice Colorado Mountain College
Glenwood Springs
92 $68,129/yr
Criminal Justice Red Rocks Community College
Lakewood
91 $72,583/yr
Criminal Justice Front Range Community College
Westminster
90 $69,776/yr
Criminal Justice Aims Community College
Greeley
90 $57,841/yr
Criminal Justice Arapahoe Community College
Littleton
87 $54,371/yr
Criminal Justice Pikes Peak State College
Colorado Springs
87 $50,546/yr
Criminal Justice Pueblo Community College
Pueblo
86 $52,241/yr
Criminal Justice Otero College
La Junta
85 $50,431/yr
Criminal Justice Colorado Mesa University
Grand Junction
83 $65,638/yr
Criminal Justice Trinidad State College
Trinidad
81 $42,381/yr
Fire Protection Aims Community College
Greeley
77 $44,470/yr
Criminal Justice Technical College of the Rockies
Delta
72 $56,589/yr

Personal Services (25 programs)

Program School Score Earnings
Culinary Arts Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts-Boulder
Boulder
65 $30,224/yr
Culinary Arts Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts-Boulder
Boulder
61 $25,682/yr
Funeral Service & Mortuary Science Arapahoe Community College
Littleton
60 $50,953/yr
Culinary Arts Emily Griffith Technical College
Denver
59 $22,599/yr
Cosmetology Pickens Technical College
Aurora
50 $22,997/yr
Cosmetology Elevate Salon Institute-Westminster
Westminster
48 $27,005/yr
Cosmetology Aveda Institute-Denver
Denver
48 $26,636/yr
Cosmetology Paul Mitchell the School-Denver
Lakewood
47 $24,952/yr
Cosmetology Northeastern Junior College
Sterling
47 $22,488/yr
Cosmetology Tigi Hairdressing Academy-Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs
44 $21,501/yr
Cosmetology The Salon Professional Academy-Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs
44 $21,340/yr
Cosmetology Cheeks Beauty Academy
Loveland
44 $20,746/yr
Cosmetology Paul Mitchell the School-Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs
44 $20,417/yr
Cosmetology Emily Griffith Technical College
Denver
44 $20,014/yr
Cosmetology Avalon Institute-Aurora
Aurora
44 $19,903/yr
Cosmetology Stacey James Institute
Parker
43 $19,659/yr
Cosmetology United Beauty College
Denver
43 $19,322/yr
Cosmetology Intellitec College-Grand Junction
Grand Junction
43 $18,804/yr
Cosmetology IBMC College
Fort Collins
42 $22,822/yr
Cosmetology Technical College of the Rockies
Delta
42 $17,125/yr
Cosmetology International Salon and Spa Academy
Colorado Springs
42 $16,847/yr
Cosmetology Empire Beauty School-Thornton
Thornton
42 $16,251/yr
Cosmetology Empire Beauty School-Littleton
Littleton
42 $15,322/yr
Cosmetology Empire Beauty School-Aurora
Aurora
42 $15,322/yr
Cosmetology Pueblo Community College
Pueblo
40 $12,890/yr

Business & Office (10 programs)

Program School Score Earnings
Business Administration Community College of Aurora
Aurora
85 $38,496/yr
Business Administration University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus
Denver
83 $56,979/yr
Business Administration Front Range Community College
Westminster
83 $41,596/yr
Business Administration Arapahoe Community College
Littleton
81 $49,531/yr
Business Administration Front Range Community College
Westminster
74 $40,016/yr
Accounting Front Range Community College
Westminster
68 $38,838/yr
Business Administration Pikes Peak State College
Colorado Springs
68 $29,393/yr
Business Administration Colorado Christian University
Lakewood
64 $41,841/yr
Business Administration Colorado Technical University-Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs
62 $32,525/yr
Accounting Colorado Technical University-Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs
56 $34,762/yr

Agriculture & Natural Resources (12 programs)

Program School Score Earnings
Horticulture Front Range Community College
Westminster
70 $28,703/yr
Natural Resources Colorado Northwestern Community College
Rangely
64 $38,698/yr
Wildlife Management Front Range Community College
Westminster
55 $36,860/yr
Veterinary Technology Community College of Denver
Denver
54 $38,655/yr
Veterinary Technology Front Range Community College
Westminster
52 $35,040/yr
Veterinary Technology Pima Medical Institute-Aurora
Aurora
50 $36,875/yr
Veterinary Technology Pima Medical Institute-Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs
50 $36,090/yr
Veterinary Technology Bel-Rea Institute of Animal Technology
Denver
47 $38,899/yr
Veterinary Technology Pima Medical Institute-Aurora
Aurora
45 $28,808/yr
Veterinary Technology Pima Medical Institute-Denver
Denver
42 $25,638/yr
Veterinary Technology Pima Medical Institute-Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs
42 $25,638/yr
Veterinary Technology Colorado Academy of Veterinary Technology
Colorado Springs
39 $29,194/yr

Education (4 programs)

Program School Score Earnings
Teacher Education Front Range Community College
Westminster
68 $29,749/yr
Teacher Education Pueblo Community College
Pueblo
61 $24,960/yr
Teacher Education Community College of Denver
Denver
59 $18,399/yr
Teacher Education Pueblo Community College
Pueblo
58 $28,664/yr

Arts & Design (3 programs)

Program School Score Earnings
Design Arapahoe Community College
Littleton
54 $32,100/yr
Design Front Range Community College
Westminster
44 $21,397/yr
Film & Photography Community College of Aurora
Aurora
39 $20,533/yr

Family & Consumer Sciences (1 programs)

Program School Score Earnings
Human Development & Family Studies Arapahoe Community College
Littleton
73 $34,716/yr

Other Programs (22 programs)

Program School Score Earnings
Legal Support Services Front Range Community College
Westminster
59 $38,485/yr
Liberal Arts & Humanities Community College of Aurora
Aurora
56 $38,729/yr
Liberal Arts & Humanities Colorado Mountain College
Glenwood Springs
56 $32,551/yr
Liberal Arts & Humanities Aims Community College
Greeley
56 $29,845/yr
Liberal Arts & Humanities Arapahoe Community College
Littleton
54 $38,592/yr
Liberal Arts & Humanities Front Range Community College
Westminster
50 $35,023/yr
Liberal Arts & Humanities Community College of Denver
Denver
47 $29,078/yr
Liberal Arts & Humanities Pueblo Community College
Pueblo
46 $30,640/yr
Liberal Arts & Humanities Pikes Peak State College
Colorado Springs
46 $26,779/yr
Liberal Arts & Humanities Red Rocks Community College
Lakewood
45 $27,242/yr
Health & Physical Education Intellitec College-Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs
45 $23,154/yr
Liberal Arts & Humanities Trinidad State College
Trinidad
44 $30,532/yr
Liberal Arts & Humanities Lamar Community College
Lamar
43 $25,669/yr
Legal Support Services IBMC College
Fort Collins
42 $37,542/yr
Liberal Arts & Humanities Colorado Mesa University
Grand Junction
42 $32,460/yr
Public Relations & Advertising Colorado Media School
Denver
42 $15,718/yr
Graphic Communications Front Range Community College
Westminster
40 $25,702/yr
Liberal Arts & Humanities Northeastern Junior College
Sterling
40 $24,287/yr
Broadcasting & Digital Media Colorado Media School
Denver
40 $18,896/yr
Biblical Studies Colorado Christian University
Lakewood
39 $39,106/yr
Graphic Communications Front Range Community College
Westminster
34 $24,989/yr
Graphic Communications Pikes Peak State College
Colorado Springs
33 $25,596/yr

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Sources & Methodology

Program data: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (first-year graduate earnings from IRS tax data). Wage and growth projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS (May 2024) and Employment Projections 2024–2034. Apprenticeship data: U.S. Department of Labor RAPIDS database and the ApprenticeshipUSA sponsor directory.

Programs on this page are grouped by field of study — Skilled Trades listed first, followed by health sciences, business, and other categories. Click any program for detailed earnings projections and AI-risk analysis by career path.

Data sources cited above. Last updated 2026.