OPENUNION JATCRELOCATION OK
DJEATC (Denver / IBEW Local 68)
IBEW Local 68
Denver, CO · Inside Wireman Electrician
Year 1 wage
$21–$22/hr
Journeyman
$46–$50/hr
Verified May 18, 20264 yr · 8,000 OJT hrs · $35 fee
Apprenticeships
Colorado.
Free to attend. Paid from day one. No debt. Real numbers from the Department of Labor.
6,139
active construction apprentices
30+
registered programs (DOL)
3
verified open now
DOL RAPIDS data as of FY26 Q1 (March 2026)
Active Apprentices by Trade
Colorado · DOL RAPIDS FY26 Q1 · 6,139 total
Electrician
3,274 apprentices$20.56/hr avg start
Pipefitter/Steamfitter
734 apprentices$22.13/hr avg start
Plumber
495 apprentices$22.19/hr avg start
Sheet Metal Worker
482 apprentices$21.85/hr avg start
Other Construction
227 apprentices$26.57/hr avg start
Carpenter
212 apprentices$23.98/hr avg start
Elevator Constructor
209 apprentices$26.30/hr avg start
Laborer
160 apprentices$20.47/hr avg start
+7 additional trades not shown
Electrician
$20.56/hr
avg starting wage
Pipefitter/Steamfitter
$22.13/hr
avg starting wage
Plumber
$22.19/hr
avg starting wage
Sheet Metal Worker
$21.85/hr
avg starting wage
What journeymen earn in Colorado · BLS OEWS 2025 · median hourly
Electricians
$29.39/hr
~$61K/yr
Plumbers & Pipefitters
$29.9/hr
~$62K/yr
HVAC Techs
$31.05/hr
~$65K/yr
Line Installers
$52.67/hr
~$110K/yr
BLS OEWS median across 7 metro areas in Colorado. Apprentices start at ~40–50% and graduate to full journeyman scale.
Verified Programs
Manually confirmed by PlumbSquare — application status current as of research date
OPENNON-UNIONRELOCATION OK
IEC Southern Colorado (Colorado Springs)
Colorado Springs, CO · Electrician (Non-Union)
Year 1 wage
$15–$19/hr
Journeyman
$28–$40/hr
Deadline: 15 days (Jun 5, 2026)
Verified May 18, 20264 yr · 8,000 OJT hrs · No app fee
OPENUNION JATCRELOCATION OK
UA Local 3 (Denver, CO)
UA Local 3
Aurora, CO · Plumber / HVAC-R / Welder
Year 1 wage
$17–$21/hr
Journeyman
$36–$46/hr
Verified May 18, 20265 yr · 8,000 OJT hrs
3 manually verified. Colorado has additional DOL-registered programs below and at Apprenticeship.gov →
DOL-Registered Programs
All active registered apprenticeship programs in Colorado with 10+ active apprentices · Source: DOL RAPIDS FY26 Q1 · 30 shown
| Program / Sponsor | City | Trade(s) | Active | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent Electrical Contractors Rocky Mountain (IECRM) | NORTHGLENN | Electrician | 2,246 | non-union |
Primoris Renewable Energy | Aurora | Operating EngineerPipefitter/SteamfitterElectrician+2 | 854 | non-union |
Construction Industry Training Council of Colorado, Inc. | Wheat Ridge | Painter/FinisherPipefitter/SteamfitterElectrician+5 | 771 | non-union |
Denver Pipefitters JATC | DENVER | Pipefitter/Steamfitter | 371 | UNION |
Denver Electrical JATC-Inside | DENVER | Electrician | 363 | UNION |
Colorado Statewide Sheet Metal Workers JATC Union/Labor | DENVER | Sheet Metal Worker | 312 | UNION |
TIC - The Industrial Company | Aurora | IronworkerElectricianPipefitter/Steamfitter+2 | 275 | non-union |
IUEC Local 25 JATC | SHERIDAN | Elevator Constructor | 202 | UNION |
Colorado Carpenters & Affiliated Trades JATC | Denver | CarpenterPainter/Finisher | 182 | UNION |
IEC Southern Colorado Chapter | COLORADO SPRINGS | Electrician | 161 | non-union |
PSCO System Supervisory JATC | HENDERSON | Electrician | 159 | UNION |
Denver Plumbers JATC | Aurora | Plumber | 157 | UNION |
RK Industries | DENVER | Pipefitter/SteamfitterIronworkerElectrician+2 | 151 | non-union |
Great Southwestern Construction, Inc. Employer | Castle Rock | Electrician | 122 | non-union |
Colorado Wyoming Millwright and Machinery Erectors | DENVER | Other Construction | 115 | UNION |
GPT Renewables | Castle Pines | LaborerElectricianOperating Engineer | 97 | non-union |
H-2 Enterprises, LLC | Keenesburg | LaborerOperating Engineer | 92 | non-union |
Colorado Springs Plumbers/ Pipefitters JATC | COLORADO SPRINGS | CarpenterOperating EngineerPlumber+2 | 90 | UNION |
Colorado Springs Electrical JATC - Inside Program Union/Labor | Colorado Springs | Electrician | 84 | UNION |
Consulting and Management Services | Superior | Operating EngineerLaborerElectrician | 80 | non-union |
Design Mechanical | Louisville | Sheet Metal WorkerPlumberPipefitter/Steamfitter | 77 | non-union |
E Light Electric Multi-employer Program | Englewood | ElectricianLaborer | 74 | non-union |
IUOE Local No. 9 Joint Apprenticeship & Training Committee | BENNETT | Operating Engineer | 69 | UNION |
Iron Workers Joint Apprenticeship and Training Trust Fund | DENVER | Ironworker | 68 | UNION |
Colorado S/W Glaziers/Glassworkers JATC Union/Labor | Lakewood | Glazier | 62 | UNION |
Mortenson | Denver | Operating EngineerElectricianCarpenter+1 | 58 | non-union |
Colorado Springs Utilities Employer | Colorado Springs | ElectricianPipefitter/Steamfitter | 57 | non-union |
McCarthy Building Companies | Denver | LaborerOperating EngineerElectrician | 52 | non-union |
Western Slope Plumbers and Pipefitters Joint Apprenticeship and Journeyman | Grand Junction | Pipefitter/SteamfitterPlumber | 50 | UNION |
Colorado Contractors Association, Inc. | CENTENNIAL | Bricklayer/MasonOperating EngineerCarpenter+2 | 46 | non-union |
Programs with fewer than 10 active apprentices are not shown. Total DOL-registered programs in Colorado may be higher. For the complete list, visit Apprenticeship.gov.
Common Questions
How do I become a trade apprentice in Colorado?
Apply to a JATC or non-union program. Requirements: high school diploma or GED, basic math test, proof of age (18+). Some programs add physical requirements or drug testing. Application windows open and close seasonally — check program status before applying.
Are apprenticeships in Colorado free?
Yes. Every DOL-registered apprenticeship is free to attend. Apprentices are employees, not students — you earn a wage from day one. No tuition, no student loans.
Union vs. non-union — which should I choose?
Union JATCs (IBEW, UA, SMART, UBC) typically offer higher wages, defined pension plans, and health insurance. Non-union programs (ABC, IEC) may have faster acceptance and work with open-shop contractors. Both paths are DOL-registered. Apply to both — take whoever accepts you first.
How long is a trade apprenticeship?
Most trades are 4–5 years (8,000–10,000 OJT hours). HVAC programs run 3–4 years. Lineman training is typically 3–4 years with specialized fieldwork. Every year your wage increases — you're earning near journeyman scale by your final year.
Colorado Licensing
Colorado is an SAA state. Plumbing and electrical licensing are regulated at the state level by the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) — Division of Professions and Occupations. HVAC is licensed at the local/municipal level; there is no state HVAC license. Colorado is not a right-to-work state.