Highest-Paying Trades in Colorado 2026

50 skilled trades tracked in Colorado metro areas. The top-paying trade is Construction Manager at $121,535 median salary. Data from BLS OEWS (2025).

#	Trade	Median Salary	Cities	Avg Score
1	Construction Manager	$121,535	1	83
2	Elevator Mechanic	$103,186	1	86
3	Electrical Power-Line Tech	$96,056	1	85
4	Power Line Installer	$86,992	1	83
5	Underwater Welder	$81,960	1	61
6	Steamfitter	$76,686	1	64
7	Pile Driver Operator	$73,833	1	57
8	Fire Sprinkler Fitter	$72,761	1	69
9	Aircraft Mechanic	$72,166	1	63
10	Industrial Machinery Mechanic	$70,956	1	65
11	Telecommunications Tech	$70,820	1	64
12	Building Inspector	$66,609	1	53
13	Carpenter	$66,038	1	53
14	Boilermaker	$65,997	1	49
15	Industrial Electrician	$65,896	1	66
16	Pipefitter	$65,691	1	63
17	Electrician	$65,492	1	67
18	Crane Operator	$65,489	1	63
19	HVAC Technician	$65,185	1	73
20	Refrigeration Mechanic	$63,809	1	66
21	Millwright	$63,519	1	59
22	Wind Turbine Technician	$63,482	1	84
23	Diesel Mechanic	$62,846	1	56
24	Plumber	$62,081	1	65
25	Ironworker	$60,154	1	56
26	Tool and Die Maker	$59,611	1	42
27	Mason (Bricklayer)	$59,262	1	45
28	Sheet Metal Worker	$58,190	1	50
29	Heavy Equipment Operator	$57,828	1	53
30	Drywall Installer	$57,066	1	44
31	Structural Welder	$54,961	1	51
32	Roofer	$54,301	1	46
33	Locksmith	$53,865	1	39
34	Environmental Engineering Tech	$53,609	1	57
35	Concrete Finisher	$53,535	1	48
36	Plasterer	$53,091	1	38
37	Auto Mechanic	$53,044	1	42
38	Welder	$52,173	1	51
39	Machinist	$51,848	1	47
40	Tile Setter	$51,689	1	41
41	Glazier	$50,426	1	45
42	Well Driller	$49,985	1	41
43	Septic Tank Servicer	$49,420	1	40
44	Maintenance Mechanic	$49,404	1	48
45	Solar PV Installer	$49,273	1	74
46	Floor Layer	$49,259	1	41
47	Insulation Worker	$47,644	1	47
48	CNC Machine Operator	$47,349	1	39
49	Painter (Construction)	$46,812	1	35
50	Scaffold Builder	$43,956	1	37

Skilled trade wage data for Colorado is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program.
— BLS OEWS (2025)

Frequently Asked Questions

Construction Manager is the highest-paying skilled trade in Colorado with a median salary of $121,535 across 1 metro areas.

We track 50 skilled trades across metro areas in Colorado using Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data.

The Trade Pay Score (0-100, A-F) rates each trade-city combination on median wage vs. household income (30%), 5-year wage growth (25%), job demand (25%), and cost-of-living adjusted pay (20%).

Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS

Trades ranked by median salary across metro areas in the state. Trade Pay Score: wage vs. household income (30%), 5-year growth (25%), job demand (25%), COL-adjusted pay (20%).

Best-Paying Trades Nationwide →All Trade Data for Colorado →