Highest-paying trades in Colorado
Updated September 27, 2026
Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay are the highest-paying skilled trade in Colorado, with a median of $125,560 a year, according to May 2025 BLS data. 41 of the 82 trades ranked here pay more than the $59,800 median for all jobs in Colorado.
All 82 trades by median pay in Colorado
| # | Trade | Median a year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay210 jobs · +22% vs U.S. | $125,560$60.37/hr |
| 2 | Elevator and escalator installers and repairers530 jobs · +12% vs U.S. | $123,360$59.31/hr |
| 3 | Electrical power-line installers and repairers2,370 jobs · +9% vs U.S. | $103,980$49.99/hr |
| 4 | Electrical and electronics installers and repairers, transportation equipment70 jobs · +14% vs U.S. | $96,680$46.48/hr |
| 5 | Boilermakers40 jobs · +17% vs U.S. | $89,350$42.96/hr |
| 6 | Rail car repairers250 jobs · +28% vs U.S. | $86,630$41.65/hr |
| 7 | Signal and track switch repairers160 jobs · −9% vs U.S. | $83,930$40.35/hr |
| 8 | Aircraft mechanics and service technicians2,690 jobs · +3% vs U.S. | $82,080$39.46/hr |
| 9 | Millwrights200 jobs · +24% vs U.S. | $81,440$39.15/hr |
| 10 | Construction and building inspectors3,700 jobs · +7% vs U.S. | $79,950$38.44/hr |
| 11 | Electrical and electronics repairers, commercial and industrial equipment2,200 jobs · +7% vs U.S. | $79,610$38.27/hr |
| 12 | Avionics technicians220 jobs · −4% vs U.S. | $79,000$37.98/hr |
| 13 | Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers3,180 jobs · +20% vs U.S. | $76,410$36.74/hr |
| 14 | Industrial machinery mechanics7,260 jobs · +17% vs U.S. | $75,600$36.35/hr |
| 15 | Wind turbine service technicians410 jobs · +17% vs U.S. | $74,740$35.94/hr |
| 16 | Riggers310 jobs · +18% vs U.S. | $73,720$35.44/hr |
| 17 | Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines4,060 jobs · +10% vs U.S. | $71,830$34.53/hr |
| 18 | Precision instrument and equipment repairers, all other90 jobs · +2% vs U.S. | $70,510$33.90/hr |
| 19 | Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists4,600 jobs · +14% vs U.S. | $70,480$33.89/hr |
| 20 | Medical equipment repairers1,460 jobs · +8% vs U.S. | $66,720$32.08/hr |
| 21 | Telecommunications line installers and repairers1,630 jobs · −11% vs U.S. | $66,020$31.74/hr |
| 22 | Brickmasons and blockmasons870 jobs · +5% vs U.S. | $65,260$31.37/hr |
| 23 | Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers8,940 jobs · +7% vs U.S. | $65,200$31.35/hr |
| 24 | Rail-Track laying and maintenance equipment operators300 jobs · −8% vs U.S. | $64,300$30.91/hr |
| 25 | Maintenance workers, machinery740 jobs · +5% vs U.S. | $64,010$30.77/hr |
| 26 | Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door1,190 jobs · −14% vs U.S. | $63,770$30.66/hr |
| 27 | Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters10,080 jobs · −1% vs U.S. | $63,240$30.40/hr |
| 28 | Carpenters12,740 jobs · +4% vs U.S. | $62,830$30.21/hr |
| 29 | Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators11,700 jobs · +5% vs U.S. | $62,620$30.11/hr |
| 30 | Mechanical door repairers570 jobs · +12% vs U.S. | $62,460$30.03/hr |
| 31 | Glaziers2,040 jobs · +9% vs U.S. | $62,340$29.97/hr |
| 32 | Security and fire alarm systems installers1,950 jobs · +4% vs U.S. | $62,250$29.93/hr |
| 33 | Electricians17,010 jobs · −2% vs U.S. | $62,230$29.92/hr |
| 34 | Drywall and ceiling tile installers1,560 jobs · +5% vs U.S. | $61,780$29.70/hr |
| 35 | Electric motor, power tool, and related repairers640 jobs · +10% vs U.S. | $61,570$29.60/hr |
| 36 | Automotive service technicians and mechanics12,300 jobs · +21% vs U.S. | $61,280$29.46/hr |
| 37 | Recreational vehicle service technicians530 jobs · +17% vs U.S. | $60,760$29.21/hr |
| 38 | Cement masons and concrete finishers5,140 jobs · +6% vs U.S. | $60,700$29.18/hr |
| 39 | Electronic equipment installers and repairers, motor vehicles+24% vs U.S. | $60,070$28.88/hr |
| 40 | Hazardous materials removal workers1,400 jobs · +21% vs U.S. | $59,920$28.81/hr |
| 41 | Automotive body and related repairers3,120 jobs · +9% vs U.S. | $59,880$28.79/hr |
| 42 | Pipelayers790 jobs · +22% vs U.S. | $59,740$28.72/hr |
| 43 | Structural iron and steel workers860 jobs · −6% vs U.S. | $58,830$28.28/hr |
| 44 | Paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators920 jobs · +10% vs U.S. | $58,810$28.28/hr |
| 45 | Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers4,970 jobs · +9% vs U.S. | $58,590$28.17/hr |
| 46 | Sheet metal workers1,660 jobs · −6% vs U.S. | $57,880$27.83/hr |
| 47 | Tile and stone setters870 jobs · +4% vs U.S. | $57,690$27.74/hr |
| 48 | Audiovisual equipment installers and repairers550 jobs · +10% vs U.S. | $57,680$27.73/hr |
| 49 | Motorboat mechanics and service technicians50 jobs · −1% vs U.S. | $57,050$27.43/hr |
| 50 | Motorcycle mechanics420 jobs · +17% vs U.S. | $56,850$27.33/hr |
| 51 | Reinforcing iron and rebar workers260 jobs · −5% vs U.S. | $56,160$27.00/hr |
| 52 | Radio, cellular, and tower equipment installers and repairers530 jobs · −12% vs U.S. | $56,110$26.98/hr |
| 53 | Farm equipment mechanics and service technicians270 jobs · −2% vs U.S. | $55,400$26.64/hr |
| 54 | Floor sanders and finishers130 jobs · +9% vs U.S. | $55,180$26.53/hr |
| 55 | Tapers−20% vs U.S. | $54,500$26.20/hr |
| 56 | Miscellaneous construction and related workers1,160 jobs · +9% vs U.S. | $54,380$26.14/hr |
| 57 | Painters, construction and maintenance3,480 jobs · +7% vs U.S. | $52,970$25.47/hr |
| 58 | Outdoor power equipment and other small engine mechanics690 jobs · +10% vs U.S. | $52,620$25.30/hr |
| 59 | Highway maintenance workers1,990 jobs · +4% vs U.S. | $52,350$25.17/hr |
| 60 | Home appliance repairers550 jobs · +2% vs U.S. | $52,220$25.11/hr |
| 61 | Roofers3,340 jobs · −7% vs U.S. | $51,750$24.88/hr |
| 62 | Septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners500 jobs · +4% vs U.S. | $51,700$24.86/hr |
| 63 | Carpet installers190 jobs · +2% vs U.S. | $51,280$24.66/hr |
| 64 | Maintenance and repair workers, general22,960 jobs · +3% vs U.S. | $51,280$24.65/hr |
| 65 | Installation, maintenance, and repair workers, all other4,980 jobs · +3% vs U.S. | $50,840$24.44/hr |
| 66 | Insulation workers, floor, ceiling, and wall1,210 jobs · +3% vs U.S. | $50,800$24.42/hr |
| 67 | Watch and clock repairers60 jobs · −26% vs U.S. | $49,990$24.03/hr |
| 68 | Solar photovoltaic installers620 jobs · −6% vs U.S. | $49,730$23.91/hr |
| 69 | Computer, automated teller, and office machine repairers880 jobs · +4% vs U.S. | $49,650$23.87/hr |
| 70 | Stonemasons240 jobs · −14% vs U.S. | $49,630$23.86/hr |
| 71 | Insulation workers, mechanical520 jobs · −16% vs U.S. | $49,050$23.58/hr |
| 72 | Automotive glass installers and repairers890 jobs · +2% vs U.S. | $48,610$23.37/hr |
| 73 | Fence erectors270 jobs · +1% vs U.S. | $48,380$23.26/hr |
| 74 | Paperhangers130 jobs · −8% vs U.S. | $48,180$23.17/hr |
| 75 | Construction laborers18,680 jobs · +2% vs U.S. | $47,900$23.03/hr |
| 76 | Bicycle repairers730 jobs · +11% vs U.S. | $47,620$22.90/hr |
| 77 | Plasterers and stucco masons480 jobs · −17% vs U.S. | $47,570$22.87/hr |
| 78 | Locksmiths and safe repairers380 jobs · −7% vs U.S. | $47,500$22.84/hr |
| 79 | Floor layers, except carpet, wood, and hard tiles240 jobs · −18% vs U.S. | $46,020$22.13/hr |
| 80 | Coin, vending, and amusement machine servicers and repairers290 jobs · −4% vs U.S. | $45,600$21.93/hr |
| 81 | Tire repairers and changers2,750 jobs · +20% vs U.S. | $45,380$21.82/hr |
| 82 | Musical instrument repairers and tuners70 jobs · −6% vs U.S. | $43,670$21.00/hr |
Linked trades have full Colorado pay pages, with pay in each metro area. See also: highest-paying trades in the U.S.
How we ranked them
Ranked by median annual wage in Colorado, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics state estimates, May 2025. “vs U.S.” compares each trade with its own national median. Which occupations count as trades: Construction occupations and installation, maintenance, and repair occupations (BLS major groups 47 and 49), plus welders, excluding first-line supervisors, helpers, and mining and oil-and-gas extraction occupations. BLS doesn't publish a Colorado median for 6 of the 88 trades in the national ranking, usually because too few people do that work there to estimate; they're left out. Wages exclude self-employed workers. Methodology
Questions
- What is the highest-paying trade in Colorado?
- Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay, with a median of $125,560 a year ($60.37 an hour) in Colorado, per May 2025 BLS data.
- Which trades pay over $100,000 in Colorado?
- 3 trades have a median of $100,000 or more in Colorado: electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay ($125,560), elevator and escalator installers and repairers ($123,360), electrical power-line installers and repairers ($103,980).
- How many trades pay more than the typical job in Colorado?
- 41 of the 82 trades ranked here have a median above $59,800, the median for all occupations in Colorado.
- Do trades pay more in Colorado than in the rest of the U.S.?
- 57 of the 82 trades have a higher median in Colorado than nationally. The biggest gap is rail car repairers: $86,630, 28% above the U.S. median of $67,530.
- Which trade employs the most people in Colorado?
- Maintenance and repair workers, general, with about 22,960 jobs and a median of $51,280 a year.