My Colorado Journey
  • Skilled TradesA hands-on trade career, usually entered through apprenticeship or technical training rather than a four-year degree.
  • ApprenticeshipA role commonly entered through a registered apprenticeship — paid work combined with training, so you earn while you learn.
  • Green JobsOccupation aligned to O*NET green economy classifications.
  • Top JobColorado Talent Pipeline Report-aligned occupation with strong annual openings, growth, and wage signals.

Construction Career Pathways

Build Colorado's future through skilled trades including electrical, plumbing, HVAC, carpentry, and construction management. High demand for licensed tradespeople.

  • Median Salary

    $63,232

    Statewide industry median

  • 10-Year Growth

    +12%

    Statewide projection

  • Pathway Roles

    19

    Pathway roles

  • Required Education

    High School/Apprenticeship

    Skilled Trades Program

Explore Colorado Construction

Build Colorado's infrastructure while earning and advancing

Construction offers fast entry through apprenticeship, portable credentials, and pathways to management or specialization without a four-year degree at the start.

The big picture

Colorado construction thrives through active apprenticeship and aligned credentialing systems.

Here, students can build careers across entry, technical, and supervisory tracks:

  • Framing walls and roofing structures
  • Running electrical systems and power distribution
  • Installing HVAC and mechanical systems
  • Operating heavy equipment and machinery
  • Reading blueprints and managing jobsites
  • Estimating costs and planning projects
  • ELECTRICIAN MEDIAN WAGE

    $62,760

    Colorado electrician median annual wage from state occupational data.

  • STATE APPRENTICESHIP SYSTEM

    Apprenticeship Colorado

    Colorado's apprenticeship system is active and emphasized for building-and-construction-trades growth through grants and intermediary networks.

  • PORTABLE CREDENTIALS

    NCCER-aligned

    Colorado CTE construction pathways align with NCCER, a major portable credentialing system employers recognize nationwide.

  • FAST EARNINGS PATH

    No 4-yr degree required

    Construction is one of the best Colorado sectors for earning quickly and avoiding a four-year degree at the start.

ENTRY WITHOUT GATEKEEPING

Colorado's apprenticeship system fast-tracks earnings

Apprenticeship Colorado and related grants emphasize building-and-construction-trades growth. Entry is through apprenticeship, community colleges, or employer-sponsored programs. You earn while learning.

CREDENTIALS THAT TRAVEL

NCCER alignment means your skills move nationwide

Colorado CTE construction pathways align with NCCER, a major portable credentialing system that employers recognize across the nation and throughout Colorado.

BUILD AND MANAGE

Climb into planning, BIM, and safety roles

The sector contains management, estimating, BIM, safety and inspection roles for people who prefer planning to swinging a hammer.

MAJOR COLORADO BUILDERS

Work for regional and national firms

Employers range from local contractors to large regional builders such as Saunders, Mortenson and Bryan Construction. You see real projects on the Front Range and statewide.

CAREER CHANGERS WELCOME

Safety and teamwork transfer from other industries

Veterans, warehouse workers, retail supervisors and people from manufacturing backgrounds often transition successfully because safety, reliability, teamwork and customer service are as important as technical skill.

DENVER, AURORA, AND BEYOND

Watch Colorado's infrastructure grow

Jobsite tours through local CTE, contractor open houses, apprenticeship-industry award events, and infrastructure observation in Denver, Aurora and the Front Range corridor make the field concrete and real.

Career paths · where you fit in

Career-changer skills already fit construction.

Veterans, warehouse workers, retail supervisors and people from manufacturing backgrounds often transition successfully because safety, reliability, teamwork and customer service are as important as technical skill.

01/Build the foundation

  • Construction laborer
  • Carpenter apprentice
  • Framer
  • Mason

02/Power the systems

  • Electrician apprentice
  • HVAC technician
  • Plumber apprentice
  • Pipefitter

03/Move the materials

  • Heavy-equipment operator trainee
  • Equipment technician
  • Crane operator
  • Forklift operator

04/Plan and oversee

  • Estimator
  • Assistant project engineer
  • Safety technician
  • Construction scheduler