Plumber Salary in Colorado 2026:
$63,240 Average ($30.40/hr)
Updated 19 June 2026
Colorado plumbers earn $560 below the national median of $63,800. Here is the full breakdown by metro, experience level, and licensing.
Colorado Median
$63,240/yr
Hourly Rate
$30.40/hr
vs National
$-560
Top 10% Earn
$100,240+
Where Colorado Ranks Nationally
National Rank (Raw Pay)
#28
of 50 states
Cost of Living Index
105
100 = national average
COL-Adjusted Salary
$60,229
purchasing power equiv.
Plumber Pay by Metro Area in Colorado
Wages vary significantly within the state. Major metros with strong union presence tend to pay the most.
| Metro Area | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| Denver-Aurora-Lakewood | $68,800 |
| Colorado Springs Metro | $59,800 |
| Boulder Metro | $66,300 |
| Fort Collins Metro | $62,200 |
| Grand Junction Metro | $53,600 |
Metro figures are estimates derived from the BLS OEWS May 2025 state median; actual MSA wages vary.
Pay by Experience Level in Colorado
Career stage matters more than any other factor except geography. Here is what each level earns in Colorado.
| Career Level | Hourly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Apprentice (Year 1) | $18 - $23/hr | $37,000 - $48,000 |
| Apprentice (Year 4) | $24 - $32/hr | $50,000 - $67,000 |
| Journeyman | $32 - $44/hr | $67,000 - $92,000 |
| Master Plumber (Employee) | $40 - $54/hr | $83,000 - $112,000 |
| Self-Employed Owner | $90 - $175/hr billed | $80,000 - $225,000 net |
Colorado Plumbing License Requirements
To work legally as a plumber in Colorado, you must hold the appropriate state license. Here is what is required.
Licensing Authority
Colorado Division of Professions and Occupations - Plumbing Program (Colorado Examining Board of Plumbers)
Journeyman Requirement
4 years (6,800 hours) OJT plus passing the Colorado Journeyman Plumber exam (Residential or Journeyman categories)
Master Plumber Requirement
5 years total experience including 1 year as Journeyman + Colorado Master Plumber exam
Reciprocity
Limited reciprocity with select states; verify with the Board
Exam Fee
$70 application + $70 exam fee
Full 50-state licensing matrix: plumbing license requirements by state.
Union Plumbers in Colorado
UA Local 3 (Denver), UA Local 145 (Colorado Springs - smaller). ~25% of plumbers in Colorado are union (Denver metro skews higher).
Union plumbers in Colorado typically earn 25 to 40 percent more in total compensation (base wages plus health insurance, pension, and annuity) compared to non-union plumbers at the same experience level. See the full comparison at union vs non-union plumber pay.
Job Outlook in Colorado
Colorado's Front Range has been one of the fastest-growing population corridors in the United States for a decade, sustaining strong residential and commercial construction demand. Denver's office, hospitality, and multi-family pipeline drives commercial mechanical work. The mountain resort markets (Aspen, Vail, Steamboat) command remote-build premiums for plumbers willing to travel. Boulder's biotech and instrumentation sector adds specialty plumbing demand. The state's TABOR-constrained government means most large mechanical work is private rather than public. UA Local 3 in Denver maintains competitive total compensation that has tracked the cost-of-living rise.
Biggest Employers in Colorado
- +Mortenson (Denver-headquartered for the region)
- +JE Dunn Construction
- +PCL Construction
- +Adolfson & Peterson Construction
- +GH Phipps Construction