Electrician in Colorado
Requirements, salary data, licensing costs, and career ROI for CO
How to Become an Electrician in Colorado
To become a licensed Journeyman Electrician in Colorado, individuals must complete 8,000 hours of electrical work experience over at least four years, with a minimum of 4,000 hours in commercial or industrial work. Additionally, 288 hours of classroom education are required for those who registered as an apprentice on or after January 1, 2011. After meeting these prerequisites, applicants must pass the Colorado Journeyman Electrician Exam administered by PSI. Colorado offers reciprocity for journeyman licenses from 14 states through the National Electrical Reciprocal Alliance (NERA).
Electrician Requirements in Colorado
| Detail | Colorado |
|---|---|
| Licensing Body | Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA), Electrical Board |
| State License Required | Yes |
| Education | High school diploma or GED, plus 288 hours of classroom education if registered as an apprentice on or after January 1, 2011. Alternatively, a two-year degree from an electrical technology school with 6,000 hours of experience, or an electrical engineering degree with 2,000 hours of construction experience, can also fulfill education and experience requirements for different license types. |
| Experience Required | 8,000.0 hours |
| Exam | Colorado Journeyman Electrician Exam (PSI) ($78) |
| Application Fee | $100 |
| Renewal | Every 3.0 years |
| Continuing Education | 24.0 hours per cycle |
| Notes | Journeyman experience must be gained over at least 4 years, with 4,000 hours in commercial/industrial work. Minimum age for apprenticeship is 18 years old. |
Source: Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA), Electrical Board
License Tiers
Colorado offers multiple tiers of electrician licensing:
| Tier | Hours Required |
|---|---|
| Apprentice | N/A |
| Residential Wireman | 4,000 |
| Journeyman | 8,000 |
| Master | 10,000 |
Electrician Salary in Colorado
The median electrician salary in Colorado is $62,090 per year, which is 0.4% below the national median of $62,350.
| Percentile | Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th (entry level) | $42,360 |
| 25th | $48,350 |
| 50th (median) | $62,090 |
| 75th | $77,440 |
| 90th (experienced) | $90,120 |
Colorado employs approximately 17,140 electricians.
Electrician Job Outlook
AI Impact on Electricians
Low AI Exposure (Score: -0.78/1.00)
This career has low exposure to AI automation. Most tasks require physical presence, human judgment, or hands-on skills that AI cannot easily replicate.
Is Becoming an Electrician in Colorado Worth It?
Factors to consider: Colorado's cost of living, the state licensing requirement, strong job growth, low AI disruption risk, and your personal career goals.