Plumber in Colorado

Requirements, salary data, licensing costs, and career ROI for CO. Updated with 2024 BLS OEWS wage data.

Median annual salary

$63,610

trending_up +1.0% vs. national

BLS OEWS 2024, Colorado.

engineering

9,970

Jobs (CO)

monitoring Strong

+4.5%

10-yr job growth

payments

$250

Est. total cost

schedule

4 years of experience

Time to complete

route How to become a plumber in Colorado

To become a Journeyworker Plumber in Colorado, you must be licensed by the Colorado State Plumbing Board. Key steps include accumulating 6,800 hours (4 years) of practical experience, passing the Journeyworker Plumbing Exam administered by PSI, and submitting an application with the required fees. While Colorado does not have formal reciprocity agreements, plumbers licensed in other states may apply for licensure by endorsement if their qualifications are substantially equivalent to Colorado's requirements.

bar_chart Salary percentiles

10th percentile (entry) $46,370

25th percentile $51,280

50th (median) $63,610

75th percentile $77,990

90th (experienced) $98,680

Source: BLS OEWS 2024 for Colorado. Metro-area wages may differ significantly from the state aggregate.

checklist Colorado requirements

Licensing body	Colorado State Plumbing Board
State license	Required
Education	None specified, but a high school diploma or GED is generally recommended for apprenticeships.
Experience	6,800.0 hours
Exam	Journeyworker Plumbing Exam (administered by PSI) ($72)
Renewal	Every 2.0 years
Continuing education	16.0 hours per cycle
Notes	Minimum age of 18. Requires a criminal background check. Experience hours are for a Journeyworker Plumber license. Master Plumber requires 5 years (8,500 hours) of experience. Residential Plumber requires 2 years (3,400 hours) of experience. All exams are open-book and administered by PSI. Journeyman and Residential exams require a 70% passing score, Master requires 75%.

Source: Colorado State Plumbing Board

workspace_premium Colorado license tiers

Colorado offers multiple tiers of plumber licensing:

Tier	Hours required
Apprentice	N/A
Residential Plumber	3,400
Journeyman Plumber	6,800
Master Plumber	9,780

work_outline Job outlook

10-year growth

+4.5%

Faster than average

Annual openings

44,000

Nationwide per year

Total employment

504,500

Nationwide

neurology

AI & tech impact

verified Low exposure -1.12/1.00

This career has low exposure to AI automation. Most tasks require physical presence, human judgment, or hands-on skills that AI cannot easily replicate.

hub

balance Is it worth it?

Rough payback period

0 months

~$250 investment ÷ $63,610 median salary

check_circleColorado license required — clearer credential signal to employers
check_circleLow AI disruption risk

psychology

Wondering if a plumber career is the right fit?

See what the day actually looks like, who the role suits, and who should skip it — grounded in real practitioner sources.

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Frequently asked questions

How do you get certified as a plumber in Colorado? expand_more

The path to plumber licensure in Colorado: complete the required education (None specified, but a high school diploma or GED is generally recommended for apprenticeships.), gain 6,800.0 hours of supervised experience, and pass the Journeyworker Plumbing Exam (administered by PSI).

Is a plumber license required in Colorado? expand_more

Colorado mandates state licensure for plumbers. Colorado State Plumbing Board oversees the process, which includes passing the Journeyworker Plumbing Exam (administered by PSI).

How much do plumbers make in Colorado? expand_more

plumbers in Colorado earn a median of $63,610 annually. That's roughly in line with the $62,970 national median. Entry-level (10th percentile) starts at $46,370, while experienced professionals (90th percentile) earn $98,680.

How much does it cost to become a plumber in Colorado? expand_more

Plan on spending $250 total — that covers exam fee ($72) plus your education and training.

What's the timeline to become a plumber in Colorado? expand_more

The typical timeline in Colorado is 4 years of experience. This includes completing education, gaining any required experience, and passing the licensing exam.

Does Colorado require continuing education for plumbers? expand_more

License renewal in Colorado requires completing 16.0 hours of continuing education on a 2.0-year cycle.