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CareerOneStop's 2025 wage data for Carpenters, SOC 47-2031, reports Colorado's low, median, and high hourly wage levels at these figures.
Last updated October 1, 2026. Rates are market estimates, not guarantees.
Hiring guide · Colorado
Learn how to hire qualified carpenters, verify contractor requirements, and assess practical skills for Colorado construction projects.
Carpenters in Colorado work across residential construction, commercial building, remodeling, framing, finish work, and specialty projects. Their responsibilities can include structural framing, exterior work, doors and windows, cabinets, trim, and repairs. Strong candidates should be able to read plans, take accurate measurements, operate hand and power tools safely, and adapt to changing site conditions. Colorado also has a local approach to contractor licensing, meaning requirements can differ between jurisdictions rather than following one statewide residential contractor license. This guide helps employers understand the qualifications that matter, identify useful recruiting and apprenticeship sources, screen candidates by experience level, and evaluate practical skills before making a hiring decision.
Candidate availability moves week to week. What does not move is the screening: the certifications below are what decide whether someone can be badged onto your site at all.
Colorado carpenters generally progress by building supervised experience, technical skills, independence, and leadership responsibility.
An apprentice develops core carpentry skills while working under supervision and receiving structured training.
Work independently on more complex carpentry tasks, apply trade knowledge, and take responsibility for quality, productivity, and jobsite safety.
Lead experienced carpentry work, coordinate crews or projects, solve complex jobsite problems, and serve as a senior trade resource.
Budget $30.21 an hour for a qualified carpenter in Colorado, from $22.61 at entry level to $43.63 at the top. Add a quarter to a third on top for payroll taxes, insurance and equipment, and price overtime at time and a half.
See the full carpenter salary guide →Colorado employers should verify the local contractor rules, worker classification, insurance, and safety requirements that apply to the project.
Colorado employers can use the state's workforce system, construction training organizations, and registered apprenticeship pathways to reach carpenters at different experience levels.
Use different questions for entry-level, experienced, and lead carpenters so the interview reflects the responsibilities of the position.
Vague project responsibilities
No measurable carpentry experience
Unverified apprenticeship claims
Limited blueprint experience
Little power-tool experience
No evidence of independent work
Frequent unexplained short-term jobs
A realistic schedule for a certified carpenter, from writing the requisition to a badged start. The screening steps are where time is actually lost.
Colorado does not provide a single statewide carpenter wage table broken out by these specific construction sectors, so the verified statewide median of $30.21 per hour is used consistently rather than creating unsupported sector differences.
Residential carpenters may handle framing, remodeling, exterior repairs, doors, windows, and detailed interior work.
Commercial carpenters often work from detailed plans and coordinate their activities with larger project teams and multiple trades.
Framing work emphasizes layout, measurements, structural assembly, material handling, and consistent production across repeated building components.
Finish carpenters focus on visible details such as trim, doors, cabinetry, molding, and precise fitting.
Remodeling carpenters frequently work around existing structures where conditions may differ from original plans or expected dimensions.
Post a role and reach OSHA-certified candidates in your area.