What this means Our calculation
27 of 32 trades here pay more than the typical U.S. metro; the best-paid is electrical lineworkers at $114,820. Prices run 1% above the U.S. average, so a paycheck here is worth less than the same dollars elsewhere. For the wider job market, unemployment is about the same as most metros (3.9%) and the population is growing faster than most (+4.8% since 2020).
Highest-paying trades in Fort Collins Government data
All 32 trades
Vs. U.S. compares with the typical metro for that trade. Jobs are employment estimates, not open positions. Click a column to sort.
| Trade | Median pay | Vs. U.S. | Real pay | Jobs | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical Lineworker | $114,820 | +19% | $113,539 | 90 | #44 |
| Construction Supervisor | $78,670 | +2% | $77,793 | 1,090 | #159 |
| Building Inspector | $78,080 | +16% | $77,209 | 220 | #70 |
| Telecom Line Installer | $76,070 | +15% | $75,222 | 70 | #94 |
| Industrial Machinery Mechanic | $72,190 | +13% | $71,385 | 530 | #91 |
| Brickmason | $67,110 | +7% | $66,361 | 70 | #57 |
| HVAC Technician | $66,290 | +11% | $65,551 | 930 | #63 |
| Telecom Equipment Installer | $66,040 | +6% | $65,303 | 170 | #111 |
| Heavy Equipment Operator | $64,650 | +8% | $63,929 | 600 | #115 |
| Diesel Mechanic | $64,160 | +6% | $63,444 | 170 | #79 |
| Paving Equipment Operator | $62,900 | +26% | $62,198 | 60 | #29 |
| Ironworker | $62,670 | -2% | $61,971 | 60 | #82 |
| Auto Mechanic | $61,610 | +26% | $60,923 | 790 | #24 |
| Machinist | $61,500 | +8% | $60,814 | 480 | #66 |
| Electrician | $61,410 | -2% | $60,725 | 830 | #217 |
| Drywall Installer | $61,120 | +13% | $60,438 | 120 | #50 |
| Plumber | $60,610 | -1% | $59,934 | 800 | #212 |
| Glazier | $60,190 | +9% | $59,519 | 80 | #54 |
| Welder | $59,660 | +14% | $58,995 | 440 | #61 |
| Concrete Finisher | $58,890 | +3% | $58,233 | 320 | #144 |
| Appliance Repair Technician | $58,820 | +16% | $58,164 | 50 | #27 |
| Carpenter | $58,310 | +4% | $57,660 | 510 | #167 |
| Auto Body Repairer | $56,490 | +9% | $55,860 | 220 | #116 |
| Hazmat Removal Worker | $56,160 | +16% | $55,534 | 40 | #27 |
| Maintenance Technician | $53,290 | +10% | $52,696 | 1,410 | #82 |
| Sheet Metal Worker | $52,640 | -14% | $52,053 | 80 | #188 |
| Pest Control Technician | $49,460 | +11% | $48,908 | 50 | #13 |
| Insulation Installer | $49,320 | +2% | $48,770 | 70 | #43 |
| Painter | $48,900 | +3% | $48,355 | 270 | #145 |
| Roofer | $48,610 | -3% | $48,068 | 150 | #167 |
| Construction Laborer | $47,550 | +1% | $47,020 | 930 | #181 |
| Landscaper | $44,370 | +18% | $43,875 | 1,610 | #72 |
Pay: BLS OEWS, May 2025 (metro-level). Real pay: BEA price parities, 2024. How we calculate
Living costs & homes Government data
Homes in Fort Collins
The Fort Collins area has about 170,169 homes. 30% were built before 1980 (typical metro 45%), so its housing is newer than most; 21% were built in 2010 or later. 63% of households own their home, and the median home value is $610,000.
Census American Community Survey, 2024 1-year estimates (table DP04).
Working outdoors in Fort Collins Government data
In an average year, Fort Collins has 30 days at 90°F or hotter (about typical; typical metro 33), 150 nights below freezing (typical 90) and 37 days with a tenth of an inch of rain or more, and 51 inches of snow. Summer afternoons average 85°F and winter nights 19°F. That matters for outdoor trades: heat and freezes shape the working season and the hours.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 averages, Ft Collins, CO station. Compare cities on outdoor work weather.
Job market & growth Government data
Unemployment
3.9% in 2025 (typical metro 4.1%), all workers.
BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, 2021–2025.
Population
The Fort Collins area's population grew 4.8% from 2020 to 2025 (359,942 → 377,292), ranking #103 of 387 metros for growth (typical metro +2.5%). People moving in (net +15,571) account for most of the change.
Census Bureau population estimates, July 1 of each year, 2020–2025.
New homes permitted
New-home permits in Fort Collins are down 24% from 2021 to 2025 (3,221 → 2,436). Permits signal construction activity, not open jobs.
Census Building Permits Survey, 2021–2025.
Getting to work
The average commute in the Fort Collins area is 24 minutes each way, about the same as the typical metro (24 min). 14% of commuters spend 45 minutes or more. 67% drive alone, 1% take transit and 21% work from home (all workers, not just trades).
Census American Community Survey, 2024 1-year estimates (table S0801).
Licensing in Colorado Official source
The main state licensing office in Colorado is the Colorado Division of Professions and Occupations. The state licenses electricians and plumbers; general contractors are licensed locally. It can point you to the right license for skilled trades.
Official Colorado licensing site ↗
Requirements for skilled trades vary by state and sometimes by city; always confirm with the official agency.
Union membership
In 2025, 5.9% of wage and salary workers in Colorado were union members, below the U.S. rate of about 10% (#37 of 51 states and D.C.), and 6.7% were covered by a union contract. These figures cover all jobs in the state, not only the trades.
BLS Union Members, 2025 (Current Population Survey), table 5.
Nearby metros
Compare any trade in two cities with city vs. city, or see every metro in Colorado.