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Students training in a machinist program

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CNC & machining programs in Colorado

Colorado has 7 accredited campuses awarding machinist credentials. If you finish and work as a machinist in Colorado, expect to start around $44,650–$49,170 and reach a median of $60,200 with experience; the top quarter earn $74,110 or more (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025, Colorado). Graduates of these Colorado programs — every graduate, whatever job they took — earned a median of $38,593 in their first year, against $36,340 nationally; that is the figure used to rank campuses below.

What machinists earn in Colorado

$44,650starting (10th percentile)
$49,170early career (25th)
$60,200median, all experience
$74,110experienced (75th)
$84,510top earners (90th)

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025; 2,800 employed in Colorado. National median: $58,750.

Campuses in Colorado, ranked by what their graduates earned

7campuses in Colorado
382credentials awarded / yr
$38,593median earnings, yr 1 (Colorado)
$36,340median earnings, yr 1 (U.S.)

Cities: AuroraColorado SpringsDenverGrand JunctionLakewoodPuebloWestminster

CampusCityTypeGrads / yrEarnings, yr 1Program debtCompletionCost / yr
Front Range Community College Westminster Public 78 $40,297 $5,500 not reported not reported
Pueblo Community College Pueblo Public 37 $38,593 $6,350 not reported not reported
Red Rocks Community College Lakewood Public 148 not reported not reported not reported not reported
Colorado Mesa University Grand Junction Public 82 not reported not reported not reported not reported
Pikes Peak State College Colorado Springs Public 21 not reported not reported not reported not reported
Pickens Technical College Aurora Public 11 not reported not reported 76% not reported
Community College of Denver Denver Public 5 not reported not reported not reported not reported

Earnings are median wages and self-employment income reported to the IRS (W-2 and Schedule SE) for graduates who received federal aid and were working and not enrolled, measured in the calendar year after finishing. They are pay only: health insurance, retirement contributions and other benefits are not included.

Ranked by median earnings of this program's graduates one year after completion (College Scorecard field-of-study, Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey; College Scorecard June 2026; Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs (DAPIP), September 2026); campuses without a reported figure follow, by credentials awarded. "Program debt" is the median federal loan debt for graduates of this program at this campus. Completion is the campus-wide 150%-of-time rate. "Not reported" means the federal file suppresses the value for privacy.

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