A Colorado public school teacher smiles in his classroom. Behind him, students sit in rows of desks working with one another.

Jobs in Colorado

Learn how you can start a high-demand career and make a difference for Colorado students.

Educators are in high demand, and teaching positions are expected to grow by 7 to 8 percent in the coming decade. (1) Find out how and where you can be part of that growth, and build a sustainable, fulfilling career while you give back to your community. 

On this page, get information on:

  • Why you should consider teaching in Colorado
  • What areas need more teachers
  • The benefits, lifestyle and impact you can expect as a Colorado teacher
  • How to start looking for an education job—and even earn a salary while you earn your teaching license 
  • How to take next steps toward a Colorado license

Make an Impact on Students and Schools

A Colorado high school teacher stops to work with a student in her classroom. Students sit in pairs at their desks, with notebooks and pens spread out.

Colorado teaches nearly 900,000 students in almost 2,000 schools. (2) And in 2020, public schools had 6,910 open teaching positions—some of which never got filled. (3)

In short, Colorado needs more educators, from teaching assistants to classroom teachers.

If you’re passionate about education and community work, there are big opportunities to make an impact in Colorado.

Whatever your background, as a Colorado educator, you can help create more inclusive, culturally responsive classrooms. Students with disabilities, students who are new to the country and students who live in low-income or rural areas especially need strong advocates and imaginative educators. 

Where Teachers are Needed in Colorado

If you’re inspired to make a difference for students, you can have a big effect working in an educator shortage area.

The state of Colorado listed these shortage areas for the 2022-2023 school year: 

  • Business/Marketing
  • Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education (also known as English as a Second Language)
  • Early Childhood Education
  • Early Childhood Special Education
  • Elementary Education
  • English Language Arts
  • Instructional Technology
  • Math
  • Music
  • P.E.
  • Science
  • Social Studies
  • Special Education
  • Technology Education (also called Industrial Arts)
  • Visual Art
  • World Languages
  • Rural Education

Ready to explore job openings in education? Check out the district job boards on our alternative licensure page. You can also visit the Colorado Department of Education’s Colorado Teaching Jobs page. Under “I Have an Educator License,” you’ll find links to education job boards across the state. Don’t be scared off by the heading! Most of these boards also feature openings for education roles that don’t require a teaching license.

Why are these “shortage areas”? 

When you hear the term “shortage area,” you might be wondering why these areas are so hard to fill. There are a lot of reasons why the areas listed above have staffing shortages. We’ll go over a few of those here.

  • They’re unfamiliar subjects. Many shortage area subjects are shortage areas in part because they’re unfamiliar to people. For example, unless you or someone close to you has received special ed services, you may not have a clear picture of what special education entails.
  • They require more people. Some subject areas simply need lower student-to-teacher ratios to effectively support students. Special education students and English Language Learners often need more one-on-one support to excel. That means schools need to fill more jobs to work with a smaller group of students in those programs. 
  • Change takes time. Colorado’s growing Latino population means that Colorado needs more Spanish-speaking teachers. But as the Washington Post explains: 

“Latinos are younger, as a group, so they make up a greater share of the student population than the adult population. Teachers may stay in the profession for decades, so it takes time for the workforce to transform.” (4)  

What Is It Like Teaching in Colorado?

Learn about where Colorado schools are currently, where we’re headed and the kind of change you can help create.

Colorado teachers enjoy strong salaries and excellent benefits. Between 2019 and 2020, Colorado’s average teacher salary grew by 5.03%—one of the fastest-growing salaries in the nation! (5)

As a teacher, you can also look forward to financial supports outside of your salary. That includes a generous pension program and housing assistance options, so you can live in the community where you teach. 

Benefits for Shortage Area Teachers

Teachers in shortage areas often qualify for extra financial aid, such as the federal Teacher Loan Forgiveness or Perkins Loan Forgiveness programs. These programs mean that if you teach in a shortage area, you don’t have to pay all your student loans back!

Rural educators also qualify for special financial aid programs. These can cover the cost of licensure, as well as any other program-related costs, like textbooks and testing fees.

Want to learn more about teacher compensation? Visit our Salary & Benefits page for in-depth information on teacher pay and our free downloadable Colorado Salary & Benefits Report.

If you’re a Colorado resident, you already know that Colorado is full of rich history and stunning landscapes. As an educator, you can incorporate that vibrant backdrop into your life and teaching.

Not only will you have abundant adventures at your doorstep during school breaks, you’ll also have ample resources to craft creative, inspiring lessons. In Colorado, you can:

  • Dig into archeology with Colorado’s fossil treasure trove and sites like Dinosaur National Monument.
  • Honor Colorado’s Indigenous history and present-day culture at landmarks like Mesa Verde National Park or the Ute Indian Museum.
  • Uncover the state’s wild west past with a plethora of gold mines and ghost towns. 
  • Bring art and culture into your classroom, drawing on Colorado’s vibrant arts communities across the state.

Independence in Rural Education

Coloradans have been following a national trend of moving out of rural areas and into cities. (6) But there are major benefits to becoming a rural educator, including a much lower cost of living than you would have in a large city.

Plus, as a rural educator, you’ll be one of fewer teachers in your school or district. That means you’ll have more independence to shape your curriculum and take the creative helm of your classroom. Learn more at the TEACH Colorado rural education page.

Want to learn more about life in the Centennial State? Check out our Why Teach in Colorado page to get the scoop.

It’s no secret that Colorado is becoming more ethnically and racially diverse, and that trend is expected to continue in the coming decades. In fact, from 2010 to 2020, Colorado’s Black population grew by nearly 18%. In that same time period, the state’s Latino population grew by over 20%. (7)

Currently, those changing numbers aren’t reflected in Colorado’s teacher workforce. In 2018, around 80% of public school teachers were white—but nearly half of Colorado’s public school students were not. (8)

Why does teacher diversity matter? 

Students need teachers who reflect their communities and their identities. Recruiting and retaining more teachers of color is key to making that happen. 

According to the Washington Post, “Researchers have found significant positive results when Black and Hispanic students have teachers who match their race or ethnicity: better attendance, fewer suspensions, more positive attitudes, and higher test scores, graduation rates and college attendance. Teachers of color also have higher expectations for students of color, which may fuel the other gains.” (4) 

How you can help

Paraeducators, tutors and teachers of color are crucial for the success of the next generation of students. If that could be you, an education position means you could help shape Colorado’s future and help Colorado students thrive.

Whatever your background, as a Colorado educator, you can help create more inclusive, culturally responsive classrooms. Students with disabilities, students who are new to the country and students who live in low-income or rural areas especially need strong advocates and imaginative educators.

If you’re curious about teaching, but not sure if it’s right for you, we have good news: You don’t have to commit right away! There are a lot of ways you can gain education experience and get a sense of the work before you pursue a teaching license.

What To Do if You’re Interested in Teaching Colorado

If you’re curious about teaching, but not sure if it’s right for you, we have good news: You don’t have to commit right away!

There are a lot of ways you can gain education experience and get a sense of the work before you pursue a teaching license. For example, you can consider:

  • Volunteering in classrooms or after-school programs
  • Looking for full-time, non-teacher positions in schools
  • Substituting as a teacher, teacher assistant or other non-full-time position

What do these jobs look like? In the next section, we’ll go over a few classroom roles and what to expect.

Education Roles in Colorado

Paraeducators—also called paraprofessionals, teacher’s aides or classroom assistants—work closely with classroom teachers to support students.

As a paraeducator, you might help plan and schedule class activities, work one-on-one with students to practice skills like reading or math, supervise students during lunchtime or field trips…your role can change daily, so the work is always new and rarely boring.

Some paraeducator positions require only a high school diploma or GED to get started. To apply for paraeducator positions, visit the website of the district where you want to work and search their jobs portal to see specific openings and requirements. You can apply to work at a specific school, or you can work as a substitute and go where you’re needed on any given day.

Tutors work with students one-on-one or in small groups. As a tutor, you’ll collaborate with teachers and principals to make student support plans, work closely with students and track student progress.

To work as a tutor, you’ll generally need at least a high school diploma or GED. Some districts may have more specific qualifications. Visit the website of the district where you want to work and search their jobs portal to see specific openings and requirements.

Substitute teachers, or guest teachers, fill in when full-time teachers can’t be in the classroom. As a substitute, you’ll practice classroom management, lesson planning and instructional skills. Substitute authorizations let you teach in K-12 classrooms, making it a great way to work with many different age groups and subjects, and see what appeals to you. (9)

Colorado offers several different substitute teacher authorizations that do NOT require a Colorado teaching license—just some experience working with kids. Visit the Colorado Department of Education Substitute Teacher page to get more information on substituting, substitute pay, and resources to support new substitute teachers (there are a lot!).

If you’re not ready to take the plunge into full-time teaching, consider subbing with Scoot Education here. By submitting one application, you’ll be able to teach at a variety of schools, grade levels, and subjects. Scoot, an educational staffing company, can connect you with substitute teaching opportunities that match your preferences, location, and career aspirations. Their Education Consultants provide 1:1 guidance and go over school feedback with you to continually improve your teaching skills. Start substitute teaching today and help Scoot create exceptional experiences in education.

Meanwhile, "Welcome to Substitute Teaching," a course developed by Substantial Classrooms, will set you up for success as a substitute teacher. You can register and get started here. The course will build your knowledge and understanding of how to prepare for and complete a teaching assignment and your role in the school community. You’ll find great information on what to expect as a substitute teacher and some basic resources for managing a classroom and facilitating instruction. 

If you have a bachelor’s degree and want to start on your Colorado teaching license, consider an alternative licensure pathway! 

What is an alternative teaching license? 

Alternative licensure programs let you start teaching in a classroom—and earning a salary—while you get licensed. You’ll work with a mentor and take coursework in the evenings, and implement what you’ve learned in your classroom during the day.

The Colorado Department of Education explains, “The alternative teacher pathway allows districts to hire candidates with specific content knowledge and who hold an undergraduate or higher degree… Alternative teacher preparation programs vary in length from 1 year to 2 years (though special education generalist candidates may take a third year, if necessary). While serving as a teacher, alternative candidates put what they learn into practice immediately.” (10)

What do I need to get my alternative license? 

To pursue alternative licensure, you’ll need a job offer from a district. In your application, be sure to say that you’re ready to enroll in an alternative licensure program. Once you’ve gotten a job offer, your employer may be able to help you find the right teaching program for your situation.

Want to learn more about alternative licensure? Visit the TEACH Colorado Alternative Licensure page for additional information.

If you already have your Colorado teaching license—or are enrolled in a teaching program—you might be ready to start looking for a classroom position of your own.

We recommend visiting the job boards on our alternative licensure page to get started. You can also check out the Colorado Department of Education’s Colorado Teaching Jobs page. There, you’ll find links to job boards for Colorado public service positions and teaching jobs in Colorado.

Want more support before you take your next step? A TEACH Colorado coach can help! Visit our coaching page to set up a free conversation (over email, video or phone, whatever works best for you!) with an experienced Colorado educator who can give you custom advice.

How to Get a Teaching License in Colorado

A math teacher in a Colorado public school stands in front of the whiteboard in his classroom. He wears glasses and is looking at the camera and smiling. There are math equations filling up the whiteboard behind him.

If you’re wondering about the requirements to become a teacher in Colorado, you’ve come to the right place.

To become a Colorado teacher, you’ll need to complete a few steps. Here’s the short version (11):

  1. Decide what subject and grades you want to teach.
  2. Complete an educator preparation program. 
  3. Pass your teaching licensure test.
  4. Submit your teaching application to the state. 

Becoming a teacher in Colorado can sound like a lot—but that’s where TEACH Colorado comes in! We’re here for you every step of the way, from choosing the right program to completing your applications to preparing for licensure tests.

Visit our About Licensure page for a full explanation and (free!) downloadable PDF that covers the licensure process from start to finish.

Learn About Licensure

Create an Account

A screenshot of TEACH Colorado pages and services: It highlights checklists and profiles of University of Denver, Pikes Peak BOCES UCCS, University of Northern Colorado and Colorado Mesa University.

Sign up for your free, all-access pass to TEACH Colorado tools and services.

  • Create a career roadmap.
  • Get 1-on-1 expert advice from a Colorado teacher.
  • Follow how-to guides for getting licensed.
  • Access prep program application checklists.
  • Be in the know for the next scholarship opportunity.
  • Claim fee reimbursements towards application and testing expenses.

We’re always working on something new to help the next generation of great teachers. With an account, you get first dibs!

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References

  1. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Bureau of Labor Statistics. United States Department of Labor. Data.BLS.gov. 
  2. Colorado Education Facts and Figures, Colorado Department of Education. CDE.State.CO.US. 
  3. Colorado’s Educator Shortage Survey Results, Colorado Department of Education. CDE.State.CO.US. 
  4. Meckler, Laura and Kate Rabinowitz. “America’s schools are more diverse than ever. But the teachers are still mostly white,” The Washington Post. December 27, 2019. WashingtonPost.com. 
  5. Will, Madeline. “Teacher Salaries are Increasing. See How Your State Compares,” Education Week. April 26, 2021. EdWeek.org. 
  6. Murray, Jon. “Denver’s population growth leads Colorado as urban areas outpace rural.” The Denver Post. March 25, 2020. DenverPost.com. 
  7. Census Data for Colorado (2020), State Demography Office. Colorado Department of Local Affairs. Demography.DOLA.Colorado.gov.  
  8. Hansen, Michael and Diana Quintero. “The Growing Need for Diverse Teachers in the Mountain West,” The Brookings Institution. December 2018.  
  9. Become a Substitute/Guest Teacher, Colorado Department of Education. CDE.State.CO.US. 
  10. Alternative Teacher Candidates: What You Need to Know, Colorado Department of Education. CDE.State.CO.US. 
  11. Initial Teacher License for In-State Applicants, Colorado Department of Education. CDE.State.CO.US.