Trade Schools in Charlotte, NC

9 schools · 30 programs · Avg earnings $38,181/yr

Charlotte's robust financial sector and burgeoning healthcare industry drive significant demand for skilled trades. The city is a hub for major banking institutions and several large hospital systems, creating consistent needs across various support roles. Programs in Registered Nursing, offered at institutions like Carolinas College of Health Sciences and Southeastern College, directly address the critical staffing requirements of local medical facilities.

Beyond healthcare, Charlotte's economy benefits from a strong transportation and logistics presence, alongside a growing technology sector. This translates into opportunities for those with specialized technical training. Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies programs, for instance, align with the city's extensive infrastructure and commercial transport needs, while Computer and Information Sciences training supports the expanding IT landscape.

Schools
9
Programs
30
Avg Grad Earnings
$38,181/yr
Avg Score
62/100

Charlotte Trade Schools Map

9 trade schools in Charlotte, NC.

Central Piedmont Community College Southeastern College-Charlotte Carolinas College of Health Sciences Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Charlotte No Grease Barber School Empire Beauty School-Pineville Empire Beauty School-Charlotte Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte University of North Carolina at Charlotte

All Trade Schools in Charlotte

9 trade schools ranked by number of programs offered.

Top Programs in Charlotte

Highest-earning trade programs by first-year graduate earnings in Charlotte.

Program School Earnings Score
Nursing Carolinas College of Health Sciences $75,471/yr 71
Nursing Central Piedmont Community College $73,310/yr 89
Clinical Laboratory Science Carolinas College of Health Sciences $62,885/yr 60
Allied Health Professions Central Piedmont Community College $61,455/yr 75
Dental Assisting Central Piedmont Community College $56,456/yr 72
Allied Health Professions Carolinas College of Health Sciences $52,467/yr 54
Vehicle Repair Technology Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Charlotte $47,951/yr 61
Accounting Central Piedmont Community College $45,092/yr 77
Vehicle Repair Technology Central Piedmont Community College $44,653/yr 75
Criminal Justice Central Piedmont Community College $44,616/yr 81

Apprenticeships in Charlotte

Another path · Earn while you learn
81 registered apprenticeship sponsors in Charlotte
Apprentices earn wages during training and graduate debt-free. See all North Carolina apprenticeships → for wages by trade.

Programs by Category

Skilled Trades (3) Healthcare (12) Engineering & Technology (1) Criminal Justice & Public Safety (1) Personal Services (5) Business & Office (2) Education (1) Arts & Design (1) Other Programs (4)

Skilled Trades (3 programs)

Program School Score Earnings
Vehicle Repair Technology Central Piedmont Community College 75 $44,653/yr
Welding & Metalworking Central Piedmont Community College 66 $40,149/yr
Vehicle Repair Technology Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Charlotte 61 $47,951/yr

Healthcare (12 programs)

Program School Score Earnings
Nursing Central Piedmont Community College 89 $73,310/yr
Allied Health Professions Central Piedmont Community College 75 $61,455/yr
Health Administration Central Piedmont Community College 73 $35,101/yr
Dental Assisting Central Piedmont Community College 72 $56,456/yr
Nursing Carolinas College of Health Sciences 71 $75,471/yr
Medical Assisting Central Piedmont Community College 70 $35,967/yr
Dental Assisting Central Piedmont Community College 62 $31,360/yr
Clinical Laboratory Science Carolinas College of Health Sciences 60 $62,885/yr
Allied Health Professions Carolinas College of Health Sciences 54 $52,467/yr
Health Administration Southeastern College-Charlotte 54 $27,644/yr
Medical Assisting Southeastern College-Charlotte 50 $30,453/yr
Massage Therapy Southeastern College-Charlotte 32 $18,788/yr

Engineering & Technology (1 programs)

Program School Score Earnings
Information Sciences Central Piedmont Community College 79 $40,854/yr

Criminal Justice & Public Safety (1 programs)

Program School Score Earnings
Criminal Justice Central Piedmont Community College 81 $44,616/yr

Personal Services (5 programs)

Program School Score Earnings
Culinary Arts Central Piedmont Community College 69 $27,127/yr
Culinary Arts Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte 56 $27,514/yr
Cosmetology Empire Beauty School-Pineville 43 $18,408/yr
Cosmetology Empire Beauty School-Charlotte 42 $15,322/yr
Cosmetology No Grease Barber School 41 $11,572/yr

Business & Office (2 programs)

Program School Score Earnings
Business Administration Central Piedmont Community College 81 $36,962/yr
Accounting Central Piedmont Community College 77 $45,092/yr

Education (1 programs)

Program School Score Earnings
Teacher Education Central Piedmont Community College 63 $23,865/yr

Arts & Design (1 programs)

Program School Score Earnings
Design Central Piedmont Community College 54 $30,979/yr

Other Programs (4 programs)

Program School Score Earnings
Legal Support Services Central Piedmont Community College 67 $44,012/yr
Legal Support Services Central Piedmont Community College 57 $35,314/yr
Liberal Arts & Humanities Central Piedmont Community College 48 $24,056/yr
Linguistics University of North Carolina at Charlotte 42 $25,630/yr

More Trade Schools in North Carolina

Frequently Asked Questions

How many trade schools are in Charlotte?
There are 9 accredited trade and vocational schools in Charlotte, NC, offering a total of 30 certificate and associate degree programs.
What are the best trade programs in Charlotte?
The highest-earning programs in Charlotte include Nursing, Nursing, Clinical Laboratory Science, with graduates earning $75,471 or more in their first year after graduation.
Are trade schools in Charlotte worth it?
Trade school programs in Charlotte average $38,181 in first-year graduate earnings, with many programs offering positive ROI within the first year. Most trade careers offer strong job security due to hands-on work requirements.

About This Data

This page analyzes 30 trade and vocational programs at 9 schools in Charlotte, NC using earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and employment projections from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2024–2034).

School locations shown on the map are based on official institutional addresses. Graduate earnings represent median first-year earnings for certificate and associate degree completers.

Data: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024–2034. Last updated 2026.