Building/Construction Finishing at CET-Alexandria
a compact campus enrolling 23 students in Alexandria, VA.
Program Analysis
Starting salaries of $28,485/yr fall 22% below the $36,481 national median for Building/Construction Finishing. The financial case depends heavily on whether tuition compensates.
The 9% spread between best and worst-case AI scenarios signals strong resilience. Most careers in Building/Construction Finishing involve physical, hands-on work that current AI cannot replicate.
At $6,323 in median debt against $28,485 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance quickly — a hallmark of affordable trade programs.
A #30 ranking among 44 Building/Construction Finishing programs places CET-Alexandria in the lower half. Price, proximity, and personal fit become the stronger arguments.
The limited growth from $28,485 to $32,178 over five years suggests earnings in this trade plateau relatively early in one's career.
The 60 apprenticeship pathways connected to Building/Construction Finishing reflect strong industry infrastructure for this trade. Apprenticeships typically lead to journeyman-level wages.
Earnings Overview
Projected 10-Year Earnings
Based on actual graduate salary data and Bureau of Labor Statistics growth projections.
Top Career Paths
Top career paths for Building/Construction Finishing graduates by median salary.
| Career Path | Median Salary | Growth | AI-ProofAI |
|---|---|---|---|
| Facilities managers | $104,690 | +3.8% | 52% |
| First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers | $78,690 | +5.3% | 57% |
| Construction and building inspectors | $72,120 | -0.8% | 57% |
About Building/Construction Finishing Careers
You’ll start by solving tangible problems on active job sites. As a maintenance worker or painter, your day involves hands-on tasks: troubleshooting a building’s electrical systems with a multimeter, prepping surfaces, or applying the final coats of paint that make a project complete. With experience, you can advance to a First-Line Supervisor role. Here, your focus shifts from using tools to managing teams, coordinating schedules from blueprints, and ensuring job site safety and quality standards are met.
Read the full Building/Construction Finishing career guide →
Compare & Explore
Building/Construction Finishing Overview
Building/Construction Finishing at Other Schools
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