Building/Construction Finishing at CET-San Diego
a smaller institution with 225 students in San Diego, CA.
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.
With only 14% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, the scenario spread is tight at 9%. Career paths for Building/Construction Finishing are among the more automation-resistant trades we analyze.
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.
Ranked #22 out of 44 programs, CET-San Diego's Building/Construction Finishing offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.
Earnings growth is modest: $28,485 to $32,178 over five years (13% gain). This trade may have a lower salary ceiling than high-growth professions.
With 60 registered apprenticeships mapped to Building/Construction Finishing, graduates have substantial options for hands-on training paths that pay from day one.
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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