Ground Transportation at CET-San Jose

San Jose, CA · Private nonprofit · Certificate

with a smaller student body of 175 in San Jose, CA.

Program Analysis

Starting salaries of $34,665/yr fall 16% below the $41,480 national median for Ground Transportation. The financial case depends heavily on whether tuition compensates.

The 13% spread between best and worst-case AI scenarios signals strong resilience. Most careers in Ground Transportation involve physical, hands-on work that current AI cannot replicate.

At $6,650 in median debt against $34,665 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance quickly — a hallmark of affordable trade programs.

A #83 ranking among 96 Ground Transportation programs places CET-San Jose in the lower half. Price, proximity, and personal fit become the stronger arguments.

The limited growth from $34,665 to $40,705 over five years suggests earnings in this trade plateau relatively early in one's career.

The 14 apprenticeship pathways connected to Ground Transportation reflect strong industry infrastructure for this trade. Apprenticeships typically lead to journeyman-level wages.

66 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
65
Low End
66
Score
67
High End
Earnings $34,665/yr (-16% vs median)
AI-Proof AI-Proof (86% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (647,900 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$418K
4.1% annual growth
Viable Career Paths
29 of 29
Occupations with strong AI resilience

Projected 10-Year Earnings

Based on actual graduate salary data and Bureau of Labor Statistics growth projections.

Median Debt at Graduation
$6,650
2.3 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$40,705
17% growth from Year 1

Top Career Paths

Top career paths for Ground Transportation graduates by median salary.

Career Path Median Salary Growth AI-ProofAI
Subway and streetcar operators $84,830 +3.4% 59%
Locomotive engineers $77,400 +0.7% 71%
Railroad conductors and yardmasters $74,080 +1.1% 72%
Subway and streetcar operators
$84,830
+3.4% growth 59% AI-proof
Locomotive engineers
$77,400
+0.7% growth 71% AI-proof
Railroad conductors and yardmasters
$74,080
+1.1% growth 72% AI-proof

View all 29 career paths with full salary data →

Ground Transportation Career Guide

From day-one roles to senior positions, Ground Transportation careers span a range of specializations. Read the complete outlook for graduates entering skilled trades.

Read the full Ground Transportation career guide →

Compare & Explore

Ground Transportation Overview

Ground Transportation at Other Schools

Other Majors at CET-San Jose

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the TradeSchoolOutlook Score for Ground Transportation at CET-San Jose?
This program scores 66/100 — a respectable number in isolation, but it ranks in the bottom half of Ground Transportation programs nationally. The field is competitive, and stronger options exist.
How AI-proof is a career in Ground Transportation?
Highly resilient. Ground Transportation careers are fundamentally hands-on — they require physical presence and manual skill that AI cannot replicate. CET-San Jose graduates retain 29 of 29 viable career paths even under conservative assumptions.
How affordable is Ground Transportation at CET-San Jose?
Median debt of just $6,650 against $34,665/yr in starting salary means graduates can clear their loans in under 2 months. This is one of the more affordable paths in our dataset.
Can you still earn well with Ground Transportation from CET-San Jose?
Lower starting pay at CET-San Jose may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.
Can I learn Ground Transportation through an apprenticeship instead of CET-San Jose?
If CET-San Jose's tuition gives you pause, consider that 14 DOL-registered apprenticeship pathways exist for Ground Transportation. You'd earn while training, avoiding student debt entirely — though completion takes longer than a certificate program.
How many job openings are there for Ground Transportation graduates?
Job availability for Ground Transportation is strong — 647,900 positions open annually across the mapped career paths. For CET-San Jose graduates specifically, local market conditions in CA may shift the picture.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →