Building/Construction Finishing at CET-Santa Maria
a smaller institution with 125 students in Santa Maria, CA.
Program Analysis
At $28,485 per year, Building/Construction Finishing graduates from CET-Santa Maria earn below the $36,481 national average. Lower costs or geographic factors may offset the earnings gap.
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.
The median debt load of $6,323 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios in vocational education.
A #29 ranking among 44 Building/Construction Finishing programs places CET-Santa Maria 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
Other Majors at CET-Santa Maria
How Does a Bachelor's Degree Compare?
Four-year programs take longer but may unlock different career trajectories. See the data.