Carpenters at City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College
with a smaller student body of 1,564 in Chicago, IL.
Program Analysis
City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College's Carpenters graduates start at $17,697/yr, trailing the $37,206 national average by 52%. The program's value hinges on affordability.
Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 42.3x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Carpenters programs nationally.
Some AI exposure exists in Carpenters's career paths, with 29% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 0% gap from the optimistic case.
Ranked #14 of 15 Carpenters programs, City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.
Carpenters offers 37 registered apprenticeship pathways — an unusually broad set of earn-while-you-learn alternatives to the classroom track.
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 Carpenters graduates by median salary.
| Career Path | Median Salary | Growth | AI-ProofAI |
|---|---|---|---|
| First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers | $78,690 | +5.3% | 57% |
| Carpenters | $59,310 | +4.5% | 86% |
About Carpenters Careers
You’ll start your career with a tool belt strapped on, working on residential or commercial job sites. Your days will involve reading blueprints, measuring and cutting lumber with power saws, and framing walls or building staircases with precision. As your skills sharpen, you’ll advance from an apprentice to a journeyman carpenter, trusted with more complex projects like custom cabinetry or detailed finish work. This is hands-on work that can’t be automated or done from a desk; you are physically building and shaping the world.