Plumbing at City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College

Chicago, IL · Public · Certificate · Plumbing and Related Water Supply Services

a compact campus enrolling 1,564 students in Chicago, IL.

Program Analysis

City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College Plumbing graduates command $82,055/yr out of the gate, well above the $42,600 national median. That 93% premium suggests the program's industry reputation carries real labor-market weight.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 196.0x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Plumbing programs nationally.

AI disruption models show minimal impact on this program's career paths. The gap between optimistic and pessimistic scenarios is just 0% — this trade's hands-on core resists automation.

At #1 of 19 nationally, this is a top-5% Plumbing program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Plumbing offers 22 registered apprenticeship pathways — an unusually broad set of earn-while-you-learn alternatives to the classroom track.

82 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
80
Low End
82
Score
82
High End
Earnings $82,055/yr (93% vs median)
AI-Proof AI-Proof (87% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (125,700 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$858K
1.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
196.0x
10-year earnings ÷ tuition
Viable Career Paths
7 of 7
Occupations with strong AI resilience

Projected 10-Year Earnings

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

Program Tuition (In-State)
$4,380
Out-of-state: $14,430

Top Career Paths

Top career paths for Plumbing 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%
Rotary drill operators, oil and gas $65,010 +0.2% 95%
Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters $62,970 +4.5% 95%
First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
$78,690
+5.3% growth 57% AI-proof
Rotary drill operators, oil and gas
$65,010
+0.2% growth 95% AI-proof
Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
$62,970
+4.5% growth 95% AI-proof

View all 7 career paths with full salary data →

Plumbing Career Guide

Plumbing opens doors to multiple career tracks. Our pillar guide covers every mapped occupation with salary data and AI resilience ratings.

Read the full Plumbing career guide →

Compare & Explore

Plumbing Overview

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the TradeSchoolOutlook Score for Plumbing at City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College?
At 82/100, this is a high-performing trade program. The TradeSchoolOutlook Score combines earnings, AI resilience, and ROI — and this program delivers on all three.
How safe is Plumbing from automation?
Highly resilient. Plumbing careers are fundamentally hands-on — they require physical presence and manual skill that AI cannot replicate. City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College graduates retain 7 of 7 viable career paths even under conservative assumptions.
Is City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College one of the best schools for Plumbing?
Ranked #1 of 19 programs nationally, City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College lands in the top 5%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.
Should I consider an apprenticeship over a Plumbing program at City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College?
The DOL recognizes 22 apprenticeship pathways related to Plumbing. For students weighing City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College's program cost against alternatives, apprenticeships offer zero-tuition entry with paid employment from day one.
Will Plumbing graduates from City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College find jobs?
The very large job market (125,700 annual openings) works in favor of Plumbing graduates. The national outlook is driven by infrastructure investment and steady replacement demand as workers retire, though regional variation matters.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →