Plumbing and Related Water Supply Services at City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College

Chicago, IL · Public · Certificate

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

Program Analysis

City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College Plumbing and Related Water Supply Services 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 and Related Water Supply Services 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 and Related Water Supply Services program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Plumbing and Related Water Supply Services 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 and Related Water Supply Services 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 →

About Plumbing and Related Water Supply Services Careers

Your days will be a mix of new construction sites and residential service calls. You could be fitting copper pipes in a new high-rise, using a PEX crimper under a kitchen sink, or running a diagnostic camera down a drain line to pinpoint a stubborn clog. In related fields like septic and sewer service, you’ll operate powerful vacuum trucks and high-pressure water jets to maintain and repair crucial wastewater systems.

Read the full Plumbing and Related Water Supply Services career guide →

Compare & Explore

Plumbing and Related Water Supply Services Overview

Plumbing and Related Water Supply Services at Other Schools

Other Majors at City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the TradeSchoolOutlook Score for Plumbing and Related Water Supply Services 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.
Will AI replace Plumbing and Related Water Supply Services jobs?
Highly resilient. Plumbing and Related Water Supply Services careers are fundamentally hands-on — they require physical presence and manual skill that AI cannot replicate. 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 and Related Water Supply Services?
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.
Can I learn Plumbing and Related Water Supply Services through an apprenticeship instead?
Plumbing and Related Water Supply Services connects to 22 apprenticeship pathways. These DOL-registered programs combine structured training with paid employment — a strong alternative for students who prefer hands-on learning over classroom instruction.
How many job openings are there for Plumbing and Related Water Supply Services graduates?
The career paths mapped to Plumbing and Related Water Supply Services have roughly 125,700 combined annual openings nationally, making this a very large job market. Trade careers in this field benefit from consistent replacement demand as workers retire.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →