Carpenters at Des Moines Area Community College
serving 10,406 students in Ankeny, IA.
Program Analysis
First-year earnings of $34,421 track close to the $37,206 national median for Carpenters programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.
The 64.9x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. Trade programs often deliver strong ratios, and this one is a standout.
AI risk is moderate — 29% task exposure — and the 0% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook for Carpenters graduates.
Ranked #5 out of 15 programs, Des Moines Area Community College's Carpenters offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.
With 37 registered apprenticeships mapped to Carpenters, graduates have substantial options for hands-on training paths that pay from day one.
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.