Carpentry at Des Moines Area Community College

Ankeny, IA · Public · Certificate · Carpenters

serving 10,406 students in Ankeny, IA.

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $34,421 track close to the $37,206 national median for Carpentry 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 Carpentry graduates.

Ranked #5 out of 15 programs, Des Moines Area Community College's Carpentry offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

With 37 registered apprenticeships mapped to Carpentry, graduates have substantial options for hands-on training paths that pay from day one.

63 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
61
Low End
63
Score
64
High End
Earnings $34,421/yr (-7% vs median)
AI-Proof Resilient (71% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (148,500 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$360K
1.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
64.9x
10-year earnings ÷ tuition
Viable Career Paths
2 of 2
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)
$5,550
Out-of-state: $11,100

Top Career Paths

Top career paths for Carpentry 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%
First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
$78,690
+5.3% growth 57% AI-proof
Carpenters
$59,310
+4.5% growth 86% AI-proof

Carpentry Career Guide

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

Read the full Carpentry career guide →

Compare & Explore

Carpentry Overview

Carpentry at Other Schools

Other Majors at Des Moines Area Community College

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the TradeSchoolOutlook Score for Carpentry at Des Moines Area Community College?
At 63/100, Des Moines Area Community College's Carpentry program delivers middling returns. School cost and personal fit become important decision factors.
What apprenticeship pathways exist for Carpentry graduates?
The DOL recognizes 37 apprenticeship pathways related to Carpentry. For students weighing Des Moines Area Community College's program cost against alternatives, apprenticeships offer zero-tuition entry with paid employment from day one.
Will Carpentry graduates from Des Moines Area Community College find jobs?
The career paths mapped to Carpentry have roughly 148,500 combined annual openings nationally, making this a very large job market. Demand is driven by infrastructure investment and steady replacement demand as workers retire.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →