Carpenters at Ivy Tech Community College
with 54,926 students enrolled in Indianapolis, IN.
Program Analysis
Ivy Tech Community College Carpenters graduates command $51,104/yr out of the gate, well above the $37,206 national median. That 37% premium suggests the program's industry reputation carries real labor-market weight.
The 89.2x 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 40% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook for Carpenters graduates.
A #1 ranking out of 15 Carpenters programs nationally puts Ivy Tech Community College in the top 10% — a strong but not elite position.
Earnings growth from $51,104 to $88,474 over five years (73% increase) indicates that graduates in this trade see meaningful salary progression.
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.