Construction Management Technology at Lake Area Technical College

Watertown, SD · Public · Associate Degree · Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection

a compact campus enrolling 1,710 students in Watertown, SD.

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $38,635/yr, edging above the $36,481 national average for Construction Management Technology — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand for this trade.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 30.1x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Construction Management Technology 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 $12,000 in median debt against $38,635 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance quickly — a hallmark of affordable trade programs.

At #15 of 44 Construction Management Technology programs, Lake Area Technical College scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Construction Management Technology offers 60 registered apprenticeship pathways — an unusually broad set of earn-while-you-learn alternatives to the classroom track.

66 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
66
Low End
66
Score
66
High End
Earnings $38,635/yr (6% vs median)
AI-Proof AI-Proof (86% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (392,900 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$404K
1.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple
30.1x
10-year earnings ÷ tuition
Viable Career Paths
22 of 22
Occupations with strong AI resilience

Projected 10-Year Earnings

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

Program Tuition
$13,436
Median Debt at Graduation
$12,000
3.7 months of Year 1 earnings

Top Career Paths

Top career paths for Construction Management Technology graduates by median salary.

Career Path Median Salary Growth AI-ProofAI
Facilities managers $104,690 +3.8% 52%
First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers $78,690 +5.3% 57%
Construction and building inspectors $72,120 -0.8% 57%
Facilities managers
$104,690
+3.8% growth 52% AI-proof
First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
$78,690
+5.3% growth 57% AI-proof
Construction and building inspectors
$72,120
-0.8% growth 57% AI-proof

View all 22 career paths with full salary data →

Construction Management Technology Career Guide

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

Read the full Construction Management Technology career guide →

Compare & Explore

Construction Management Technology Overview

Construction Management Technology at Other Schools

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Considering a 4-Year Degree Instead?

Compare how bachelor's degree graduates fare on earnings, ROI, and AI resilience.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the TradeSchoolOutlook Score for Construction Management Technology at Lake Area Technical College?
This program scores 66/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Construction Management Technology graduates.
Is Construction Management Technology from Lake Area Technical College a future-proof career choice?
Highly resilient. Construction Management Technology careers are fundamentally hands-on — they require physical presence and manual skill that AI cannot replicate. Lake Area Technical College graduates retain 22 of 22 viable career paths even under conservative assumptions.
Should I consider an apprenticeship over a Construction Management Technology program at Lake Area Technical College?
If Lake Area Technical College's tuition gives you pause, consider that 60 DOL-registered apprenticeship pathways exist for Construction Management Technology. You'd earn while training, avoiding student debt entirely — though completion takes longer than a certificate program.
How many job openings are there for Construction Management Technology graduates?
The very large job market (392,900 annual openings) works in favor of Construction Management Technology 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 →