Woodworking at Michigan Career and Technical Institute

Plainwell, MI · Public · Certificate

with a smaller student body of 118 in Plainwell, MI.

Program Analysis

Michigan Career and Technical Institute's Woodworking graduates start at $26,594/yr, trailing the $32,449 national average by 18%. The program's value hinges on affordability.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 36.3x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Woodworking programs nationally.

AI disruption models show minimal impact on this program's career paths. The gap between optimistic and pessimistic scenarios is just 9% — this trade's hands-on core resists automation.

This program is one of 2 schools offering Woodworking in our dataset — a specialized trade with limited comparison points.

Woodworking offers 22 registered apprenticeship pathways — an unusually broad set of earn-while-you-learn alternatives to the classroom track.

40 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
41
Low End
40
Score
41
High End
Earnings $26,594/yr (-18% vs median)
AI-Proof AI-Proof (90% shielded)
Job Market Medium (23,200 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$305K
3.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
36.7x
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)
$8,300
Out-of-state: $12,048

Top Career Paths

Top career paths for Woodworking graduates by median salary.

Career Path Median Salary Growth AI-ProofAI
Patternmakers, wood $52,520 -5.0% 74%
Model makers, wood $51,850 -4.5% 85%
Cabinetmakers and bench carpenters $46,020 -1.6% 88%
Patternmakers, wood
$52,520
-5.0% growth 74% AI-proof
Model makers, wood
$51,850
-4.5% growth 85% AI-proof
Cabinetmakers and bench carpenters
$46,020
-1.6% growth 88% AI-proof

View all 7 career paths with full salary data →

Woodworking Career Guide

See the full career breakdown for Woodworking — job titles, salary ranges, and growth projections for graduates from Michigan Career and Technical Institute and 1 other schools.

Read the full Woodworking career guide →

Compare & Explore

Woodworking Overview

Woodworking at Other Schools

Other Majors at Michigan Career and Technical Institute

Trade Certificate vs. Bachelor's Degree

Weigh shorter time-to-career against higher earning ceilings. The numbers tell the story.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Michigan Career and Technical Institute's Woodworking program score?
A score of 40/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Woodworking. Earnings, ROI, or job market factors are pulling the score down.
How safe is Woodworking from automation?
Highly resilient. Woodworking careers are fundamentally hands-on — they require physical presence and manual skill that AI cannot replicate. Michigan Career and Technical Institute graduates retain 7 of 7 viable career paths even under conservative assumptions.
Why are Woodworking earnings lower at Michigan Career and Technical Institute?
Lower starting pay at Michigan Career and Technical Institute may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.
Are there apprenticeship options for Woodworking?
Beyond Michigan Career and Technical Institute's classroom route, 22 registered apprenticeships map to Woodworking careers — including Accordion Maker. Apprenticeships trade shorter program length for longer on-the-job training, typically 2-4 years.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →