Carpenters at Orleans Technical College

Philadelphia, PA · Private nonprofit · Certificate

A 50% admission rate makes Orleans Technical College accessible to a wide range of qualified students, a smaller institution with 245 students in Philadelphia, PA.

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $21,916 place Orleans Technical College below the $37,206 national median for Carpenters — worth weighing against tuition and cost of living.

AI risk is moderate — 29% task exposure — and the 36% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook for Carpenters graduates.

With first-year pay of $21,916 far exceeding the $7,521 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

At #15 out of 15 programs, Orleans Technical College's financial outcomes for Carpenters trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $21,916 to $32,630 shows 49% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

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

46 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
42
Low End
46
Score
47
High End
Earnings $21,916/yr (-41% vs median)
AI-Proof Resilient (71% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (148,500 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$357K
10.5% annual growth
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.

Median Debt at Graduation
$7,521
4.1 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$32,630
49% growth from Year 1

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%
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

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.

Read the full Carpenters career guide →

Compare & Explore

Carpenters Overview

Carpenters at Other Schools

Other Majors at Orleans Technical College

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a 46/100 TradeSchoolOutlook Score mean for Carpenters at Orleans Technical College?
At 46/100, the financial outlook is modest. Higher-scoring Carpenters programs exist, though non-financial factors may justify this choice.
Why are Carpenters earnings lower at Orleans Technical College?
Lower starting pay at Orleans Technical College 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 Carpenters?
Yes — 37 registered apprenticeship programs are mapped to Carpenters career paths, including Boat Builder (Existing Title: Boat Builder, Wood). Apprenticeships offer paid on-the-job training as an alternative or complement to certificate programs.
What's the AI uncertainty for Carpenters careers?
Our model shows a 36% gap between best and worst-case decade earnings. AI is unlikely to eliminate Carpenters careers, but it could reduce positions in some specializations.
Is there demand for Carpenters workers?
The career paths mapped to Carpenters have roughly 148,500 combined annual openings nationally, making this a very large job market. Trade careers in this field benefit from consistent replacement demand as workers retire.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →