Carpenters at Ranken Technical College
a compact campus enrolling 1,695 students in Saint Louis, MO.
Program Analysis
First-year earnings of $35,975 track close to the $37,206 national median for Carpenters programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.
Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 15.0x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Carpenters programs nationally.
Some AI exposure exists in Carpenters's career paths, with 29% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 29% gap from the optimistic case.
At $12,000 in median debt against $35,975 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance quickly — a hallmark of affordable trade programs.
Ranked #12 of 15 Carpenters programs, Ranken Technical College falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.
Earnings grow from $35,975 to $49,813 over five years — a 38% increase that's moderate and in line with typical trade career progression.
Carpenters offers 37 registered apprenticeship pathways — an unusually broad set of earn-while-you-learn alternatives to the classroom track.
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.