Carpentry 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 Carpentry 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 Carpentry programs nationally.
Some AI exposure exists in Carpentry'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 Carpentry 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.
Carpentry 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 Carpentry 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% |
Carpentry Career Guide
See the full career breakdown for Carpentry — job titles, salary ranges, and growth projections for graduates from Ranken Technical College and 14 other schools.