Carpenters at Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology
A 53% admission rate makes Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology accessible to a wide range of qualified students, a compact campus enrolling 1,449 students in Lancaster, PA.
Program Analysis
At $37,611/yr, Carpenters graduates from Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology land near the $37,206 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.
With a 30.5x return on tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.
The 30% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Carpenters career paths face changes, but the trade's physical demands provide a buffer.
The median debt load of $7,231 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios in vocational education.
A #9 ranking among 15 Carpenters programs places Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology in the lower half. Price, proximity, and personal fit become the stronger arguments.
A 39% earnings increase from $37,611 to $52,333 over five years is solid — not a moonshot, but evidence of normal career advancement.
The 37 apprenticeship pathways connected to Carpenters reflect strong industry infrastructure for this trade. Apprenticeships typically lead to journeyman-level wages.
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.