Construction Trades
Quick Facts: Construction Trades Training
Where it's offered
Construction Trades programs are offered at 8 schools across 7 states. Most students attend a school within driving distance of home — use the state picker below to see programs near you.
Earnings expectations
Graduates earn approximately $38,399/year on average one year after completion, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard. Pay scales with experience, certifications, and regional cost-of-living.
Apprenticeship pathways
There are no Department of Labor registered apprenticeship pathways currently mapped to Construction Trades, but related trades may have programs — check apprenticeship.gov directly.
Program quality benchmark
Across the 8 schools we analyze, the average TradeSchoolOutlook Score is 39/100. Higher-scoring programs combine strong graduate earnings, manageable cost, and strong job-market demand — see the leaderboard further down for the highest-rated options.
What Construction Trades Graduates Do
Your first years will be spent on active job sites, learning the rhythm of construction. You'll be part of a crew, doing everything from framing walls with a nail gun and pouring concrete foundations to installing drywall and roofing. As your skills sharpen, you’ll progress from an apprentice to a trusted journeyman, taking on more complex tasks with higher pay. The demand for skilled tradespeople is strong, and a common next step is becoming a first-line supervisor. Here, your focus shifts from your own tools to the entire project: you’ll read blueprints, coordinate different crews, manage schedules, and ensure job site safety.
Read more
While new AI tools might help with scheduling or creating digital plans, they can't solve an unexpected problem on-site or physically build a structure. The core hands-on work of assembling, fitting, and finishing a project remains fundamentally human. For many, the ultimate goal is specializing in a high-demand niche or launching their own contracting business, where your earning potential is directly tied to your skill and reputation.
If Construction Trades doesn't fit your goals, programs like Carpentry, Masonry, and Plumbing draw from adjacent skill sets.
Find Construction Trades Programs in Your State
Trade and community college programs are local decisions — most students pick a school within driving distance. Construction Trades is offered at 8 schools across 7 states. Click your state to see all trade programs offered locally.
Top Construction Trades Programs Nationally
For context, here are the highest-scoring Construction Trades programs in the country. Most students attend a school within 60 miles of home, so your state list above is usually more actionable — but these are the benchmarks others compete against.
8 schools ranked by TradeSchoolOutlook Score. Click any row for full earnings projections and career analysis.
| # | School | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Honolulu Community College Honolulu, HI |
76 70–78 |
| 2 | Charter College Anchorage, AK |
51 46–53 |
| 3 | Perry Technical Institute Yakima, WA |
51 45–53 |
| 4 | Great Oaks Career Campuses Cincinnati, OH |
51 45–53 |
| 5 | Summit Academy Opportunities Industrialization Center Minneapolis, MN |
44 38–45 |
| 6 | Onondaga Cortland Madison BOCES Liverpool, NY |
40 35–42 |
| 7 | Apex Technical School Long Island City, NY |
40 34–42 |
| 8 | Lake Land College Mattoon, IL |
35 32–37 |
Highest Earning Construction Trades Programs
Schools where Construction Trades graduates earn the most in their first year after graduation.
| School | 1-Year Earnings | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Honolulu Community College | $86,741/yr | 76 |
| Charter College | $52,820/yr | 51 |
| Perry Technical Institute | $39,366/yr | 51 |
| Great Oaks Career Campuses | $39,297/yr | 51 |
| Summit Academy Opportunities Industrialization Center | $28,440/yr | 44 |
| Onondaga Cortland Madison BOCES | $24,129/yr | 40 |
| Apex Technical School | $23,562/yr | 40 |
| Lake Land College | $12,838/yr | 35 |
Best ROI for Construction Trades
Schools with the highest earnings-to-tuition ratio for Construction Trades.
| School | ROI Multiple | Earnings | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Honolulu Community College | 166.1x | $86,741/yr | 76 |
| Lake Land College | 29.0x | $12,838/yr | 35 |
| Charter College | 10.9x | $52,820/yr | 51 |
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