Construction Trades, General: is this associate's degree worth it?
National picture across 2 reporting college programs.
10-year estimate · Strong payoff
+$367,962 over 10 years
National scenario across reporting associate's degree programs, using median year-4 earnings, their institutions’ average net prices and a typical 2-year duration.
At this price, the reported earnings produce a wide margin over the comparison salary.
2.6 yrsModeled economic break-even
+278%Modeled 10-year ROI
$95,028Observed earnings · year 4
$205,140Maximum annual price for positive 10-year payoff
The price benchmark is $183,981 per year below this threshold.
Includes direct price and earnings forgone while studying. Assumes $45,000 in alternative annual earnings and no wage growth. How we calculate itObserved national outcomes
$95,028Median reported earnings · year 4
$75,176Average reported earnings · year 5
$13,181Median federal debt
100thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
Not availableIPEDS 2023–24 first-major awards across matched colleges
1With year-4 earnings
The award total covers 0 matched college records and is not extrapolated to colleges without a match.
The same field can produce a different equation.
Keep the federal field fixed and compare observed outcomes at every reportable credential level. These are separate graduate cohorts—not a promise that more schooling causes the difference.
Where the middle half of programs lands
Year‑4 earnings differ by college. This band shows the 25th percentile, national median and 75th percentile among reporting programs.
Median
25th percentile$95,028National median$95,02875th percentile$95,028
1 programs report year‑4 earnings.DECISION CHECK
What to compare before choosing a program
The national result is only the starting point. Price, debt and the college-level earnings spread can materially change the payoff.
Put the same degree side by side.
Start with the leading reportable programs, then change the selection to match your shortlist.
Compare 2 programs →Find the colleges that fit your constraints
Keep this exact federal field and credential fixed, then narrow the reporting colleges by location, sector and federal debt.
2 matchesShowing up to 25 currently operating colleges
Open the full program search →See the spread, not just the national number.
1Honolulu Community College$95,0282Charter CollegeNot availableObserved year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations, wages and demand
Official CIP–SOC links show where this field can lead. They do not imply that every graduate enters the same occupation.
First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$79,920 median wage812,210 U.S. jobs · SOC 47-1011+5.0% projected employment, 2025–35 · 67k annual openingsTypical entry education: High school diploma or equivalent$53,280–$128,260 10th–90th percentile
BLS May 2025 wages and 2025–35 employment projections. Career context is separate from graduate outcomes.
Same degree, different outcomes
Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. ROI uses each institution’s average net price as a scenario—not an individual aid offer.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | 10-year ROI | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Honolulu Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Honolulu, HI | $95,028 | $12,500 | +377% | Strong payoff |
| 2 | Charter CollegeAssociate's Degree | Anchorage, AK | Not available | $13,862 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $34,860 |
This page keeps the field and credential level fixed. Federal categories can still combine multiple catalog programs or concentrations. Automated ROI is limited to associate and bachelor’s degrees because institution-wide annual net price is not a reliable proxy for short certificate prices. ROI is an illustrative scenario, not a federal determination.