Woodworking: is this undergraduate certificate or diploma worth it?
National picture across 2 reporting college programs.
Personal baseline needed
$42,901 in median year-4 earnings
A credible return for this credential must start with what the student would otherwise earn. The federal data does not provide that personal baseline.
$42,901Median year-4 earnings
$11,495Average institution net-price context
Not availableMedian federal debt
Four useful answers about Woodworking
How much do Woodworking undergraduate certificate or diploma graduates earn?
The national median is $42,901 four years after completion across reportable undergraduate certificate or diploma programs in this federal field.
How much federal debt do graduates have?
A national median federal-debt figure is not reportable for this degree in the current release.
Does the college matter for Woodworking?
Yes. The middle half of reporting programs ranges from $39,806 to $39,806 in observed year-4 earnings.
What careers are related to Woodworking?
DegreeVerdict links this field to 7 displayed occupations using the official federal CIP–SOC crosswalk. Occupational wages are career context, not graduate salary promises.
Observed national outcomes
$42,901Median reported earnings · year 4
Not availableAverage reported earnings · year 5
Not availableMedian federal debt
33thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
18IPEDS 2023–24 first-major awards across matched colleges
2With year-4 earnings
The award total covers 2 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.
CURRENT VIEW
Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma
- Year-4 earnings
- $42,901
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 2
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $47,571
- Federal debt
- $9,373
- Reporting programs
- 1
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $37,055
- Federal debt
- $26,912
- Reporting programs
- 1
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$39,806National median$42,90175th percentile$39,806
2 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 →Choose colleges offering this exact degree
Narrow one field and credential by location, sector and debt, then compare two to four programs side by side.
2 matchesSelect up to four · showing 25 currently operating colleges
Open the full program search →See the spread, not just the national number.
1Saint Paul College$45,9962Michigan Career and Technical Institute$39,806Observed 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.
Pay and projected demand
Related careers do not share one outlook
Bubble size = annual openings2025–35 national projection
Higher median wage ↑
-7%Projected employment growth →12%
Occupation wages describe workers in these jobs, not graduates of this degree. BLS projections are national estimates and do not guarantee hiring.
Woodworkers, All Other$44,530 median wage5,490 U.S. jobs · SOC 51-7099-2.3% projected employment, 2025–35 · 1.7k annual openingsTypical entry education: High school diploma or equivalent$30,510–$64,150 10th–90th percentileModel Makers, Wood$56,550 median wage280 U.S. jobs · SOC 51-7031-3.3% projected employment, 2025–35 · 0.1k annual openingsTypical entry education: High school diploma or equivalent$34,800–$98,050 10th–90th percentileWoodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing$43,380 median wage61,420 U.S. jobs · SOC 51-7042-2.5% projected employment, 2025–35 · 5.3k annual openingsTypical entry education: High school diploma or equivalent$32,110–$56,830 10th–90th percentilePatternmakers, Wood$49,630 median wage220 U.S. jobs · SOC 51-7032-2.0% projected employment, 2025–35 · 0.1k annual openingsTypical entry education: High school diploma or equivalent$37,600–$83,780 10th–90th percentileCabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters$46,680 median wage77,170 U.S. jobs · SOC 51-7011-2.9% projected employment, 2025–35 · 6.9k annual openingsTypical entry education: High school diploma or equivalent$35,650–$63,720 10th–90th percentileFurniture Finishers$44,540 median wage14,480 U.S. jobs · SOC 51-7021-3.5% projected employment, 2025–35 · 1.5k annual openingsTypical entry education: High school diploma or equivalent$32,160–$61,020 10th–90th percentileSawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood$42,770 median wage40,850 U.S. jobs · SOC 51-7041-1.0% projected employment, 2025–35 · 4.5k annual openingsTypical entry education: High school diploma or equivalent$30,890–$58,170 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. Automated ROI is withheld when an exact program price or personal earnings baseline is required.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | ROI status | Cost context |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Saint Paul CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Saint Paul, MN | $45,996 | Not available | Baseline needed | $11,495 |
| 2 | Michigan Career and Technical InstituteUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Plainwell, MI | $39,806 | Not available | Baseline needed | Not available |
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.