Certificate (under 1 year)-8% vs national median189 grads tracked
Carpenters at City Colleges of Chicago - Kennedy-King College
Ranked 9th of 10 certificate (under 1 year) programs in Carpenters by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$28,901
middle 50%: $22,480 – $40,613
Median · 5 years out
$40,883
middle 50%: $27,959 – $54,051
Median · 10 years out
$47,705
middle 50%: $31,048 – $70,870
Salary trajectory
Median earnings vs the national median for Carpenters (certificate (under 1 year)) graduates.
This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates
Carpentry certificate holders start with a median year-1 salary of $29k. By year five, earnings reach $41k, and year-10 salaries average $48k.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau PSEO, release V4.13.0 2025Q4. Earnings are for graduates working in covered states; figures are medians in nominal dollars.
Will the degree pay for itself?
Drag the sliders — payback uses this program's actual salary curve.
Assumes a 6.5% APR loan and this program's median salary trajectory (interpolated between years 1, 5 and 10).
Paid off in
10.7 yrs
≈ $12,830 total interest
Same major at other universities
Emily Griffith Technical College
$72,585 · 5 yrs out
Minnesota State Community and Technical College
$53,243 · 5 yrs out
Coastal Bend College
$49,855 · 5 yrs out
Austin Community College
$49,399 · 5 yrs out
Lake Superior College
$45,149 · 5 yrs out
Uintah Basin Technical College
$44,669 · 5 yrs out
Greenville Technical College
$42,146 · 5 yrs out
Western Iowa Tech Community College
$41,887 · 5 yrs out
Ogden-Weber Technical College
$38,967 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at City Colleges of Chicago - Kennedy-King College
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers (Certificate)
$133,179 · 5 yrs out
Construction Trades (Certificate)
$101,225 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate)
$91,221 · 5 yrs out
Plumbing and Related Water Supply Services (Certificate)
$91,099 · 5 yrs out
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants (Certificate)
$70,468 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Associate)
$67,872 · 5 yrs out
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions (Associate)
$66,599 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Certificate)
$65,273 · 5 yrs out
Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR) (Associate)
$60,837 · 5 yrs out
Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR) (Certificate)
$57,867 · 5 yrs out
Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR) (Certificate)
$53,485 · 5 yrs out
Mechanic and Repair Technologies/Technicians (Certificate)
$49,855 · 5 yrs out
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