WhatGradsMake
Certificate (2-4 years)+1% vs national median103 grads tracked

Construction Trades at Dakota County Technical College

Ranked 7th of 16 certificate (2-4 years) programs in Construction Trades by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$43,722
middle 50%: $32,017 – $52,939
Median · 5 years out
$61,969
middle 50%: $47,802 – $81,671
Median · 10 years out
$87,070
middle 50%: $55,228 – $102,996

Salary trajectory

Median earnings vs the national median for Construction Trades (certificate (2-4 years)) graduates.

This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates

Graduates of Dakota County Technical College's certificate (2-4 years) program in Construction Trades earn a median $43,722 one year after graduating, rising to $87,070 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 1% above the national median of $61,468 for this field, ranking 7th of 16 reporting programs.

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
6.7 yrs
≈ $7,717 total interest

Same major at other universities

Rochester Community and Technical College
$69,746 · 5 yrs out
Minnesota North College
$69,154 · 5 yrs out
Anoka Technical College
$68,222 · 5 yrs out
Minnesota West Community and Technical College
$65,835 · 5 yrs out
Minnesota State Community and Technical College
$62,349 · 5 yrs out
Lake Superior College
$62,075 · 5 yrs out
Minneapolis Community and Technical College
$61,468 · 5 yrs out
St. Cloud Technical and Community College
$61,054 · 5 yrs out
Northwest Technical College - Bemidji
$60,837 · 5 yrs out
Saint Paul College - A Community & Technical College
$59,848 · 5 yrs out
Riverland Community College
$58,659 · 5 yrs out
Ridgewater College
$57,688 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at Dakota County Technical College

Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$86,929 · 5 yrs out
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers (Certificate)
$86,648 · 5 yrs out
Construction Trades (Associate)
$86,150 · 5 yrs out
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers (Associate)
$85,313 · 5 yrs out
Construction Trades (Certificate)
$79,314 · 5 yrs out
Civil Engineering Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$77,273 · 5 yrs out
Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$76,582 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$70,801 · 5 yrs out
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management (Associate)
$66,486 · 5 yrs out
Mechanic and Repair Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$66,266 · 5 yrs out
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Certificate)
$65,986 · 5 yrs out
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Associate)
$64,645 · 5 yrs out

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