Certificate (1-2 years)36 grads tracked
Carpenters at Western Dakota Technical College
Median · 1 year out
$28,969
middle 50%: $21,101 – $40,342
Median · 5 years out
n/a
not enough graduates to report
Median · 10 years out
$47,574
middle 50%: $35,528 – $59,848
Salary trajectory
Median earnings vs the national median for Carpenters (certificate (1-2 years)) graduates.
This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates
Graduates of Western Dakota Technical College's certificate (1-2 years) program in Carpenters earn a median $28,969 one year after graduating, rising to $47,574 by year ten. Figures are based on 36 graduates tracked by the U.S. Census Bureau.
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
11.2 yrs
≈ $13,630 total interest
Same major at other universities
Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana - Region 1
$88,826 · 5 yrs out
Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana
$76,958 · 5 yrs out
Southwestern Illinois College
$70,557 · 5 yrs out
Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana - Region 12
$67,042 · 5 yrs out
Northwest Technical College - Bemidji
$54,993 · 5 yrs out
St. Cloud Technical and Community College
$54,757 · 5 yrs out
Northland Community and Technical College
$50,197 · 5 yrs out
Rochester Community and Technical College
$49,399 · 5 yrs out
Northeast Iowa Community College
$49,269 · 5 yrs out
Northwest Iowa Community College
$48,487 · 5 yrs out
Saint Paul College - A Community & Technical College
$47,574 · 5 yrs out
Hennepin Technical College
$47,360 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at Western Dakota Technical College
Precision Metal Working (Certificate)
$56,363 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Associate)
$54,051 · 5 yrs out
Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$53,202 · 5 yrs out
Precision Production (Certificate)
$53,040 · 5 yrs out
Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications (Associate)
$52,989 · 5 yrs out
Precision Production (Associate)
$52,793 · 5 yrs out
Precision Metal Working (Associate)
$52,793 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$51,947 · 5 yrs out
Fire Protection (Associate)
$51,223 · 5 yrs out
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services (Associate)
$50,940 · 5 yrs out
Criminal Justice and Corrections (Associate)
$50,791 · 5 yrs out
Mechanic and Repair Technologies/Technicians (Certificate)
$50,197 · 5 yrs out
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