WhatGradsMake
Associate-37% vs national median261 grads tracked

Construction Trades at Western Dakota Technical College

Ranked 79th of 86 associate programs in Construction Trades by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$38,231
middle 50%: $30,627 – $53,468
Median · 5 years out
$47,210
middle 50%: $40,342 – $58,998
Median · 10 years out
$50,197
middle 50%: $40,703 – $67,042

Salary trajectory

Median earnings vs the national median for Construction Trades (associate) graduates.

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

Graduates of Western Dakota Technical College's associate program in Construction Trades earn a median $38,231 one year after graduating, rising to $50,197 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 37% below the national median of $74,369 for this field, ranking 79th of 86 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
8.8 yrs
≈ $10,038 total interest

Same major at other universities

Iowa Lakes Community College
$49,171 · 5 yrs out
Hawaii Community College
$48,791 · 5 yrs out
Central Maine Community College
$48,487 · 5 yrs out
Lake Area Technical College
$47,980 · 5 yrs out
Iowa Valley Community College District
$47,939 · 5 yrs out
University of Montana (The)
$47,802 · 5 yrs out
Kaskaskia College
$46,435 · 5 yrs out
Eastern Maine Community College
$46,249 · 5 yrs out
Mineral Area College
$45,300 · 5 yrs out
Iowa Western Community College
$45,273 · 5 yrs out
State Fair Community College
$43,047 · 5 yrs out
Southwestern Community College
$42,746 · 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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