Home › Cabrillo College › Building/Construction Finishing

Building/Construction Finishing at Cabrillo College

Aptos, CA · Public · Certificate · Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection

enrolling 7,404 students in Aptos, CA.

Program Analysis

Graduates of Cabrillo College's Building/Construction Finishing program earn $47,566/yr in their first year — 30% above the $36,481 national median, a strong market signal for this institution.

The 391.8x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. Trade programs often deliver strong ratios, and this one is a standout.

With only 14% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, the scenario spread is tight at 0%. Career paths for Building/Construction Finishing are among the more automation-resistant trades we analyze.

Ranked #2 out of 44 programs, Cabrillo College's Building/Construction Finishing program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

With 60 registered apprenticeships mapped to Building/Construction Finishing, graduates have substantial options for hands-on training paths that pay from day one.

88 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
86
Low End
88
Score
88
High End
Earnings $47,566/yr (30% vs median)
AI-Proof AI-Proof (86% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (392,900 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$498K
1.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
391.8x
10-year earnings ÷ tuition
Viable Career Paths
22 of 22
Occupations with strong AI resilience

Projected 10-Year Earnings

Based on actual graduate salary data and Bureau of Labor Statistics growth projections.

Program Tuition (In-State)
$1,270
Out-of-state: $9,910

Top Career Paths

Top career paths for Building/Construction Finishing graduates by median salary.

Career Path Median Salary Growth AI-ProofAI
Facilities managers $104,690 +3.8% 52%
First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers $78,690 +5.3% 57%
Construction and building inspectors $72,120 -0.8% 57%
Facilities managers
$104,690
+3.8% growth 52% AI-proof
First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
$78,690
+5.3% growth 57% AI-proof
Construction and building inspectors
$72,120
-0.8% growth 57% AI-proof

View all 22 career paths with full salary data →

About Building/Construction Finishing Careers

You’ll start by solving tangible problems on active job sites. As a maintenance worker or painter, your day involves hands-on tasks: troubleshooting a building’s electrical systems with a multimeter, prepping surfaces, or applying the final coats of paint that make a project complete. With experience, you can advance to a First-Line Supervisor role. Here, your focus shifts from using tools to managing teams, coordinating schedules from blueprints, and ensuring job site safety and quality standards are met.

Read the full Building/Construction Finishing career guide →

Compare & Explore

Building/Construction Finishing Overview

View all 44 schools offering Building/Construction Finishing →

Building/Construction Finishing at Other Schools

North Hennepin Community College ($66,902) Portland Community College ($63,103) Rochester Community and Technical College ($62,398) Rochester Community and Technical College ($61,196) Dunwoody College of Technology ($59,074) Interactive College of Technology-Chamblee ($55,188) Ivy Tech Community College ($51,303) Flint Hills Technical College ($47,694)

Other Majors at Cabrillo College

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($91,090) Dental Support Services and Allied Professions ($74,741) Accounting and Related Services ($57,294) Health and Physical Education/Fitness ($38,985) Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services ($37,279) Business/Commerce, General ($31,951) Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities ($27,154) Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services ($23,686)

Considering a 4-Year Degree Instead?

Compare Building/Construction Finishing degree programs on DegreeOutlook →

Compare how bachelor's degree graduates fare on earnings, ROI, and AI resilience.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a 88/100 TradeSchoolOutlook Score mean for Building/Construction Finishing at Cabrillo College?
This program scores 88/100 — placing it among the stronger programs for Building/Construction Finishing nationally. The score reflects above-average earnings, hands-on AI resilience, and solid financial return.
How AI-proof is a career in Building/Construction Finishing?
Highly resilient. Building/Construction Finishing careers are fundamentally hands-on — they require physical presence and manual skill that AI cannot replicate. Graduates retain 22 of 22 viable career paths even under conservative assumptions.
Is Cabrillo College one of the best schools for Building/Construction Finishing?
Among 44 Building/Construction Finishing programs, Cabrillo College's #2 position reflects consistently above-average results across earnings, ROI, and employment probability.
What apprenticeship pathways exist for Building/Construction Finishing graduates?
There are 60 registered apprenticeships connected to Building/Construction Finishing occupations. The earn-while-you-learn model means no tuition debt and immediate income, though the training period is typically longer.
Is there demand for Building/Construction Finishing workers?
The career paths mapped to Building/Construction Finishing have roughly 392,900 combined annual openings nationally, making this a very large job market. Trade careers in this field benefit from consistent replacement demand as workers retire.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →