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Building/Construction Finishing at CET-Colton

Colton, CA · Private nonprofit · Certificate · Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection

a compact campus enrolling 191 students in Colton, CA.

Program Analysis

CET-Colton's Building/Construction Finishing graduates start at $28,485/yr, trailing the $36,481 national average by 22%. The program's value hinges on affordability.

With only 14% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, the scenario spread is tight at 9%. Career paths for Building/Construction Finishing are among the more automation-resistant trades we analyze.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $6,323 in median debt clears fast against $28,485 in annual earnings.

At #25 out of 44 programs, CET-Colton's financial outcomes for Building/Construction Finishing trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

Earnings growth is modest: $28,485 to $32,178 over five years (13% gain). This trade may have a lower salary ceiling than high-growth professions.

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

60 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
58
Low End
60
Score
60
High End
Earnings $28,485/yr (-22% vs median)
AI-Proof AI-Proof (86% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (392,900 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$328K
3.1% annual growth
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.

Median Debt at Graduation
$6,323
2.7 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$32,178
13% growth from Year 1

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 CET-Colton

Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR) ($35,970) Ground Transportation ($34,665) Precision Metal Working ($32,817) Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies ($26,336)

Trade Certificate vs. Bachelor's Degree

Compare Building/Construction Finishing degree programs on DegreeOutlook →

Weigh shorter time-to-career against higher earning ceilings. The numbers tell the story.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a 60/100 TradeSchoolOutlook Score mean for Building/Construction Finishing at CET-Colton?
This program scores 60/100 — a respectable number in isolation, but it ranks in the bottom half of Building/Construction Finishing programs nationally. The field is competitive, and stronger options exist.
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.
What's the typical debt for Building/Construction Finishing graduates from CET-Colton?
Median debt of just $6,323 against $28,485/yr in starting salary means graduates can clear their loans in under 3 months. This is one of the more affordable paths in our dataset.
Why are Building/Construction Finishing earnings lower at CET-Colton?
Lower starting pay at CET-Colton may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.
Are there apprenticeship options for Building/Construction Finishing?
Building/Construction Finishing connects to 60 apprenticeship pathways. These DOL-registered programs combine structured training with paid employment — a strong alternative for students who prefer hands-on learning over classroom instruction.
How many job openings are there for Building/Construction Finishing graduates?
With approximately 392,900 annual openings across mapped careers, Building/Construction Finishing offers a very large employment pool. Physical trades tend to have steady demand driven by infrastructure and construction cycles.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →