Building/Construction Finishing at CET-El Centro
with a smaller student body of 167 in El Centro, CA.
Program Analysis
At $28,485 per year, Building/Construction Finishing graduates from CET-El Centro earn below the $36,481 national average. Lower costs or geographic factors may offset the earnings gap.
AI disruption models show minimal impact on this program's career paths. The gap between optimistic and pessimistic scenarios is just 9% — this trade's hands-on core resists automation.
The median debt load of $6,323 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios in vocational education.
Ranked #24 of 44 Building/Construction Finishing programs, CET-El Centro falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.
Five-year earnings of $32,178 are relatively flat compared to the $28,485 starting salary — typical of trades with stable but capped salary bands.
Building/Construction Finishing offers 60 registered apprenticeship pathways — an unusually broad set of earn-while-you-learn alternatives to the classroom track.
Earnings Overview
Projected 10-Year Earnings
Based on actual graduate salary data and Bureau of Labor Statistics growth projections.
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% |
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
Building/Construction Finishing at Other Schools
Other Majors at CET-El Centro
How Does a Bachelor's Degree Compare?
Four-year programs take longer but may unlock different career trajectories. See the data.