Carpentry at City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College

Chicago, IL · Public · Certificate · Carpenters

with a smaller student body of 1,564 in Chicago, IL.

Program Analysis

City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College's Carpentry graduates start at $17,697/yr, trailing the $37,206 national average by 52%. The program's value hinges on affordability.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 42.3x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Carpentry programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Carpentry's career paths, with 29% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 0% gap from the optimistic case.

Ranked #14 of 15 Carpentry programs, City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Carpentry offers 37 registered apprenticeship pathways — an unusually broad set of earn-while-you-learn alternatives to the classroom track.

47 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
45
Low End
47
Score
48
High End
Earnings $17,697/yr (-52% vs median)
AI-Proof Resilient (71% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (148,500 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$185K
1.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
42.3x
10-year earnings ÷ tuition
Viable Career Paths
2 of 2
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)
$4,380
Out-of-state: $14,430

Top Career Paths

Top career paths for Carpentry graduates by median salary.

Career Path Median Salary Growth AI-ProofAI
First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers $78,690 +5.3% 57%
Carpenters $59,310 +4.5% 86%
First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
$78,690
+5.3% growth 57% AI-proof
Carpenters
$59,310
+4.5% growth 86% AI-proof

Carpentry Career Guide

See the full career breakdown for Carpentry — job titles, salary ranges, and growth projections for graduates from City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College and 14 other schools.

Read the full Carpentry career guide →

Compare & Explore

Carpentry Overview

Carpentry at Other Schools

Other Majors at City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a 47/100 TradeSchoolOutlook Score mean for Carpentry at City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College?
At 47/100, the financial outlook is modest. Higher-scoring Carpentry programs exist, though non-financial factors may justify this choice.
Why are Carpentry earnings lower at City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College?
Starting salary is one data point. If City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College's tuition is significantly below average, the ROI calculation can still work — lower earnings paired with lower costs can be a reasonable trade.
What apprenticeship pathways exist for Carpentry graduates?
Beyond City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College's classroom route, 37 registered apprenticeships map to Carpentry careers — including Boat Builder (Existing Title: Boat Builder, Wood). Apprenticeships trade shorter program length for longer on-the-job training, typically 2-4 years.
Is there demand for Carpentry workers?
At 148,500 annual openings, Carpentry has a very large employment base. City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College graduates benefit from broad demand, particularly given infrastructure investment and steady replacement demand as workers retire.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →