Carpentry at Orleans Technical College

Philadelphia, PA · Private nonprofit · Certificate · Carpenters

A 50% admission rate makes Orleans Technical College accessible to a wide range of qualified students, a smaller institution with 245 students in Philadelphia, PA.

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $21,916 place Orleans Technical College below the $37,206 national median for Carpentry — worth weighing against tuition and cost of living.

AI risk is moderate — 29% task exposure — and the 36% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook for Carpentry graduates.

With first-year pay of $21,916 far exceeding the $7,521 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

At #15 out of 15 programs, Orleans Technical College's financial outcomes for Carpentry trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $21,916 to $32,630 shows 49% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

With 37 registered apprenticeships mapped to Carpentry, graduates have substantial options for hands-on training paths that pay from day one.

46 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
42
Low End
46
Score
47
High End
Earnings $21,916/yr (-41% vs median)
AI-Proof Resilient (71% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (148,500 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$357K
10.5% annual growth
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.

Median Debt at Graduation
$7,521
4.1 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$32,630
49% growth from Year 1

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

Carpentry opens doors to multiple career tracks. Our pillar guide covers every mapped occupation with salary data and AI resilience ratings.

Read the full Carpentry career guide →

Compare & Explore

Carpentry Overview

Carpentry at Other Schools

Other Majors at Orleans Technical College

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a 46/100 TradeSchoolOutlook Score mean for Carpentry at Orleans Technical College?
At 46/100, the financial outlook is modest. Higher-scoring Carpentry programs exist, though non-financial factors may justify this choice.
Why are Carpentry earnings lower at Orleans Technical College?
Lower starting pay at Orleans Technical College may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.
Can I learn Carpentry through an apprenticeship instead of Orleans Technical College?
There are 37 registered apprenticeships connected to Carpentry occupations, such as Boat Builder (Existing Title: Boat Builder, Wood) and Boatbuilder, Wood. The earn-while-you-learn model means no tuition debt and immediate income, though the training period is typically longer.
What's the AI uncertainty for Carpentry careers?
Our model shows a 36% gap between best and worst-case decade earnings. AI is unlikely to eliminate Carpentry careers, but it could reduce positions in some specializations.
How many job openings are there for Carpentry graduates?
With approximately 148,500 annual openings across mapped careers, Carpentry offers a very large employment pool. Orleans Technical College graduates enter a market shaped by infrastructure investment and steady replacement demand as workers retire.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →