by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 851 U.S. colleges awarded 62,145 degrees and certificates in Construction Trades. Certificates are the most popular award, at 46% of graduates. College Factual ranks 633 schools in its 2027 Best Construction Trades Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $38,950 one year after completing, rising to $54,719 after four years.
Studying in the field of Construction Trades you teach you the technical knowledge and skills that are required to build, inspect, and maintain structures and properties. There are a few different majors in this field students can choose from. Some options are Electrical and Power Transmission Installers, or Building & Construction Management. While studying in this field, you will be taking courses in blueprint reading, electrical and mechanical systems, building codes, power distribution, electrical theory, and computerized estimating. These majors are commonly offered as a Certificate, however can be earned as an Associate's or Bachelor's degree at some schools.
Studying Construction Trades covers Construction Trades. Instructional Programs That Prepare Individuals To Apply Technical Knowledge And Skills In The Building, Inspecting, And Maintaining Of Structures And Related Properties.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, construction trades is a popular field of study, with 62,145 degrees awarded annually. 851 colleges award construction trades degrees, an average of 73 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 1,890.
By level, the 62,145 awards include 28,458 certificates, 7,582 associate degrees, 185 bachelor’s degrees and 23,281 master’s degrees.
Women earned 7% of construction trades degrees and certificates in the latest year (4,390 of 62,145). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (26,416) and Hispanic or Latino (18,755), and international students earned 219.
College Factual ranks 633 schools in its 2027 Best Construction Trades Schools ranking, including 166 for associate degrees and 3 for bachelor’s degrees. It also ranks construction trades schools within 30 states. In all, 851 colleges offer construction trades programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Construction Trades Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common construction trades credential is the certificate: 28,458 of the 62,145 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to construction trades call most for Coordination, Critical Thinking and Active Listening, and for knowledge of Building and Construction, Customer and Personal Service and Mechanical, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Comprehension, Problem Sensitivity and Near Vision.
This major is ideal for students who like to work with their hands and are logical problem solvers. Skills in math and measurement will be used daily on a building site. Communication skills will also help you in your classes as well as in a career as you interact with clients, co-workers, and management.
Most programs require student to acquire an apprenticeships in order to gain work experience and to learn the fundamentals first hand. You will work alongside a professional within the field, in addition to hours in the classroom.
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How long a construction trades degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 28,458 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 7,582 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 185 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 23,281 |
High school diploma or equivalent is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to construction trades, at 39.3%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma or equivalent | 39.3% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 18.3% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 18.1% |
| Some college courses | 8.6% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 7.6% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 7.0% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.6% |
| Master’s degree | 0.4% |
| First professional degree | 0.1% |
| Post-doctoral training | 0.1% |
Source: O*NET Online.
30 occupations are related to Construction Trades, with an average median salary of $63,346; the strongest outlook belongs to Carpet Installers, at 13.4% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Underground Utility Foreman, Maintenance Supervisor, Building Superintendent and Building Supervisor.
Graduates with a degree in Constructional Trade have many different career opportunities within the construction field. If you are interested in management, you can find a job as a construction manager, construction and building inspector, property manager, or first-line supervisors of installers. These careers all involve managing and overseeing construction sites.
If you are not interested in management, you could also find work as a drafter, electrical power-line installer, construction and building inspector, or insulator. These professionals work on one aspect of the construction, whereas the managers oversee the entire site.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to construction trades, at 842,650.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Carpet Installers | 842,650 | 13.4% |
| Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners | 790,609 | 3.8% |
| Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters | 751,306 | 2.7% |
| Painters, Construction and Maintenance | 711,576 | 4.9% |
| Carpenters | 696,226 | 4.2% |
| Solar Thermal Installers and Technicians | 684,739 | 1.5% |
| Insulation Workers, Mechanical | 682,643 | -3.5% |
| Paperhangers | 673,438 | 10.2% |
Construction Trades graduates earn a median $38,950 one year after completing their program, $54,719 after four years and $48,437 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $38,950 |
| 4 years | $54,719 |
| 5 years | $48,437 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to construction trades is Facilities Managers, with a median salary of $157,669.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Facilities Managers | $157,669 |
| Security Managers | $104,128 |
| Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay | $89,975 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $83,555 |
| Solar Thermal Installers and Technicians | $83,502 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $78,994 |
| Painters, Construction and Maintenance | $77,350 |
| Carpet Installers | $72,945 |
Construction Trades includes 7 concentrations that together award 62,145 degrees a year; by graduates, the largest are Electrical and Power Transmission Installers (40,602), Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection (7,804) and Carpenters (6,053). Browse the full list of college majors.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Electrical and Power Transmission Installers | 40,602 |
| Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection | 7,804 |
| Carpenters | 6,053 |
| Plumbing and Related Water Supply Services | 4,194 |
| CONSTRUCTION TRADES | 2,765 |
| Mason/Masonry | 422 |
| Construction Trades, Other | 305 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
