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.
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Construction Trades Degrees Trends
#34Most Popular Major
40.8kDegrees Awarded
239Schools Offering Degrees
In 2021-2022, construction trades was the 34th most popular major nationwide with 40,802 degrees awarded.
Our 2025 Best Construction Trades Schools ranking analyzes 70 of these schools to determine the best overall colleges for construction trades students. Explore this or one of our many other custom construction trades rankings further below.
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Construction Trades Degree Requirements
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.
ADBLOCK #171
Prior Education for a Construction Trades Program
A high school diploma or equivalent is typically required for most construction trades degree programs and many students will need a minimum GPA and SAT/ACT score depending on the school. Specific construction trades careers may require a certain level of degree attainment or additional certifications beyond that.
Types of Construction Trades Degrees
There are many different construction trades degree levels. You can spend many years getting as high as a in construction trades to something that takes less time like a . How long it takes to complete some common construction trades degree levels is shown below.
Degree
Credit Requirements
Typical Program Length
Associate Degree
60-70 credits
2 years
Bachelor’s Degree
120 credits
4 years
Master’s Degree
50-70 credits
1-3 years
Doctorate
Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation
At least 4 years
An associate degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to construction trades, with approximately 4.4% of workers getting one. See the the most common levels of education for construction trades workers below.
Level of Education
Percentage of Workers
High School Diploma
41.7%
Post-Secondary Certificate
23.2%
Less than a High School Diploma
18.6%
Some College Courses
8.1%
Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree)
4.9%
ADBLOCK #172
View the chart below to get an idea of what degree level most of those in construction trades careers have.
The education level required is different depending on the construction trades career you are seeking.
Career Opportunities for Construction Trades Majors
Above AverageNumber of Jobs
$37.2kAverage Starting Salary
10% GrowthJob Outlook 2016-26
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.
Solid Growth Projected for Construction Trades Careers
Want a job when you graduate with your construction trades degree? Construction Trades careers are expected to grow 9.6% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to construction trades.
Occupation Name
Projected Jobs
Expected Growth
Maintenance and Repair Workers
1,545,100
7.9%
Carpenters
1,109,400
8.2%
Electricians
726,500
8.9%
Construction Trades and Extraction Worker Supervisors
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How Much Money Do People With a Construction Trades Degree Make?
Construction Trades graduates between <nil> reported earning an average of $37,179 in the <nil> timeframe. Earnings can range from as low as $12,838 to as high as $151,803. As you might expect, salaries for construction trades graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Highest Paid Construction Trades Careers
Salaries for construction trades graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers construction trades grads often go into.
Occupation Name
Median Average Salary
Construction Trades and Extraction Worker Supervisors
$70,540
Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers
$70,240
Mechanic, and Repairer Supervisors
$69,320
Signal and Track Switch Repairers
$67,800
Construction and Building Inspectors
$63,150
ADBLOCK #173
Getting Your Construction Trades Degree
With over 2,948 different construction trades degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased construction trades school rankings to help you with this.
by our College Data Analytics Team
