by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying 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. Continue reading for the important information every construction trades major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering construction trades programs.
Nationwide, construction trades is a popular field of study, with 54,802 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Construction Trades Schools ranking analyzes these 834 schools to determine the best overall colleges for construction trades students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of construction trades programs later in this article.
Studies in Construction Trades build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations construction trades graduates commonly enter.
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.
Skills developed in a construction trades program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a construction trades major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several construction trades degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 24,723 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 7,098 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 244 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 20,372 |
People currently working in careers related to construction trades tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| 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% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in construction trades careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
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.
Majoring in construction trades can lead to many career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to construction trades.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to construction trades.
| 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% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of construction trades graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $38,872 |
| 4 years | $42,374 |
| 5 years | $47,975 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for construction trades graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers construction trades grads often go into.
| 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 |
With 834 different construction trades programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased construction trades school rankings to help you.
Students interested in construction trades, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Electrical and Power Transmission Installers | 35,577 |
| Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection | 6,978 |
| Carpenters | 5,356 |
| Plumbing and Related Water Supply Services | 3,471 |
| CONSTRUCTION TRADES | 2,761 |
| Mason/Masonry | 378 |
| Construction Trades, Other | 281 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
