A four-year college degree is widely seen as a pathway to a sustainable economic future for young people. This happens often, but a four-year degree is not the only path to success. A career in construction, for example, offers an equally viable path to a sustainable economic future and often doesn’t require accumulating educational debt. This fact is well known in the industry but not universally understood.
Recent research shows that there are plenty of opportunities in various construction fields, and even compared to college graduates, these careers pay well. The median starting salary for four-year college graduates is $47,000, but student debt is rising, with the average public college student taking on $32,362 in loans. A growing number of young people are looking for a fulfilling career that pays well. Several careers in construction earn an average of more than $65,000 per year, making it a viable avenue to consider.
A career in construction involves a unique combination of education and hands-on experience. This type of higher education can be explored in multiple ways through different programs and institutions.
One way is through apprenticeships, a tried-and-true training model that has become popular as an alternative to a traditional higher education pathway. These structured programs provide valuable on-the-job training related to technical and academic skills that apply to the workplace. In the United States, the construction industry accounts for more than 32% of all active registered apprentices across all industries. Apprenticeships offer people the opportunity to develop career skills while earning a salary, often at the same time as earning a two- or four-year college degree.
Programs taught through technical or community colleges are another option that can be considered. Technical or community colleges offer smaller class sizes, affordability, convenience, and opportunities to gain specific experience that can be directly applied to careers in construction after graduation. Many institutions use the NCCER curriculum, providing graduates with an industry-recognized education and craft workforce training.
Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs offer similar benefits to technical or community colleges, as well as specific career-focused education, making them a reasonable choice for preparing high school, postsecondary, and adult students. with the hard and soft skills needed to build success. career CTE classes prepare students for a variety of high-skill, high-wage, high-demand careers through hands-on learning in a low-pressure academic environment that can foster achievement and improve the likelihood of graduation.
With Gen Z’s growing interest in the trades and changing views on the value a traditional college degree provides to all students seeking further education, there are many opportunities to take alternative paths to higher education.
Learn more about how NCCER supports apprentices, community or technical colleges, and CTE programs, and start a career in construction today.
