Construction Trades, General at Joliet Junior College
IL · Certificate Degree · CIP 46.00
Executive Summary
Graduates with a Construction Trades, General degree from Joliet Junior College earn a median salary of $60,696 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in IL, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $66,118. The degree typically pays for itself in 8.9 years.
Quick Insights
How this degree looks at a glance
A fast read on salary range, break-even speed, living-cost impact, and where graduates from this school usually land.
Salary Ranges
Starting Range
$47,289
Typical Career
$60,696
Top Performers
$85,664
Estimated break-even: 8.9 years.
Debt-to-Income Check
$405
Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment
Typical monthly pay is approximately $5,058. Most students can comfortably afford about a $405 monthly loan payment with this degree.
Comparison Bench
This degree earns 1.6x more than the average US high school graduate and 0.8x more than the average college graduate.
Purchasing Power Context
A dollar in Illinois buys what costs $0.92 nationally.
Industry Breadcrumbs
Top industries for bachelor's graduates from this school: Manufacturing, Health Care & Social Assistance, Retail Trade.
Where Certificate Graduates from This School Work
Institution-wide industry mix for graduates, 5 years after graduation. This is not major-specific. Source: Census PSEO Flows.
5-Year Median Salary — National Purchasing Power Equivalent
$66,118
Nominal: $60,696 in Illinois (COL 91.8% of national avg) · 8.9% higher purchasing power
10-Year Earnings Curve
Break-Even Timeline
How long until cumulative earnings advantage exceeds total college investment (tuition + opportunity cost vs. entering workforce directly after high school).
Total Investment
$155,168
4yr tuition + 4yr opportunity cost
HS Graduate Baseline
$38,792/yr
BLS 2023 median, HS diploma
View Raw Data: Median Earnings by Year
| Timeframe | 25th Pct. | Median (50th) | 75th Pct. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Year After Graduation | $28,247 | $38,814 | $63,134 |
| 5 Years After Graduation | $47,289 | $60,696 | $85,664 |
| 10 Years After Graduation | $41,019 | $69,154 | $103,464 |
Source: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO), 2025 release. Earnings shown for Bachelor's degree graduates (all cohorts combined).
How We Calculate Purchasing Power
The median salary of $60,696 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in IL, which has a cost-of-living index of 91.8% of the national average.
Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $60,696 × (1.0 ÷ 0.9180)
= $66,118 National Average equivalent.
COL index source: BLS Regional Consumer Price Index & MIT Living Wage Project, 2023. Full methodology →
Career Verdict
The top industries for graduates reveal a significant concentration in Health Care & Social Assistance, with 55.5% entering this field, followed by another 27.4% in the same sector, and 18.3% in Manufacturing. This diversification suggests that graduates possess versatile skills applicable in various sectors. With an estimated break-even point of about 8.9 years compared to a high-school-only path, the return on investment for pursuing a degree in Construction Trades at Joliet Junior College appears favorable, particularly when considering the potential for higher earnings and industry demand.
Compare with Another School
See how the Construction Trades, General degree at Joliet Junior College stacks up against another institution side-by-side.
Ready to apply?
Start your application for Construction Trades, General at Joliet Junior College.
Other Degrees at Joliet Junior College
Data sources: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO). Cost-of-living index: BLS Regional CPI & MIT Living Wage Project. Cost of attendance: IPEDS. For informational use only; data may be suppressed for small cohort sizes.