Construction Management at Parkland College
IL · Associate's Degree · CIP 52.20
Executive Summary
Graduates with a Construction Management degree from Parkland College earn a median salary of $54,286 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in IL, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $59,135. The degree typically pays for itself in 9.8 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
$38,967
Typical Career
$54,286
Top Performers
$74,924
Estimated break-even: 9.8 years.
Debt-to-Income Check
$362
Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment
Typical monthly pay is approximately $4,524. Most students can comfortably afford about a $362 monthly loan payment with this degree.
Comparison Bench
This degree earns 1.4x more than the average US high school graduate and 0.7x 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: Health Care & Social Assistance, Educational Services, Retail Trade.
Where Associate's 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
$59,135
Nominal: $54,286 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 | $26,890 | $39,119 | $50,477 |
| 5 Years After Graduation | $38,967 | $54,286 | $74,924 |
| 10 Years After Graduation | $43,497 | $68,802 | $90,722 |
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 $54,286 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)
= $54,286 × (1.0 ÷ 0.9180)
= $59,135 National Average equivalent.
COL index source: BLS Regional Consumer Price Index & MIT Living Wage Project, 2023. Full methodology →
Career Verdict
The primary industries that Parkland College graduates enter are predominantly within Health Care & Social Assistance, with percentages of 41.7%, 39.7%, and 32.7% across different roles. This suggests a strong alignment between the program and the needs of these sectors, potentially offering stable employment opportunities. The estimated break-even point for graduates compared to those with only a high school diploma is approximately 9.8 years, indicating a reasonable return on investment for students pursuing this path. Overall, the Construction Management program appears to offer a solid financial outlook and career prospects in growing industries.
Compare with Another School
See how the Construction Management degree at Parkland College stacks up against another institution side-by-side.
Ready to apply?
Start your application for Construction Management at Parkland College.
Other Degrees at Parkland 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.