52 schools · California
Construction trades programs in California
52 schools in California offer construction trades programs (43 of them public), with 51 certificate and 41 associate programs between them. Graduates of the typical certificate program here earned $35,524 a year after finishing, compared with $36,165 nationally.
Schools52
Public schools43
Certificate programs51
Certificate: earnings 1 yr after$35,524
Certificate: earnings 4 yrs after$39,229
Associate: earnings 1 yr aftern/a
All construction trades programs in California
Sorted by earnings one year after graduation. Click a heading to sort; tuition is the school's yearly tuition and fees (2025-26), in-state for public schools.
| School | Type | Credential | Graduates (2023-24) | Earnings 1 yr after | Earnings 4 yrs after | Median debt | School tuition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CET-CoachellaCoachella, CA | Nonprofit trade school | Certificate | 20 | $35,524 | $39,229 | $9,500 | $15,500 |
| CET-ColtonColton, CA | Nonprofit trade school | Certificate | 7 | $35,524 | $39,229 | $9,500 | $16,375 |
| CET-El CentroEl Centro, CA | Nonprofit trade school | Certificate | 27 | $35,524 | $39,229 | $9,500 | $15,000 |
| CET-OxnardOxnard, CA | Nonprofit trade school | Certificate | 25 | $35,524 | $39,229 | $9,500 | $15,249 |
| CET-San DiegoSan Diego, CA | Nonprofit trade school | Certificate | 66 | $35,524 | $39,229 | $9,500 | $15,500 |
| CET-San JoseSan Jose, CA | Nonprofit trade school | Certificate | 0 | $35,524 | $39,229 | $9,500 | $16,375 |
| CET-Santa MariaSanta Maria, CA | Nonprofit trade school | Certificate | 24 | $35,524 | $39,229 | $9,500 | $15,249 |
| CET-SoledadSoledad, CA | Nonprofit trade school | Certificate | 33 | $35,524 | $39,229 | $9,500 | $16,375 |
| CET-WatsonvilleWatsonville, CA | Nonprofit trade school | Certificate | 34 | $35,524 | $39,229 | $9,500 | $15,249 |
| Cabrillo CollegeAptos, CA | Community college | Certificate | 16 | n/a | $47,930 | n/a | $1,270 |
| American River CollegeSacramento, CA | Community college | Certificate | 178 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,288 |
| American River CollegeSacramento, CA | Community college | Associate degree | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,288 |
| Bakersfield CollegeBakersfield, CA | Community college | Certificate | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,450 |
| Bakersfield CollegeBakersfield, CA | Community college | Associate degree | 4 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,450 |
| Baldwin Park Adult & Community EducationBaldwin Park, CA | Public technical school | Certificate | 4 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,365 |
| Butte CollegeOroville, CA | Community college | Certificate | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,374 |
| Butte CollegeOroville, CA | Community college | Associate degree | 6 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,374 |
| Cabrillo CollegeAptos, CA | Community college | Associate degree | 17 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,270 |
| Citrus CollegeGlendora, CA | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 25 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,254 |
| Citrus CollegeGlendora, CA | Public community or technical college | Associate degree | 7 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,254 |
| City College of San FranciscoSan Francisco, CA | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 29 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,696 |
| City College of San FranciscoSan Francisco, CA | Public community or technical college | Associate degree | 12 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,696 |
| Coastline Community CollegeFountain Valley, CA | Community college | Certificate | 12 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,186 |
| Coastline Community CollegeFountain Valley, CA | Community college | Associate degree | 4 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,186 |
| College of San MateoSan Mateo, CA | Community college | Certificate | 4 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,332 |
| College of San MateoSan Mateo, CA | Community college | Associate degree | 6 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,332 |
| College of the CanyonsSanta Clarita, CA | Community college | Certificate | 12 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,170 |
| College of the CanyonsSanta Clarita, CA | Community college | Associate degree | 5 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,170 |
| College of the DesertPalm Desert, CA | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 17 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,326 |
| College of the DesertPalm Desert, CA | Public community or technical college | Associate degree | 4 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,326 |
| College of the SequoiasVisalia, CA | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 25 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,394 |
| College of the SequoiasVisalia, CA | Public community or technical college | Associate degree | 7 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,394 |
| Copper Mountain Community CollegeJoshua Tree, CA | Community college | Certificate | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,390 |
| Cosumnes River CollegeSacramento, CA | Community college | Certificate | 15 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,288 |
| Cosumnes River CollegeSacramento, CA | Community college | Associate degree | 19 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,288 |
| Cuesta CollegeSan Luis Obispo, CA | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 3 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,350 |
| Cuesta CollegeSan Luis Obispo, CA | Public community or technical college | Associate degree | 4 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,350 |
| Diablo Valley CollegePleasant Hill, CA | Community college | Certificate | 5 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,128 |
| Diablo Valley CollegePleasant Hill, CA | Community college | Associate degree | 8 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,128 |
| El Camino Community College DistrictTorrance, CA | Community college | Certificate | 4 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,156 |
| El Camino Community College DistrictTorrance, CA | Community college | Associate degree | 5 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,156 |
| Fresno City CollegeFresno, CA | Public technical school | Certificate | 42 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,334 |
| Fresno City CollegeFresno, CA | Public technical school | Associate degree | 5 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,334 |
| Fullerton CollegeFullerton, CA | Community college | Certificate | 20 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,150 |
| Fullerton CollegeFullerton, CA | Community college | Associate degree | 48 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,150 |
| Hartnell CollegeSalinas, CA | Community college | Associate degree | 6 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,404 |
| Imperial Valley CollegeImperial, CA | Community college | Certificate | 23 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,148 |
| Imperial Valley CollegeImperial, CA | Community college | Associate degree | 11 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,148 |
| Laney CollegeOakland, CA | Community college | Certificate | 13 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,258 |
| Laney CollegeOakland, CA | Community college | Associate degree | 7 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,258 |
| Long Beach City CollegeLong Beach, CA | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 14 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,560 |
| Long Beach City CollegeLong Beach, CA | Public community or technical college | Associate degree | 7 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,560 |
| Los Angeles Trade Technical CollegeLos Angeles, CA | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 34 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,238 |
| Los Angeles Trade Technical CollegeLos Angeles, CA | Public community or technical college | Associate degree | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,238 |
| Los Angeles Valley CollegeValley Glen, CA | Public technical school | Certificate | 6 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,238 |
| Los Angeles Valley CollegeValley Glen, CA | Public technical school | Associate degree | 3 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,238 |
| Mt San Antonio CollegeWalnut, CA | Community college | Certificate | 19 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,364 |
| Mt San Antonio CollegeWalnut, CA | Community college | Associate degree | 9 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,364 |
| Norco CollegeNorco, CA | Community college | Certificate | 18 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,428 |
| Norco CollegeNorco, CA | Community college | Associate degree | 11 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,428 |
| Orange Coast CollegeCosta Mesa, CA | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 50 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,222 |
| Orange Coast CollegeCosta Mesa, CA | Public community or technical college | Associate degree | 17 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,222 |
| Palo Verde CollegeBlythe, CA | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,288 |
| Palo Verde CollegeBlythe, CA | Public community or technical college | Associate degree | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,288 |
| Palomar CollegeSan Marcos, CA | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,356 |
| Palomar CollegeSan Marcos, CA | Public community or technical college | Associate degree | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,356 |
| Pasadena City CollegePasadena, CA | Community college | Certificate | 8 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,180 |
| Pasadena City CollegePasadena, CA | Community college | Associate degree | 3 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,180 |
| Saddleback CollegeMission Viejo, CA | Community college | Certificate | 3 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,156 |
| Saddleback CollegeMission Viejo, CA | Community college | Associate degree | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,156 |
| San Bernardino Valley CollegeSan Bernardino, CA | Community college | Certificate | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,185 |
| San Bernardino Valley CollegeSan Bernardino, CA | Community college | Associate degree | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,185 |
| San Diego Mesa CollegeSan Diego, CA | Community college | Certificate | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,154 |
| San Diego Mesa CollegeSan Diego, CA | Community college | Associate degree | 9 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,154 |
| San Jose City CollegeSan Jose, CA | Community college | Certificate | 47 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,366 |
| San Jose City CollegeSan Jose, CA | Community college | Associate degree | 7 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,366 |
| Santa Ana CollegeSanta Ana, CA | Public technical school | Certificate | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,188 |
| Santa Ana CollegeSanta Ana, CA | Public technical school | Associate degree | 3 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,188 |
| Santa Barbara City CollegeSanta Barbara, CA | Community college | Certificate | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,242 |
| Santa Barbara City CollegeSanta Barbara, CA | Community college | Associate degree | 3 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,242 |
| Santa Rosa Junior CollegeSanta Rosa, CA | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,318 |
| Santa Rosa Junior CollegeSanta Rosa, CA | Public community or technical college | Associate degree | 3 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,318 |
| Santiago Canyon CollegeOrange, CA | Community college | Certificate | 48 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,160 |
| Santiago Canyon CollegeOrange, CA | Community college | Associate degree | 11 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,160 |
| Sierra CollegeRocklin, CA | Community college | Certificate | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,448 |
| Sierra CollegeRocklin, CA | Community college | Associate degree | 4 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,448 |
| Southwestern CollegeChula Vista, CA | Community college | Certificate | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,356 |
| Southwestern CollegeChula Vista, CA | Community college | Associate degree | 8 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,356 |
| Ventura CollegeVentura, CA | Community college | Certificate | 18 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,416 |
| Ventura CollegeVentura, CA | Community college | Associate degree | 13 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,416 |
| Victor Valley CollegeVictorville, CA | Community college | Certificate | 6 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,449 |
| Victor Valley CollegeVictorville, CA | Community college | Associate degree | 7 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,449 |
Cities with the most programs: San Diego (2), San Jose (2), Sacramento (2), Coachella (1), Colton (1), El Centro (1), Oxnard (1), Santa Maria (1), Soledad (1), Watsonville (1), Aptos (1), Bakersfield (1).
What counts: building and construction finishing, management and inspection.
Frequently asked questions
How many construction trades programs are in California?
52 schools in California awarded construction trades certificates or associate degrees recently, according to the U.S. Department of Education: 51 certificate and 41 associate programs.
Which construction trades program in California has the highest earnings?
CET-Coachella in Coachella, where certificate graduates earned a median of $35,524 one year after finishing (programs with at least 5 graduates).
What is the cheapest construction trades school in California?
By yearly tuition and fees, Diablo Valley College in Pleasant Hill charges $1,128 (2025-26, in-state). Program fees, tools and licensing exams can add to that, so ask the school.
How much do construction trades graduates make in California?
The typical certificate program in California reported median earnings of $35,524 one year after graduation and $39,229 four years after, for graduates who received federal aid and were working.
More in California: all trade schools · colleges
Other trades: Welding · HVAC · Electrician · Plumbing · Carpentry · Auto and diesel mechanic · Heavy equipment mechanic · Truck driving (CDL) · Cosmetology and barbering · Culinary arts · Medical assistant · LPN and CNA · Dental assisting and hygiene · Phlebotomy and medical lab · EMT, surgical tech and imaging · Medical billing and coding · Massage therapy · Paralegal
Construction trades programs nationwide
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard (institution and field of study files), data release of October 15, 2026. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working, not enrolled. What each figure covers.