20 schools · North Carolina
Construction trades programs in North Carolina
20 schools in North Carolina offer construction trades programs (20 of them public), with 17 certificate and 17 associate programs between them. Graduates of the typical certificate program here earned $61,071 a year after finishing, compared with $36,165 nationally.
All construction trades programs in North Carolina
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central Piedmont Community CollegeCharlotte, NC | Community college | Associate degree | 30 | $62,526 | $71,413 | n/a | $2,454 |
| Wake Technical Community CollegeRaleigh, NC | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 110 | $61,071 | $68,939 | $10,136 | $2,284 |
| Wake Technical Community CollegeRaleigh, NC | Public community or technical college | Associate degree | 31 | $54,023 | $81,319 | n/a | $2,284 |
| Pitt Community CollegeWinterville, NC | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 28 | n/a | $62,025 | n/a | $2,680 |
| Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community CollegeAsheville, NC | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 19 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $2,882 |
| Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community CollegeAsheville, NC | Public community or technical college | Associate degree | 8 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $2,882 |
| Cape Fear Community CollegeWilmington, NC | Community college | Certificate | 8 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $2,772 |
| Cape Fear Community CollegeWilmington, NC | Community college | Associate degree | 21 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $2,772 |
| Central Carolina Community CollegeSanford, NC | Community college | Certificate | 20 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $2,741 |
| Central Carolina Community CollegeSanford, NC | Community college | Associate degree | 3 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $2,741 |
| Central Piedmont Community CollegeCharlotte, NC | Community college | Certificate | 173 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $2,454 |
| Cleveland Community CollegeShelby, NC | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 6 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $2,588 |
| Fayetteville Technical Community CollegeFayetteville, NC | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 73 | n/a | n/a | $17,540 | $2,344 |
| Fayetteville Technical Community CollegeFayetteville, NC | Public community or technical college | Associate degree | 24 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $2,344 |
| Guilford Technical Community CollegeJamestown, NC | Community college | Certificate | 4 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $2,334 |
| Guilford Technical Community CollegeJamestown, NC | Community college | Associate degree | 7 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $2,334 |
| Isothermal Community CollegeSpindale, NC | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 60 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $2,050 |
| Isothermal Community CollegeSpindale, NC | Public community or technical college | Associate degree | 9 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $2,050 |
| Montgomery Community CollegeTroy, NC | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 8 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $2,538 |
| Pitt Community CollegeWinterville, NC | Public community or technical college | Associate degree | 12 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $2,680 |
| Rowan-Cabarrus Community CollegeSalisbury, NC | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 12 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $2,080 |
| Rowan-Cabarrus Community CollegeSalisbury, NC | Public community or technical college | Associate degree | 8 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $2,080 |
| Sampson Community CollegeClinton, NC | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 8 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $2,877 |
| Sampson Community CollegeClinton, NC | Public community or technical college | Associate degree | 13 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $2,877 |
| Sandhills Community CollegePinehurst, NC | Community college | Associate degree | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $2,040 |
| Southeastern Community CollegeWhiteville, NC | Community college | Certificate | 3 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $2,600 |
| Surry Community CollegeDobson, NC | Public community or technical college | Associate degree | 7 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $2,728 |
| Tri-County Community CollegeMurphy, NC | Community college | Certificate | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $2,705 |
| Tri-County Community CollegeMurphy, NC | Community college | Associate degree | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $2,705 |
| Western Piedmont Community CollegeMorganton, NC | Community college | Certificate | 4 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $2,650 |
| Western Piedmont Community CollegeMorganton, NC | Community college | Associate degree | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $2,650 |
| Wilkes Community CollegeWilkesboro, NC | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 45 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $2,572 |
| Wilkes Community CollegeWilkesboro, NC | Public community or technical college | Associate degree | 9 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $2,572 |
| Wilson Community CollegeWilson, NC | Community college | Associate degree | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $2,572 |
Cities with the most programs: Charlotte (1), Raleigh (1), Winterville (1), Asheville (1), Wilmington (1), Sanford (1), Shelby (1), Fayetteville (1), Jamestown (1), Spindale (1), Troy (1), Salisbury (1).
What counts: building and construction finishing, management and inspection.
Frequently asked questions
How many construction trades programs are in North Carolina?
20 schools in North Carolina awarded construction trades certificates or associate degrees recently, according to the U.S. Department of Education: 17 certificate and 17 associate programs.
Which construction trades program in North Carolina has the highest earnings?
Central Piedmont Community College in Charlotte, where associate degree graduates earned a median of $62,526 one year after finishing (programs with at least 5 graduates).
What is the cheapest construction trades school in North Carolina?
By yearly tuition and fees, Sandhills Community College in Pinehurst charges $2,040 (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 North Carolina?
The typical certificate program in North Carolina reported median earnings of $61,071 one year after graduation and $65,482 four years after, for graduates who received federal aid and were working.
More in North Carolina: 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.