GraduateSmart
GraduateSmart
No 4-year degree required — and that's a feature, not a fallback
Skilled trades typically start earning $45-75K straight out of high school with little or no debt. Many trades earn more than the median college grad by age 30. Look for paid apprenticeships (IBEW for electricians, UA for plumbers/pipefitters, local trade unions) — you earn while you learn instead of paying tuition.
$125K/yr
Average Salary
4 years
Years of Education
+9%
Job Growth
550K+
Total Jobs
Plan, coordinate, budget, and supervise construction projects from start to finish.
$72K
Starting
$125K
Average
$177K
Senior
High School Diploma or GED
Foundation requirement for all pathways
Trade / Vocational Program
6–18 months of hands-on technical training
Apprenticeship or License
State licensing exam required for most trade careers
Start your career
Entry-level positions and internships
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Field
Real Estate & Construction
Required Degree
Bachelor's Degree
Time in School
4 years
Job Demand
10-Year Job Growth
+9%
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Create free account →Federal labor-market data for Construction Manager
Pay range
$72K–$177K
10th–90th percentile
Job growth
+9%
projected 2024–2034
Number of jobs
550K
in 2024
Faster than average
Above-average demand growth expected. Projected to grow from 550K to 600K jobs by 2034.
Typical duties
Read the full duties, work environment, and education requirements on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook. Open BLS page →
Direct match. Median $106,980.