Construction Trades at Perry Technical Institute

Perry Technical Institute's construction trades program turns out graduates earning nearly 50% more than the national median for this certificate—$39,366 versus $26,284. That's a significant premium that places them in the 95th percentile nationally. The debt load of $7,892 is manageable, translating to a debt-to-earnings ratio of just 0.20, meaning graduates could theoretically pay off their loans in under three months of gross earnings.

The main caveat here: this is the only construction trades certificate program in Washington state reporting data, and fewer than 30 students are included in these figures. That makes it hard to know whether these results are typical or if you're looking at an outlier year. The 60th percentile state ranking is less impressive than the national one, but with only one program in the state, that comparison doesn't tell us much.

For a family considering this investment, the math is straightforward. You're looking at under $8,000 in debt for immediate entry into trades work at nearly $40,000 annually—strong starting economics for a certificate program. The risk is that the small sample means next year's cohort could see different results. If your child is committed to the trades and wants formal training close to home, this looks like a cost-effective path, but verify current job placement rates and ask about connections to local contractors.