Career Training Path › Research › Cost and time-to-earn
Cost and time-to-earn, by trade
The career-changer's table: how long the program takes, what it costs, what graduates borrow, and what the job pays at entry and mid-career. Computed 2026-09-06 from IPEDS 2022-23 Completions; College Scorecard June 2026; BLS OEWS May 2025.
Fastest to clear the typical loan on entry pay
Paying 10% of entry-level pay toward loans, the median graduate of these groups is debt-free soonest:
- Lineman schools: 10 mo on $5,500 of debt at $67,270 entry pay.
- CDL / truck driving schools: 1.3 yrs on $6,333 of debt at $47,960 entry pay.
- CNC & machining programs: 1.7 yrs on $7,892 of debt at $47,570 entry pay.
- Esthetician schools: 1.8 yrs on $6,333 of debt at $36,040 entry pay.
- Phlebotomy classes: 1.8 yrs on $7,000 of debt at $38,190 entry pay.
Slowest: surgical technologist programs (3.6 yrs), aviation maintenance (a&p) schools (3.5 yrs), barber schools (3.3 yrs), pharmacy technician programs (3.1 yrs), emt & paramedic training (2.9 yrs).
All groups
| Program group | Typical length | Cost / yr | Grad debt | Program grads, yr 1 | Entry pay (BLS 25th) | Trade median (BLS) | Months to repay |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Welding schools | under 1 year | $20,281 | $9,500 | $34,154 | $46,790 | $53,750 | 2.0 yrs |
| HVAC schools | 1–2 years | $23,964 | $10,810 | $32,848 | $48,360 | $61,010 | 2.3 yrs |
| Electrician schools | 1–2 years | $21,016 | $10,078 | $34,710 | $49,430 | $63,190 | 2.0 yrs |
| Lineman schools | 1–2 years | $23,041 | $5,500 | $57,416 | $67,270 | $95,320 | 10 mo |
| Plumbing schools | 1–2 years | $17,400 | $9,500 | $30,730 | $50,190 | $63,800 | 1.9 yrs |
| Medical assistant programs | 1–2 years | $27,360 | $9,500 | $26,692 | $38,470 | $45,690 | 2.5 yrs |
| CNA classes | under 1 year | $19,374 | $9,500 | $22,196 | $37,260 | $42,260 | 2.6 yrs |
| LPN / LVN programs | 1–2 years | $22,232 | $11,376 | $37,410 | $59,000 | $64,400 | 1.9 yrs |
| Cosmetology schools | 1–2 years | $22,014 | $8,619 | $17,178 | $30,120 | $35,790 | 2.8 yrs |
| Barber schools | 1–2 years | $22,794 | $10,472 | $14,528 | $31,570 | $38,210 | 3.3 yrs |
| Esthetician schools | under 1 year | $22,558 | $6,333 | $20,883 | $36,040 | $45,330 | 1.8 yrs |
| Nail technician schools | under 1 year | $21,368 | not reported | not reported | $34,010 | $35,760 | not reported |
| CDL / truck driving schools | under 1 year | $19,315 | $6,333 | $38,603 | $47,960 | $58,640 | 1.3 yrs |
| Auto mechanic schools | 1–2 years | $19,100 | $11,087 | $33,710 | $38,900 | $50,620 | 2.8 yrs |
| Diesel mechanic schools | 1–2 years | $20,196 | $13,132 | $37,506 | $50,540 | $61,770 | 2.6 yrs |
| Aviation maintenance (A&P) schools | about 2 years | $18,142 | $21,737 | $41,628 | $62,630 | $79,870 | 3.5 yrs |
| Dental assistant schools | 1–2 years | $27,343 | $9,500 | $24,225 | $44,340 | $48,070 | 2.2 yrs |
| Dental hygiene programs | about 2 years | $31,359 | $16,250 | $51,231 | $83,570 | $98,100 | 1.9 yrs |
| Phlebotomy classes | under 1 year | $23,177 | $7,000 | $24,832 | $38,190 | $45,230 | 1.8 yrs |
| Pharmacy technician programs | 1–2 years | $27,830 | $11,542 | $22,908 | $37,850 | $45,750 | 3.1 yrs |
| Surgical technologist programs | about 2 years | $29,039 | $19,756 | $41,966 | $54,690 | $64,650 | 3.6 yrs |
| Radiology & sonography programs | about 2 years | $29,612 | $17,000 | $45,833 | $64,810 | $80,110 | 2.6 yrs |
| EMT & paramedic training | under 1 year | $19,057 | $11,125 | $44,770 | $37,960 | $44,470 | 2.9 yrs |
| Medical billing & coding programs | 1–2 years | $28,897 | $12,242 | $26,499 | $43,490 | $51,140 | 2.8 yrs |
| Massage therapy schools | under 1 year | $25,208 | $7,885 | $19,383 | $43,480 | $58,450 | 1.8 yrs |
| Culinary & pastry schools | 1–2 years | $14,698 | $11,666 | $24,208 | $48,440 | $62,470 | 2.4 yrs |
| CNC & machining programs | under 1 year | $17,682 | $7,892 | $36,340 | $47,570 | $58,750 | 1.7 yrs |
| Heavy equipment operator schools | 1–2 years | $14,348 | $9,851 | $34,973 | $48,680 | $59,850 | 2.0 yrs |
| Construction trades programs | 1–2 years | $17,799 | $9,500 | $27,572 | $38,620 | $47,120 | 2.5 yrs |
Earnings are median wages and self-employment income reported to the IRS (W-2 and Schedule SE) for graduates who received federal aid and were working and not enrolled, measured in the calendar year after finishing. They are pay only: health insurance, retirement contributions and other benefits are not included.
Method
Typical length is the completer-weighted median IPEDS award level for the group (under-1-year certificate, 1-2-year certificate, or associate degree). Cost is the median campus annual cost of attendance where reported. Debt and earnings are program-level College Scorecard medians (4-digit CIP, counted once per campus). Entry pay is the BLS 25th-percentile annual wage for the occupation, nationally or by state. Months to repay = median graduate debt paid off at 10% of entry pay (the usual affordability rule of thumb) — a planning figure, not a loan schedule; it ignores interest and assumes steady full-time work.
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Career Training Path. (2026). Cost and Time-to-Earn by Trade and State. Own the Answer Inc. https://careertrainingpath.com/research/cost-and-time-to-earn/ (U.S. Department of Education data: IPEDS 2022-23 Completions; College Scorecard June 2026; BLS OEWS May 2025). Charts and figures on this page may be reproduced with attribution and a link to this page. For a custom data cut (a specific state, chain, or measure), or the underlying dataset, contact us — we're glad to help reporters and researchers.