How CollegeLens builds trade comparison data

CollegeLens uses public Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics wage data as the primary pay source for trade salary pages. State pages compare the state median to the national median, then pair that wage data with training cost context and an illustrative debt-to-income example.

Training cost ranges are synthesized from union apprenticeship materials, community college tuition, and private trade program pricing. Those cost ranges are directional. They are not a substitute for a program quote or your final aid offer.

The debt-to-income section uses an illustrative $10,000 training debt midpoint to show how a typical community-college-style path can compare with earnings. Your exact result depends on tuition, time in school, grants, military benefits, employer support, and how quickly you reach paid work.

For a personalized view, run your situation in the free CollegeLens plan and swap the default assumptions for your own training path and borrowing amount.