Best Trade Schools in Payson, Arizona (2026)

Updated June 20, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Start here to compare accredited trade schools near Payson. This guide links to programs, state licensing steps, and related career paths so you can get job-ready quickly in Arizona.

How to Get Started in Payson

  • Compare schools and program lengths above
  • Check your state licensing steps: Arizona
  • Explore careers: Skilled trades hub
  • Ask each school about tuition, schedules, and embedded certifications (EPA 608, NCCER, ASE)

Compare Trade Schools Near Payson, Arizona

How We Rank Schools

We first gather the schools closest to the city or state page you are viewing, then rank that local group by BOC Score, with the highest at the top. The BOC Score is computed from federal IPEDS and College Scorecard data; schools without enough data to score appear last.

Location / proximity to this page
Defines the local group
Graduation rate
30%
Median earnings, 10 years after entry
25%
Average net price (lower is better)
20%
Retention rate
15%
Fully online availability
10%

Schools without enough federal outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.

#1

Arizona State University Digital Immersion

Scottsdale, AZ 46.1 miles away BOC Score 61.9
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Completion rate: 28.5% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 30
  • Annual completions: 2566
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $66,968 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#2

Penrose Academy

Scottsdale, AZ 56.0 miles away BOC Score 60.6
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
  • 13402 North Scottsdale Road Suite B160 Scottsdale, AZ 85254-4065
  • (480) 222-9540
Key stats
  • Completion rate: 88.8% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 4
  • Annual completions: 718
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $32,648 (College Scorecard)

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#3

Pima Medical Institute-Phoenix

Phoenix, AZ 63.5 miles away BOC Score 60.1
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
  • 13610 N. Black Canyon Highway, Suite 102 Phoenix, AZ 85029-4929
  • (602) 265-7462
Key stats
  • Graduation rate: 59.2%
  • Programs offered: 13
  • Annual completions: 637
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $39,692 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#4

Arizona Culinary Institute

Scottsdale, AZ 54.3 miles away BOC Score 59.4
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 1
  • Annual completions: 127
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $42,087 (College Scorecard)

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#5

Pima Medical Institute-East Valley

Mesa, AZ 63.5 miles away BOC Score 55.9
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Completion rate: 72.7% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 7
  • Annual completions: 530
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $42,937 (College Scorecard)

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#6

Allen School-Phoenix

Phoenix, AZ 62.4 miles away BOC Score 54.9
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
  • 15650 North Black Canyon Highway, B210 Phoenix, AZ 85053-4064
  • (623) 385-8150
Key stats
  • Completion rate: 89.3% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 1
  • Annual completions: 11
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $37,719 (College Scorecard)

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#7

Scottsdale Community College

Scottsdale, AZ 61.0 miles away BOC Score 54.7
Tuition $2,358 - $19,281
Contact
Key stats
  • Graduation rate: 17.3%
  • Programs offered: 43
  • Annual completions: 735
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $53,858 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#8

Paradise Valley Community College

Phoenix, AZ 56.9 miles away BOC Score 51.5
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Completion rate: 19.3% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 37
  • Annual completions: 662
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $64,729 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#9

GateWay Community College

Phoenix, AZ 55.0 miles away BOC Score 49.9
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Completion rate: 24.1% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 67
  • Annual completions: 2480
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $70,264 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#10

Avalon Institute-Phoenix

Phoenix, AZ 59.8 miles away BOC Score 49.6
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Completion rate: 72.9% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 6
  • Annual completions: 618
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $33,261 (College Scorecard)

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

BOC Score, tuition, graduation rate, and median graduate earnings from federal IPEDS and U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard data. Earnings are reported across all programs at the school (all majors), not a single trade. Distance is measured from the main population center in Arizona.
#SchoolBOC Score (0–100)TuitionMedian grad earnings (all majors)Graduation rateOnlineDistance
160.6Contact school for pricing$32,64889%—56 mi
260.1Contact school for pricing$39,69259%Yes*64 mi
359.4Contact school for pricing$42,087Not reported—54 mi
455.9Contact school for pricing$42,93773%—64 mi
554.9Contact school for pricing$37,71989%—62 mi
654.7$2,358 - $19,281$53,85817%Yes*61 mi
751.5Contact school for pricing$64,72919%Yes*57 mi
849.9Contact school for pricing$70,26424%Yes*55 mi
949.6Contact school for pricing$33,26173%—60 mi

Schools closest to the main population center in Arizona are gathered first, then ranked by BOC Score; distance from the main population center in Arizona is shown for reference. The BOC Score is an independent measure of school outcomes (graduation, earnings, net price, retention) expressed as a 0–100 percentile within each school's peer group; higher is better and advertising never affects it. *Online availability refers to coursework; hands-on trade training is completed in person. Read the full methodology.

Median Graduate Earnings by School - Best Trade Schools in Payson, Arizona (2026)
Median graduate earnings by school, Best Trade Schools in Payson, Arizona (2026) (College Scorecard)GateWay Community College $70264; Paradise Valley Community College $64729; Scottsdale Community College $53858; Pima Medical Institute-East Valley $42937; Arizona Culinary Institute $42087; Pima Medical Institute-Phoenix $39692.GateWay Community College$70,264Paradise Valley Community Co...$64,729Scottsdale Community College$53,858Pima Medical Institute-East ...$42,937Arizona Culinary Institute$42,087Pima Medical Institute-Phoenix$39,692
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard - median earnings of all graduates at each school (not a single program).
Median graduate earnings by school for schools serving Best Trade Schools in Payson, Arizona (2026)
SchoolMedian graduate earnings
GateWay Community College$70,264
Paradise Valley Community College$64,729
Scottsdale Community College$53,858
Pima Medical Institute-East Valley$42,937
Arizona Culinary Institute$42,087
Pima Medical Institute-Phoenix$39,692

Arizona Trade Career Outlook

Building & Construction Trades

TradeJob Growth (2024-2034, US)
Plumber4.5%
Carpenter4.5%
Welder2.2%
Construction Worker7.3%
Flooring Installer9.5%

Construction Management & Inspection

TradeJob Growth (2024-2034, US)
Construction Manager8.7%
Home Inspector-0.8%

Electrical & Energy Systems

TradeJob Growth (2024-2034, US)
Tower Technician8.6%
Lineworker6.6%
Wind Turbine Technician49.9%
Electrician9.5%
HVAC Technician8.1%
Solar Installer42.1%

Mechanical, Automotive & Transportation

TradeJob Growth (2024-2034, US)
Gunsmith2.0%
Aircraft Mechanic (A&P)4.0%
Diesel Technician2.4%
CNC Machinist0.0%
Heavy Equipment Operator3.6%
Truck Driver (CDL)4.0%
Auto Mechanic4.2%
Automotive Technician4.2%
Maintenance Technician3.8%

Healthcare: Nursing & Patient Care

TradeJob Growth (2024-2034, US)
Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)2.6%
Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN)2.6%
Hemodialysis Technician5.2%
Medical Assistant12.5%
Mental Health Technician20.0%
Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)2.3%
Patient Care Technician2.3%
Home Health Aide17.0%

Healthcare: Allied Health & Diagnostics

TradeJob Growth (2024-2034, US)
Diagnostic Medical Sonographer13.0%
Radiologic Technologist4.3%
EKG Technician3.0%
Surgical Technologist4.5%
Dental Assistant6.4%
Optician2.9%
Pharmacy Technician6.4%
Sterile Processing Technician10.0%
Phlebotomy Technician5.6%

Healthcare: Administration & Office Support

TradeJob Growth (2024-2034, US)
Medical Billing & Coding Specialist7.1%
Medical Office Administrator4.2%

Therapy, Rehab & Fitness

TradeJob Growth (2024-2034, US)
Occupational Therapy Assistant19.2%
Massage Therapist15.4%
Personal Trainer11.9%
Physical Therapy Aide2.8%

Animal Care & Training

TradeJob Growth (2024-2034, US)
Veterinary Technician9.1%
Veterinary Assistant8.7%
Dog Trainer5.1%

Beauty & Personal Care

TradeJob Growth (2024-2034, US)
Esthetician6.7%
Beauty Professional5.6%
Cosmetologist5.6%

Culinary & Hospitality Careers

TradeJob Growth (2024-2034, US)
Culinary Chef7.1%
Pastry Chef7.1%

Business & Legal Support

TradeJob Growth (2024-2034, US)
Digital Court Reporter-0.3%
Paralegal0.2%
Bookkeeper-5.8%

Job growth uses state projections when available and national projections (BLS Employment Projections, 2024-2034) when state data is unavailable. Median pay for each trade is shown in the comparison table above.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections (2024-2034). Projected U.S. change shown for each trade.

Next Steps

About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.

Data sources

Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.

DataProviderVintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsMay 2025
Employment ProjectionsU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data SystemNational Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)U.S. Department of Educationlatest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)U.S. Department of Educationlatest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirementsCareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programsCareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor)latest release (updated 2025-10-25)