Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians (Associate's Degree) at Barton County Community College

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$56,704

Est. from national median (34 programs)

Est. Median Debt

$12,000

Est. from national median (21 programs)

Analysis

Similar industrial production programs nationwide suggest first-year earnings around $57,000—a solid entry point for a two-year credential. With estimated debt of $12,000, graduates would face monthly loan payments near $135 on a standard plan, consuming just 3% of their gross monthly income. That's manageable by any measure, especially in Kansas where living costs run below national averages.

The field itself shows consistency: the national median sits at $56,704, with top-quartile programs reaching $64,455. This narrow range suggests industrial production skills command fairly predictable wages regardless of where you train, which means focusing on keeping debt low matters more than chasing marginally higher earnings. Barton's estimated debt figure comes in below the national median of $13,500 for this credential, positioning graduates favorably even if actual outcomes vary from these peer-based projections.

For a parent weighing this investment, the fundamentals look sound—affordable debt for workforce-ready training in a field with stable demand. The caveat is that these figures come from comparable programs, not Barton's actual graduates, so there's inherent uncertainty. Still, a 0.21 debt-to-earnings ratio leaves substantial breathing room even if real-world results differ. The program appears designed to get students working quickly without accumulating crushing debt, which is exactly what a community college technical degree should deliver.

Where Barton County Community College Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all industrial production technologies/technicians associates's programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs Nationally

Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians associates's programs at top institutions nationally

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
Barton County Community CollegeGreat Bend	$3,616	$56,704*	—	$12,000*	—
Baton Rouge Community CollegeBaton Rouge	$4,221	$103,572*	$114,358	$16,000*	0.15
Arkansas Northeastern CollegeBlytheville	$2,570	$97,406*	—	—*	—
Olympic CollegeBremerton	$4,197	$86,309*	$81,453	$6,875*	0.08
Bismarck State CollegeBismarck	$5,195	$82,310*	$100,657	$12,000*	0.15
Portland Community CollegePortland	$5,040	$78,450*	$72,111	—*	—
National Median	—	$56,704*	—	$13,500*	0.24

* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with industrial production technologies/technicians graduates

Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians

Apply electrical and electronic theory and related knowledge, usually under the direction of engineering staff, to design, build, repair, adjust, and modify electrical components, circuitry, controls, and machinery for subsequent evaluation and use by engineering staff in making engineering design decisions.

$77,180/yrJobs growth:Associate's degree

Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians

Apply engineering theory and principles to problems of industrial layout or manufacturing production, usually under the direction of engineering staff. May perform time and motion studies on worker operations in a variety of industries for purposes such as establishing standard production rates or improving efficiency.

$64,790/yrJobs growth:Associate's degree

Nanotechnology Engineering Technologists and Technicians

Implement production processes and operate commercial-scale production equipment to produce, test, or modify materials, devices, or systems of unique molecular or macromolecular composition. Operate advanced microscopy equipment to manipulate nanoscale objects. Work under the supervision of nanoengineering staff.

$64,790/yrJobs growth:Associate's degree

Semiconductor Processing Technicians

Perform any or all of the following functions in the manufacture of electronic semiconductors: load semiconductor material into furnace; saw formed ingots into segments; load individual segment into crystal growing chamber and monitor controls; locate crystal axis in ingot using x-ray equipment and saw ingots into wafers; and clean, polish, and load wafers into series of special purpose furnaces, chemical baths, and equipment used to form circuitry and change conductive properties.

$51,180/yrJobs growth:High school diploma or equivalent

Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers

Use hand-welding, flame-cutting, hand-soldering, or brazing equipment to weld or join metal components or to fill holes, indentations, or seams of fabricated metal products.

$51,000/yrJobs growth:High school diploma or equivalent

Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other

All engineering technologists and technicians, except drafters, not listed separately.

Non-Destructive Testing Specialists

Test the safety of structures, vehicles, or vessels using x-ray, ultrasound, fiber optic or related equipment.

Photonics Technicians

Build, install, test, or maintain optical or fiber optic equipment, such as lasers, lenses, or mirrors, using spectrometers, interferometers, or related equipment.

About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Barton County Community College, approximately 18% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the national median of 34 similar programs. Actual outcomes may vary.