Electrical and Power Transmission Installers at Bates Technical College

Peer programs nationally suggest this electrical and power transmission installer degree produces first-year earnings around $45,000 against estimated debt of $12,000—a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.27 that looks manageable. That's roughly three months of gross income in debt, which most financial advisors would consider reasonable for a technical credential. The challenge here is that we're working entirely from national benchmarks since neither Bates nor other Washington programs report actual outcomes data for this specific credential. The small graduating classes that trigger this data suppression could mean either an intimate, focused program or one with limited enrollment demand—there's no way to know from the numbers alone.

What we do know is that similar associate programs nationwide cluster around the same earnings figure, suggesting some consistency in what employers pay entry-level electrical installers. The trade itself offers solid middle-class wages, and the debt load based on comparable programs appears light enough that graduates shouldn't face years of financial strain. The unusually low Pell grant percentage (just 9% of students) suggests this program may attract students with existing financial resources or those pursuing retraining rather than traditional college-age learners.

If your child is mechanically inclined and interested in skilled trades, the estimated numbers point to reasonable value. But given the lack of program-specific data, you'll want to dig deeper: talk to the program director about job placement rates, ask current students about their experience, and verify whether local utilities and electrical contractors actively recruit from Bates.