Electrical and Power Transmission Installers at Benjamin Franklin Cummings Institute of Technology

With only three schools offering this program in Massachusetts, Benjamin Franklin Cummings Institute sits at the lower end—earning roughly $2,400 less annually than the state median and trailing the top program by nearly $5,000. The $38,265 first-year salary barely cracks the national median, placing graduates in the 40th percentile statewide. Given Boston's cost of living, that gap matters more than it might elsewhere.

The good news is the debt load: at $8,663, students leave with manageable obligations that equal just three months of gross pay. That 0.23 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates can realistically pay this off within a couple years while establishing themselves in the trade. Forty percent of students receive Pell grants, suggesting the program serves working-class families trying to access skilled trades without crushing debt.

However, the sample size here is tiny—fewer than 30 graduates reported—so these numbers could swing dramatically year to year. For a parent comparing options, the Massachusetts program at Motoring Technical Training Institute shows significantly stronger earnings outcomes. If your child can access that program, it's worth investigating. Otherwise, this certificate delivers what matters most: low debt and immediate employability, even if the starting wages lag behind what electricians typically earn in the Boston metro area.