Electrical and Power Transmission Installers at Berk Trade and Business School

This electrical trades certificate sits in an awkward position: while it outperforms most New York competitors (60th percentile statewide), it significantly trails the national benchmark by nearly $8,000 in first-year earnings. The program serves a heavily Pell-eligible population (63%) with manageable debt—just $6,333—but graduates start at $31,116, well below what similar programs deliver elsewhere in the country.

The upside here is trajectory. Earnings jump 27% to nearly $40,000 by year four, suggesting graduates gain traction once they establish themselves in the field. That growth pattern, combined with the low debt load (debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.20), means this isn't a financial trap. Still, the national percentile ranking of 24th is hard to ignore. Students at three-quarters of comparable programs nationwide earn more right out of the gate, likely reflecting either stronger industry connections or better-paying regional markets.

For New York families, this comes down to expectations and alternatives. If your child can access a program with better national placement rates, that's worth pursuing. But among local New York options—where earnings are consistently lower than the national average—Berk Trade performs competitively while keeping debt minimal. The program works as a low-risk entry point to the trades, just not a fast track to top earnings.