Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies at Butler Community College

Butler Community College's automotive program appears positioned right in the middle of Kansas's competitive landscape, with similar programs across the state suggesting first-year earnings around $36,400—nearly identical to both state and national medians for this credential. The estimated $7,000 debt load is notably lower than the $11,000 national median, putting the debt-to-earnings ratio at a manageable 0.19.

What's striking is the range among Kansas programs. Wichita State's applied sciences campus reports graduates earning $47,000—about $11,000 more than peer programs suggest for Butler—while other community colleges cluster tightly around $36,000. This clustering indicates automotive technicians in Kansas generally start at similar wage levels regardless of where they train, with Wichita State appearing to be an outlier rather than the norm.

The practical reality: automotive technicians typically start at modest but steady wages, and keeping training debt under $7,000 means monthly payments that shouldn't overwhelm an entry-level paycheck. For a student certain about working in automotive repair, this program's estimated debt burden is reasonable. But parents should recognize that first-year earnings in the mid-$30,000s represent the likely ceiling for most Kansas community college automotive programs, not a starting point that will grow dramatically. If your child is considering this field, the low debt matters more than chasing slightly higher starting wages elsewhere.