Est. Earnings (1yr)
$55,314
Est. from CA median (6 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$8,796
Est. from national median (16 programs)

Analysis

Industrial equipment maintenance jobs in California's Central Valley pay solid wages, and the estimated numbers here—around $55,000 in first-year earnings against roughly $8,800 in debt—suggest Clovis Community College's certificate program could deliver reasonable value. That debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.16 means graduates would owe less than two months of their annual salary, a manageable burden for a credential you can likely complete in under two years.

The challenge is that these figures come from comparable programs across California rather than tracked outcomes from Clovis specifically. Similar equipment maintenance certificates in the state cluster tightly around that $55,000 mark, which aligns with national benchmarks, so there's consistency in what the field typically pays. The estimated debt also tracks closely with both state and national medians for these programs. What matters more is local demand: Fresno County's agricultural and logistics sectors create steady need for heavy equipment technicians, potentially offering job security that pure numbers don't capture.

For parents evaluating this path, the fundamentals look sound—technical skills, practical training, and earnings that exceed what many bachelor's programs deliver initially. The uncertainty around these specific estimates means you'll want to ask the college directly about graduate job placement and whether local employers actively recruit from their program. If Clovis has strong industry partnerships in the region, this could be a smarter investment than a four-year degree for a student drawn to hands-on mechanical work.

Where Clovis Community College Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all heavy/industrial equipment maintenance technologies certificate's programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs in California

Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies certificate's programs at peer institutions in California (26 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
Clovis Community CollegeFresno$1,334$55,314*—$8,796*—
San Joaquin Valley College-VisaliaVisalia—$55,314*$55,202$9,500*0.17
San Joaquin Valley College-BakersfieldBakersfield—$55,314*$55,202$9,500*0.17
San Joaquin Valley College-FresnoFresno—$55,314*$55,202$9,500*0.17
San Joaquin Valley College-OntarioOntario—$55,314*$55,202$9,500*0.17
San Joaquin Valley College-ModestoSalida—$55,314*$55,202$9,500*0.17
National Median—$50,524*—$9,500*0.19
* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with heavy/industrial equipment maintenance technologies graduates

Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers

Assemble, install, repair, or maintain electric or hydraulic freight or passenger elevators, escalators, or dumbwaiters.

$106,580/yrJobs growth:High school diploma or equivalent

Industrial Machinery Mechanics

Repair, install, adjust, or maintain industrial production and processing machinery or refinery and pipeline distribution systems. May also install, dismantle, or move machinery and heavy equipment according to plans.

$63,510/yrJobs growth:High school diploma or equivalent

Maintenance Workers, Machinery

Lubricate machinery, change parts, or perform other routine machinery maintenance.

$63,510/yrJobs growth:High school diploma or equivalent

Millwrights

Install, dismantle, or move machinery and heavy equipment according to layout plans, blueprints, or other drawings.

$63,510/yrJobs growth:High school diploma or equivalent

Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines

Diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul mobile mechanical, hydraulic, and pneumatic equipment, such as cranes, bulldozers, graders, and conveyors, used in construction, logging, and mining.

$62,740/yrJobs growth:High school diploma or equivalent

Rail Car Repairers

Diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul railroad rolling stock, mine cars, or mass transit rail cars.

$62,740/yrJobs growth:High school diploma or equivalent

Wind Turbine Service Technicians

Inspect, diagnose, adjust, or repair wind turbines. Perform maintenance on wind turbine equipment including resolving electrical, mechanical, and hydraulic malfunctions.

$62,580/yrJobs growth:Postsecondary nondegree award

Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door

Install, repair, and maintain mechanical regulating and controlling devices, such as electric meters, gas regulators, thermostats, safety and flow valves, and other mechanical governors.

Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons

Build or repair equipment such as furnaces, kilns, cupolas, boilers, converters, ladles, soaking pits, and ovens, using refractory materials.

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 Clovis Community College, approximately 20% 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 median of 6 similar programs in CA. Actual outcomes may vary.