Electrical and Power Transmission Installers at Community College of Allegheny County

The $151,803 first-year earnings figure here looks extraordinary—roughly four times what graduates earn from Pennsylvania's other 24 programs in this field—but the small sample size (under 30 graduates) means this likely reflects a few outliers rather than typical outcomes. Most graduates from Pennsylvania's electrical installation programs earn around $39,000 their first year, which still provides solid returns given the typical $9,500 in debt. Community College of Allegheny County charges $12,000 for this certificate, slightly above the state norm but still manageable.

The more realistic scenario is that your child would enter this field earning in the high $30,000s to low $40,000s—comparable to what graduates make from Thaddeus Stevens or YTI Career Institute. That's respectable money for a short credential program, and the low debt burden (just three months of earnings) makes this a financially sound path. The electrical trades offer steady work in the Pittsburgh region, with opportunities for higher earnings as skills develop.

Given the data quality issues, focus less on that eye-popping $151,803 number and more on whether your child wants hands-on technical work in the trades. If they do, this certificate offers quick entry to a stable field without crushing debt. Just understand you're likely looking at $38,000-$42,000 starting salaries, not six figures.