Electrical and Power Transmission Installers at Dakota County Technical College

Dakota County Technical College's electrical installers program punches above its weight, placing graduates in the 95th percentile nationally with starting pay of $63,839—about $17,000 more than Minnesota's median for this credential and roughly $25,000 above the national average. Among Minnesota's 13 electrical programs, this ranks in the top tier, outearning competitors like Minnesota West and St. Cloud Tech by over $12,000. The $11,000 debt load keeps the debt-to-earnings ratio at a manageable 0.17, meaning graduates earn nearly six times their debt in the first year.

The program's main quirk is flat earnings over four years, which likely reflects the nature of the trades: installers typically reach competitive wages quickly rather than climbing a traditional career ladder. This isn't necessarily a drawback—starting strong at over $63,000 and maintaining that level beats many programs where earnings grow slowly from a lower base. For students seeking immediate financial independence without four-year tuition bills, this model works well.

For parents wondering about ROI, this is straightforward: low debt, high immediate earnings, and top performance both statewide and nationally. The credential gets your child earning substantially more than most electrical programs deliver, with debt that's paid off in months rather than years.