Electrical and Power Transmission Installers at Delgado Community College

Delgado's electrical installation program shows a troubling trajectory: graduates earn $30,212 initially—already below both the Louisiana median ($39,378) and national average ($38,716)—but see earnings drop to just $21,369 by year four. This 29% decline is particularly concerning in a skilled trade where experience typically commands higher wages. Among Louisiana's 14 similar programs, this ranks near the bottom quartile, while nearby Northshore and Fletcher Technical graduates earn roughly $18,000 more annually in their fourth year. The relatively modest debt load of $11,977 provides some cushion, but even this becomes burdensome when measured against fourth-year earnings.

The pattern suggests graduates may struggle to advance into better-paying journeyman positions or find themselves underemployed as the local market becomes saturated. With 62% of students receiving Pell grants, many come from families who can least afford a credential that doesn't deliver steady wage growth. Parents should ask pointed questions: Where do graduates actually work? What's the pathway to union apprenticeships or higher-level positions? Why the earnings drop when competitors maintain stronger wages?

If your child is committed to electrical work in Louisiana, the data points clearly toward Fletcher or Northshore Technical instead—both offer similar training at comparable cost but with significantly better earning outcomes.