Est. Earnings (1yr)
$50,524
Est. from national median (51 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$8,796
Est. from national median (16 programs)

Analysis

Heavy equipment maintenance programs nationally cluster around $50,000 in first-year earnings, and Dixie Technical College appears positioned right at this national median based on comparable programs. With estimated debt under $9,000, graduates would owe less than two months of their first-year salary—a ratio that suggests this certificate could pay for itself relatively quickly. The modest Pell grant rate of 8% hints that students here may be career-changers or already employed workers seeking credentials rather than traditional low-income students taking on significant financial risk.

The challenge is that we're working entirely from estimates here. Neither the earnings nor debt figures come from Dixie Tech's actual graduates; they're projections based on similar equipment maintenance programs nationwide. Utah has ten schools offering this credential, but none have published outcome data, leaving parents without local comparisons. That said, equipment maintenance is typically a stable field with clear workforce demand, particularly in growing regions like southwest Utah where construction and infrastructure work continues.

The estimated numbers point toward a low-risk credential with practical upside, but you're making this decision largely on faith in national trends rather than demonstrated outcomes from this specific program. Before enrolling, contact Dixie Tech directly for job placement rates and employer partnerships—their connections to local heavy equipment operators and maintenance shops matter more than any estimated statistic.

Where Dixie Technical College Stands

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

Compare to Similar Programs Nationally

Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies certificate's programs at top institutions nationally

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
Dixie Technical CollegeSaint George$50,524*$8,796*
Warren County Career CenterLebanon$70,305*$44,869*
Ranken Technical CollegeSaint Louis$17,490$70,010*$63,621$14,100*0.20
Gateway Community and Technical CollegeFlorence$4,656$69,378*$5,625*0.08
Montcalm Community CollegeSidney$4,860$66,358*$10,500*0.16
Bluegrass Community and Technical CollegeLexington$4,706$65,743*$9,250*0.14
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 Dixie Technical College, approximately 8% 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 national median of 51 similar programs. Actual outcomes may vary.