Electrical and Power Transmission Installers at Emily Griffith Technical College

Emily Griffith Technical College's electrical training program delivers graduates earning $70,780 their first year—nearly double the national median for similar programs and in line with Colorado's strong market for electrical workers. The $11,000 in typical debt translates to just 16 cents owed for every dollar earned, a remarkably manageable burden that most graduates could reasonably pay off within months. While this places graduates in the 95th percentile nationally, it's worth noting that Colorado's electrical programs generally perform well; this sits around the state median, just behind Trinidad State's top-earning program.

The modest 2% earnings growth over four years suggests this is a program that delivers immediate workforce readiness rather than long-term advancement potential—graduates enter at journeyman-level wages and stay there. That's not necessarily a weakness for a certificate program designed to get students working quickly in a stable trade. The real story here is the combination of low debt and high immediate earnings in a field where Colorado pays well above national rates.

For families looking at skilled trades in Colorado, this represents a low-risk entry point into a high-paying field. The debt load is small enough that even if circumstances change, you're not locked into a crushing repayment burden, while the earnings are strong enough to immediately support independent living in Denver.