Electrical and Power Transmission Installers at Harrisburg Area Community College

This program's earnings lag significantly behind both state and national benchmarks, despite serving a field where associates in electrical trades typically pay well. At $36,532 in the first year, graduates earn about $8,000 less than Pennsylvania's median for electrical programs and nearly $9,000 below the national average. While sitting at the 40th percentile statewide might sound middle-of-the-pack, it's sobering when top PA programs like Pennsylvania Highlands Community College produce graduates earning $95,000—more than double what Harrisburg Area grads make.

The debt load of $15,938 is reasonable at face value, creating a manageable 0.44 ratio to first-year earnings. Earnings do grow 26% to $46,056 by year four, which helps close the gap somewhat. But even with that growth, graduates remain well below what peers at other Pennsylvania schools achieve right out of the gate. The field itself pays well enough that the shortfall here likely reflects differences in employer connections, training quality, or the specific electrical specializations emphasized.

The major caveat: this data comes from fewer than 30 graduates, so individual outcomes vary widely. If you're considering this program, insist on understanding where recent graduates actually work and what specific roles they're being trained for. The gap between this program and Pennsylvania's stronger electrical programs is too large to ignore without a compelling explanation.