Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians (Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma) at Lenoir Community College

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$43,602

Est. from national median (13 programs)

Est. Median Debt

$10,263

Est. from national median (8 programs)

Analysis

Similar industrial production programs nationally suggest first-year earnings around $44,000—a modest but stable start that makes the estimated $10,263 in debt for this certificate manageable. With a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.24, graduates would need to dedicate roughly a quarter of their first year's salary to clear this debt, assuming they pursue that path aggressively. That's within the range where a certificate can pay for itself relatively quickly, particularly important for the 42% of Lenoir students receiving Pell grants who likely need immediate workforce entry.

The bigger question is why this estimate falls so far below the state's median debt of $21,581 for similar programs. Either Lenoir manages to deliver this training at roughly half the typical North Carolina cost, or the actual debt picture differs significantly from what peer institutions report. Manufacturing and production roles in eastern North Carolina face persistent workforce shortages, which could mean strong local demand even if the salary ceiling stays moderate.

For families evaluating this investment, the estimated numbers suggest reasonable risk—you're not gambling on a high-debt, uncertain-payoff scenario. But without actual graduate outcomes from Lenoir, you're making that bet based on national patterns rather than proven local results. If your student can complete this certificate with debt close to the estimate and has manufacturing jobs available nearby, the math works. Just verify the actual program cost and job placement rates before committing.

Where Lenoir Community College Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all industrial production technologies/technicians certificate's programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs Nationally

Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians certificate's programs at top institutions nationally

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
Lenoir Community CollegeKinston	$2,568	$43,602*	—	$10,263*	—
Grand Rapids Community CollegeGrand Rapids	$4,059	$70,622*	—	$11,500*	0.16
Ivy Tech Community CollegeIndianapolis	$4,912	$63,796*	$52,314	$10,245*	0.16
Antelope Valley Community College DistrictLancaster	$1,124	$63,060*	—	$10,280*	0.16
Texas State Technical CollegeWaco	$7,192	$54,068*	—	$9,500*	0.18
Metropolitan Community College-Kansas CityKansas City	$3,630	$53,967*	—	$9,089*	0.17
National Median	—	$43,602*	—	$10,244*	0.23

* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with industrial production technologies/technicians graduates

Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians

Apply electrical and electronic theory and related knowledge, usually under the direction of engineering staff, to design, build, repair, adjust, and modify electrical components, circuitry, controls, and machinery for subsequent evaluation and use by engineering staff in making engineering design decisions.

$77,180/yrJobs growth:Associate's degree

Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians

Apply engineering theory and principles to problems of industrial layout or manufacturing production, usually under the direction of engineering staff. May perform time and motion studies on worker operations in a variety of industries for purposes such as establishing standard production rates or improving efficiency.

$64,790/yrJobs growth:Associate's degree

Nanotechnology Engineering Technologists and Technicians

Implement production processes and operate commercial-scale production equipment to produce, test, or modify materials, devices, or systems of unique molecular or macromolecular composition. Operate advanced microscopy equipment to manipulate nanoscale objects. Work under the supervision of nanoengineering staff.

$64,790/yrJobs growth:Associate's degree

Semiconductor Processing Technicians

Perform any or all of the following functions in the manufacture of electronic semiconductors: load semiconductor material into furnace; saw formed ingots into segments; load individual segment into crystal growing chamber and monitor controls; locate crystal axis in ingot using x-ray equipment and saw ingots into wafers; and clean, polish, and load wafers into series of special purpose furnaces, chemical baths, and equipment used to form circuitry and change conductive properties.

$51,180/yrJobs growth:High school diploma or equivalent

Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers

Use hand-welding, flame-cutting, hand-soldering, or brazing equipment to weld or join metal components or to fill holes, indentations, or seams of fabricated metal products.

$51,000/yrJobs growth:High school diploma or equivalent

Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other

All engineering technologists and technicians, except drafters, not listed separately.

Non-Destructive Testing Specialists

Test the safety of structures, vehicles, or vessels using x-ray, ultrasound, fiber optic or related equipment.

Photonics Technicians

Build, install, test, or maintain optical or fiber optic equipment, such as lasers, lenses, or mirrors, using spectrometers, interferometers, or related equipment.

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 Lenoir Community College, approximately 42% 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 13 similar programs. Actual outcomes may vary.