Electromechanical Instrumentation and Maintenance Technologies/Technicians (Associate's Degree) at Madison Area Technical College

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$61,522

Est. from WI median (6 programs)

Est. Median Debt

$12,000

Est. from WI median (4 programs)

Analysis

A debt load around $12,000 against first-year earnings above $61,000 creates an enviable 0.20 debt-to-earnings ratio—figures drawn from comparable Wisconsin technical programs suggest this electromechanical pathway offers strong immediate returns. While Madison Area Technical College hasn't reported its own outcomes for this program, the state benchmark places it right at the median for Wisconsin's 16 schools, and modestly above the national median of $58,261. That positioning matters less than the overall numbers: even at the median, graduates are looking at manageable debt they could reasonably pay down within months rather than years.

The top Wisconsin programs in this field—Waukesha County Technical and Southwest Wisconsin Technical—show earnings closer to $65,000, suggesting some variation in outcomes across the state's technical colleges. Still, the difference between median and top performance isn't dramatic enough to overshadow the fundamental value proposition. Similar programs consistently produce graduates who can cover their educational investment quickly, which is precisely what anxious parents should want from a two-year technical credential.

The bottom line: Based on peer programs statewide, this degree path appears to deliver what technical education should—modest debt and immediate earning power in a skilled trade. The financial foundation looks solid even if we're working with estimated rather than school-specific figures.

Where Madison Area Technical College Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all electromechanical instrumentation and maintenance technologies/technicians associates's programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs in Wisconsin

Electromechanical Instrumentation and Maintenance Technologies/Technicians associates's programs at peer institutions in Wisconsin (16 total in state)

Scroll to see more →

School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
Madison Area Technical CollegeMadison	$4,780	$61,522*	—	$12,000*	—
Waukesha County Technical CollegePewaukee	$4,720	$65,178*	$68,079	$13,000*	0.20
Southwest Wisconsin Technical CollegeFennimore	$4,796	$65,078*	$62,869	—*	—
Chippewa Valley Technical CollegeEau Claire	$4,724	$62,556*	$68,870	$14,750*	0.24
Western Technical CollegeLa Crosse	$4,716	$60,488*	$58,743	$11,000*	0.18
Fox Valley Technical CollegeAppleton	$4,916	$58,623*	$66,589	—*	—
National Median	—	$58,261*	—	$13,084*	0.22

* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with electromechanical instrumentation and maintenance 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

Electro-Mechanical and Mechatronics Technologists and Technicians

Operate, test, maintain, or adjust unmanned, automated, servomechanical, or electromechanical equipment. May operate unmanned submarines, aircraft, or other equipment to observe or record visual information at sites such as oil rigs, crop fields, buildings, or for similar infrastructure, deep ocean exploration, or hazardous waste removal. May assist engineers in testing and designing robotics equipment.

$70,760/yrJobs growth:Associate's degree

Robotics Technicians

Build, install, test, or maintain robotic equipment or related automated production systems.

$70,760/yrJobs growth:Associate's degree

Electrical and Electronics Drafters

Prepare wiring diagrams, circuit board assembly diagrams, and layout drawings used for the manufacture, installation, or repair of electrical equipment.

$65,380/yrJobs growth:Associate's degree

Calibration Technologists and Technicians

Execute or adapt procedures and techniques for calibrating measurement devices, by applying knowledge of measurement science, mathematics, physics, chemistry, and electronics, sometimes under the direction of engineering staff. Determine measurement standard suitability for calibrating measurement devices. May perform preventive maintenance on equipment. May perform corrective actions to address identified calibration problems.

$65,040/yrJobs growth:Associate's degree

Medical Equipment Repairers

Test, adjust, or repair biomedical or electromedical equipment.

$62,630/yrJobs growth:Associate's degree

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.

Precision Instrument and Equipment Repairers, All Other

All precision instrument and equipment repairers not listed separately.

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 Madison Area Technical College, approximately 19% 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 median of 6 similar programs in WI. Actual outcomes may vary.