Location: Milwaukee, WI•In-State Tuition: $5,017•Out-of-State Tuition: $7,210
Est. Earnings (1yr)
$42,885
Est. from WI median (8 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$14,923
Est. from WI median (5 programs)

Analysis

Similar HR programs across Wisconsin suggest first-year earnings around $42,885, with debt loads near $15,000—a manageable 0.35 ratio that beats the national average by a significant margin. For comparison, the typical associate's degree in HR nationally leaves graduates owing $26,536, nearly double what Milwaukee Area Tech students likely face. That difference matters enormously for working-class students, especially given that 41% here receive Pell grants.

The estimated earnings align closely with Wisconsin's HR market, where comparable programs produce similar outcomes. Four-year earnings data of $42,509 suggests stability rather than rapid growth, which is common in early HR roles. Other Wisconsin technical colleges with reported data—like Northeast and Waukesha County Tech—show graduates earning $45,000-$46,000, indicating there's room for variation depending on the specific program and local job market.

The practical calculation works: at roughly $15,000 in debt and earnings in the low-$40,000s, loan payments should remain affordable while building toward mid-career HR positions. The combination of lower-than-average debt and competitive Wisconsin wages creates a reasonable pathway, though families should recognize these figures come from peer programs rather than Milwaukee Area Tech's specific graduate outcomes. For students seeking stable administrative work without four-year costs, this represents a solid entry point into HR.

Where Milwaukee Area Technical College Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all human resources management and services associates's programs nationally

Milwaukee Area Technical College (estimated ±10%)Other human resources management and services programs

Dashed lines show national medians. Upper-left = best value.

Earnings Over Time

How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation

School1 Year4 YearsGrowth
Milwaukee Area Technical College—$42,509—
Waukesha County Technical College$45,383$51,244+13%
Rasmussen University-Wisconsin$45,969$49,585+8%
Fox Valley Technical College$40,006$45,379+13%
Chippewa Valley Technical College$40,858$44,119+8%

Compare to Similar Programs in Wisconsin

Human Resources Management and Services associates's programs at peer institutions in Wisconsin (14 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
Milwaukee Area Technical CollegeMilwaukee$5,017$42,885*$42,509$14,923*—
Rasmussen University-WisconsinGreen Bay$11,982$45,969*$49,585$26,536*0.58
Northeast Wisconsin Technical CollegeGreen Bay$4,904$45,651*$37,561$13,663*0.30
Waukesha County Technical CollegePewaukee$4,720$45,383*$51,244$12,307*0.27
Western Technical CollegeLa Crosse$4,716$44,911*——*—
Chippewa Valley Technical CollegeEau Claire$4,724$40,858*$44,119$16,000*0.39
National Median—$40,006*—$26,536*0.66
* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with human resources management and services graduates

Compensation and Benefits Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate compensation and benefits activities of an organization.

$140,360/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Human Resources Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate human resources activities and staff of an organization.

$140,030/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Training and Development Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate the training and development activities and staff of an organization.

$127,090/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Labor Relations Specialists

Resolve disputes between workers and managers, negotiate collective bargaining agreements, or coordinate grievance procedures to handle employee complaints.

$93,500/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Business Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in business administration and management, such as accounting, finance, human resources, labor and industrial relations, marketing, and operations research. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Law Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in law. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Compliance Officers

Examine, evaluate, and investigate eligibility for or conformity with laws and regulations governing contract compliance of licenses and permits, and perform other compliance and enforcement inspection and analysis activities not classified elsewhere.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Environmental Compliance Inspectors

Inspect and investigate sources of pollution to protect the public and environment and ensure conformance with Federal, State, and local regulations and ordinances.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Equal Opportunity Representatives and Officers

Monitor and evaluate compliance with equal opportunity laws, guidelines, and policies to ensure that employment practices and contracting arrangements give equal opportunity without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Government Property Inspectors and Investigators

Investigate or inspect government property to ensure compliance with contract agreements and government regulations.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Coroners

Direct activities such as autopsies, pathological and toxicological analyses, and inquests relating to the investigation of deaths occurring within a legal jurisdiction to determine cause of death or to fix responsibility for accidental, violent, or unexplained deaths.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Regulatory Affairs Specialists

Coordinate and document internal regulatory processes, such as internal audits, inspections, license renewals, or registrations. May compile and prepare materials for submission to regulatory agencies.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree
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 Milwaukee Area Technical College, approximately 41% 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 8 similar programs in WI. Actual outcomes may vary.