Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians (Associate's Degree) at Missouri State University-West Plains

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$56,704

Est. from national median (34 programs)

Est. Median Debt

$12,000

Est. from national median (21 programs)

Analysis

Similar industrial technology programs in Missouri produce significantly stronger earnings than what national benchmarks suggest for this credential. Metropolitan Community College-Kansas City graduates, for instance, earn $74,822—about $18,000 more than the national figure this estimate is drawn from. That gap matters when you're evaluating whether Missouri State-West Plains can deliver the same industrial connections and employer relationships that drive higher pay in Kansas City or St. Louis metro areas.

The estimated debt load of $12,000 appears manageable against even the conservative national earnings figure, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.21. But here's the tension: industrial production work is highly regional, and West Plains sits far from Missouri's manufacturing corridors. If graduates stay local, they may find fewer positions and lower pay than peers at urban campuses. If they relocate to where the jobs are, that national estimate becomes more relevant—but then the question is whether this specific program provides competitive training.

Without actual outcome data for this campus, you're making an investment based on what similar programs typically produce rather than proven results from West Plains itself. If your student has ties to the region and you can verify local employer partnerships, the low debt makes this a reasonable bet. Otherwise, programs with transparent outcomes data—particularly those near manufacturing centers—offer more certainty about return on investment.

Where Missouri State University-West Plains Stands

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

Compare to Similar Programs in Missouri

Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians associates's programs at peer institutions in Missouri (14 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
Missouri State University-West PlainsWest Plains	$5,544	$56,704*	—	$12,000*	—
Metropolitan Community College-Kansas CityKansas City	$3,630	$74,822*	—	—*	—
National Median	—	$56,704*	—	$13,500*	0.24

* 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 Missouri State University-West Plains, approximately 27% 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 34 similar programs. Actual outcomes may vary.