Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies at North Georgia Technical College
Associate's Degree
northgatech.eduAnalysis
With estimated debt of less than $12,000 and first-year earnings around $55,500 based on comparable programs nationally, this appears to be one of the lower-risk technical credentials you'll encounter. That debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.21 suggests graduates would owe roughly two months' salaryβa manageable burden that shouldn't derail other financial goals. Georgia programs in this field typically produce slightly better outcomes (state median $58,180), and the top technical colleges in the state report actual earnings between $53,000 and $63,000 for their heavy equipment maintenance graduates.
What's encouraging here is the consistency across similar programs. Heavy equipment maintenance tends to produce steady, middle-class earnings regardless of which technical college you attend, likely because employer demand for these skills is fairly uniform. The fact that 42% of North Georgia Tech students receive Pell grants suggests the school serves students who need workforce credentials to translate quickly into financial stability, and this program's estimated debt load won't undermine that goal.
The straightforward takeaway: this program matches the national profile for a solid technical investment. While we can't verify these specific outcomes for North Georgia Tech's graduates, peer programs suggest you're looking at reasonable debt for reliable blue-collar earnings in a field with consistent employer demand.
Where North Georgia Technical College Stands
Earnings vs. debt across all heavy/industrial equipment maintenance technologies associates's programs nationally
Compare to Similar Programs in Georgia
Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies associates's programs at peer institutions in Georgia (20 total in state)
Scroll to see more β
| School | In-State Tuition | Earnings (1yr)* | Earnings (4yr) | Median Debt* | Debt/Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $3,162 | $55,532* | β | $11,875* | β | |
| $3,132 | $62,982* | $67,822 | β* | β | |
| $3,782 | $53,379* | β | β* | β | |
| National Median | β | $55,532* | β | $12,000* | 0.22 |
Career Paths
Occupations commonly associated with heavy/industrial equipment maintenance technologies graduates
Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers
Industrial Machinery Mechanics
Maintenance Workers, Machinery
Millwrights
Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines
Rail Car Repairers
Wind Turbine Service Technicians
Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door
Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons
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 North Georgia Technical 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 29 similar programs. Actual outcomes may vary.