Est. Earnings (1yr)
$55,532
Est. from national median (29 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$11,875
Est. from national median (12 programs)

Analysis

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' salaryβ€”a 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)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
North Georgia Technical CollegeClarkesville$3,162$55,532*β€”$11,875*β€”
Georgia Northwestern Technical CollegeRome$3,132$62,982*$67,822β€”*β€”
South Georgia Technical CollegeAmericus$3,782$53,379*β€”β€”*β€”
National Medianβ€”$55,532*β€”$12,000*0.22
* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with heavy/industrial equipment maintenance technologies graduates

Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers

Assemble, install, repair, or maintain electric or hydraulic freight or passenger elevators, escalators, or dumbwaiters.

$106,580/yrJobs growth:High school diploma or equivalent

Industrial Machinery Mechanics

Repair, install, adjust, or maintain industrial production and processing machinery or refinery and pipeline distribution systems. May also install, dismantle, or move machinery and heavy equipment according to plans.

$63,510/yrJobs growth:High school diploma or equivalent

Maintenance Workers, Machinery

Lubricate machinery, change parts, or perform other routine machinery maintenance.

$63,510/yrJobs growth:High school diploma or equivalent

Millwrights

Install, dismantle, or move machinery and heavy equipment according to layout plans, blueprints, or other drawings.

$63,510/yrJobs growth:High school diploma or equivalent

Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines

Diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul mobile mechanical, hydraulic, and pneumatic equipment, such as cranes, bulldozers, graders, and conveyors, used in construction, logging, and mining.

$62,740/yrJobs growth:High school diploma or equivalent

Rail Car Repairers

Diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul railroad rolling stock, mine cars, or mass transit rail cars.

$62,740/yrJobs growth:High school diploma or equivalent

Wind Turbine Service Technicians

Inspect, diagnose, adjust, or repair wind turbines. Perform maintenance on wind turbine equipment including resolving electrical, mechanical, and hydraulic malfunctions.

$62,580/yrJobs growth:Postsecondary nondegree award

Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door

Install, repair, and maintain mechanical regulating and controlling devices, such as electric meters, gas regulators, thermostats, safety and flow valves, and other mechanical governors.

Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons

Build or repair equipment such as furnaces, kilns, cupolas, boilers, converters, ladles, soaking pits, and ovens, using refractory materials.

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.