Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies at Pasadena City College

California's automotive repair programs show a vast earnings spread, and with figures based on comparable programs, Pasadena City College's certificate lands squarely in the middle. Similar programs statewide suggest first-year earnings around $35,800, which mirrors the national median almost exactly. Meanwhile, estimated debt of $9,500 produces a manageable 0.27 ratio—meaning graduates would need less than four months of their first year's salary to cover what they borrowed. That's a reasonable entry point for a trades credential.

What's striking is how much earnings vary across California programs. The top performers report graduates earning $50,000 to $66,000 in their first year—nearly double what this middle-tier estimate suggests. Whether those differences reflect program quality, local job markets, or student selectivity is impossible to know from this distance. Automotive technology can pay well in California's expensive labor market, but not all programs seem to position graduates for those higher-earning roles.

For parents weighing this investment, the estimated debt load won't sink anyone, but the earnings uncertainty matters. If your student is drawn to automotive work, push them to investigate what distinguishes the higher-earning programs—employer partnerships, ASE certification rates, placement support. The difference between a $36,000 start and a $50,000 one compounds quickly in a state where cost of living matters.