Electrical and Power Transmission Installers at Pennsylvania Highlands Community College

In Pennsylvania's power transmission field, first-year earnings vary widely—from around $42,000 at the median to over $50,000 at the top programs. Pennsylvania Highlands graduates are earning $95,230 in their first year, more than double what similar programs in the state typically produce and well above the national median of $44,727. This exceptional outcome suggests either strong regional employer connections or graduates securing positions in high-paying utility or industrial settings that most community college electrical programs don't reliably access.

The debt picture appears manageable, with an estimated $12,000 based on typical borrowing across programs at this community college. That translates to a debt-to-earnings ratio of just 0.13—you'd be borrowing roughly two months of first-year income. Even if actual debt runs higher than this estimate, the earnings cushion is substantial enough to absorb the difference.

The critical question is whether these outcomes reflect a consistent pattern or a small group of graduates landing exceptional positions. With suppressed data (meaning very few graduates in the reporting window), a handful of students securing premium utility jobs could skew the median significantly upward. For families willing to accept that uncertainty, the upside here is considerable—but verify whether recent graduates are routinely accessing these six-figure roles or if you're seeing an outlier year.