Electrical and Power Transmission Installers at Pickens Technical College

The $70,780 first-year earnings figure from comparable Colorado programs stands in stark contrast to the national picture—where similar electrical installation programs typically produce just $38,716 in first-year earnings. That $32,000 gap reflects Colorado's robust construction and energy sectors, which consistently deliver higher wages for skilled trades. With estimated debt around $5,500 based on peer programs at similar Colorado technical schools, graduates would owe less than 8% of their first-year salary—a remarkably favorable debt-to-earnings position for any credential.

What makes this trade particularly compelling is how Colorado programs cluster at the higher end of the national range. The state's top programs, like Trinidad State and Emily Griffith Technical College, are reporting outcomes around $70,000-$73,000—suggesting the local labor market genuinely values these skills. Even Colorado's lower-performing program at Colorado Mesa still beats the national median by nearly $11,000. For a certificate that takes considerably less time than a bachelor's degree, entering the workforce with minimal debt and strong earning potential is about as good as it gets.

Your child would be betting that Pickens Technical College delivers results similar to other Colorado technical schools in this field. The fundamentals—strong state wage floors for electricians, low program costs typical of certificate programs—point toward a sound investment, but you're working with peer program data rather than Pickens' track record specifically.