Electrical and Power Transmission Installers at Rosedale Technical College

Starting at $37,133 annually, Rosedale Technical's electrical installation program lands in the bottom quarter nationally but sits right at Pennsylvania's midpoint—a signal that the state's programs generally underperform the national market. While graduates see solid 22% earnings growth to $45,357 by year four, they're still earning $6,000 less than the national median for this credential.

The $16,000 debt load tells a more favorable story. It's reasonable by any measure and reflects Pennsylvania's typical borrowing levels for this program. The 0.43 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates can manage repayment, though you're paying technical college tuition for below-average outcomes. What's particularly striking: Pennsylvania's top performers in this field—like Pennsylvania Highlands Community College at $95,230—earn more than double what Rosedale graduates make, suggesting substantial quality variation among PA's electrical programs.

For a student committed to staying in Pittsburgh and working with their hands, this program offers a manageable path to steady employment in a skilled trade. But the earnings gap is real—both compared to stronger Pennsylvania options and to what this same degree typically delivers elsewhere. If your child can access one of the state's higher-performing programs, the investment case becomes considerably stronger.