Electrical and Power Transmission Installers at Southern Careers Institute-Austin

Southern Careers Institute's Austin location produces concerning outcomes for a trade program. While $7,125 in debt is manageable, first-year earnings of $25,267 barely exceed poverty-level wages and trail the national median for this program by nearly $13,500—landing in just the 10th percentile nationally. For context, Texas State Technical College graduates from the same program earn $56,597 their first year out, more than double what SCI-Austin grads make.

The state percentile ranking (60th) is misleading here. Texas has an unusually wide range for this program, with top performers like Western Texas College hitting $68,000 while weaker programs cluster around $25,000. Being "average" in Texas means something very different than in most other states, where the typical electrical installer certificate holder earns substantially more. This program essentially prepares students for entry-level helper positions rather than skilled trade roles.

With 65% of students receiving Pell grants, many families here are counting on trade education to provide a clear path to middle-class earnings. A certificate that leads to $25,000 annual income doesn't deliver that, even with relatively low debt. Parents should look closely at Texas State Technical College or other programs with proven track records of placing graduates into actual electrician and power transmission roles, not just adjacent work.