Electrical and Power Transmission Installers at Tidewater Community College

With estimated first-year earnings around $45,000 and borrowing near $12,000, this program suggests a manageable debt burden—about three months of gross salary. For a technical two-year degree leading to hands-on electrical work, these numbers from comparable programs nationwide indicate solid financial footing from the start.

The field itself offers clear advantages: electrical and power transmission work doesn't require a bachelor's degree, yet provides middle-class wages immediately after graduation. Peer programs across the country show consistent outcomes in this range, with top performers reaching nearly $55,000 in the first year. The skills learned—working with high-voltage systems, power distribution, and electrical infrastructure—remain in steady demand as the grid expands and modernizes. Tidewater's location in the Hampton Roads region, with its military installations and port facilities, could provide strong placement opportunities in industrial and utility settings.

The caveat is that these figures come from similar programs nationally rather than Tidewater's specific graduates, so your child's actual outcome will depend on local job market conditions and their initiative in securing apprenticeships or entry-level positions. Still, the fundamentals look promising: reasonable debt paired with the kind of technical credential that Virginia's growing economy needs.