Electrical and Power Transmission Installers at Tidewater Community College

Tidewater's electrical installation program comes with an important caveat: the data represents fewer than 30 graduates, making these numbers less reliable than typical program statistics. That said, the available data suggests a workable if unspectacular entry point into the electrical trades. At $36,232 starting out, graduates earn slightly above the Virginia median for this certificate ($34,439) and land in the 60th percentile statewide—meaning they're outearning most peers in comparable Virginia programs, even if they're trailing the national median by about $2,500.

The debt picture offers genuine relief: $7,574 is manageable for a certificate program, especially compared to the $14,750 median debt at other Virginia schools offering this credential. You're looking at a debt-to-earnings ratio of just 0.21, which means graduates could theoretically pay off their entire loan balance in less than three months of gross earnings. That's a low-risk financial profile for a credential that can be completed relatively quickly.

The elephant in the room is Danville Community College, where similar certificate holders earn $62,468—nearly 72% more. If location flexibility exists, that's worth investigating. But if staying in the Tidewater area matters, this program provides affordable skills training without the debt burden that often accompanies career changes. Just recognize the small sample size means actual outcomes could vary more than usual from these figures.