Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies at Tidewater Tech-Trades

Tidewater Tech-Trades graduates earn about $5,400 less annually than the typical Virginia automotive technician—a meaningful gap that pushes this program into the bottom half of state options. While $30,531 might cover basic expenses in Norfolk, it falls 15% short of what graduates earn at nearby competitors like Advanced Technology Institute or Blue Ridge Community College. The good news is modest debt at $14,750, which equals the state average and takes less than six months of gross earnings to repay.

The slow earnings growth tells you what to expect: graduates enter the field at around $30,500 and see minimal gains over the first four years. For a 69% Pell-eligible student body—families that need strong earnings quickly—this matters more than at schools serving wealthier students. Virginia offers 22 automotive programs, and at least five deliver notably better outcomes without requiring significantly more debt.

If your child is committed to this specific location or already enrolled, the manageable debt prevents catastrophe. But if you're still comparing options, look hard at Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Norfolk (despite its higher cost) or the community college alternatives. Those extra dollars in starting salary compound over a career, and in a field where most graduates earn more than this program delivers, you want every advantage you can get.