Electrical and Power Transmission Installers at Warren County Career Center

Warren County Career Center's electrical installation program shows unusually strong first-year earnings—$70,278 puts it in the 95th percentile nationally and 80th percentile among Ohio programs—but the trajectory raises questions. By year four, earnings drop to $51,456, a 27% decline that's hard to explain for this trade. This pattern could reflect graduates shifting to different roles, working fewer hours, or simply the limitations of tracking a small cohort (under 30 students). Still, even with that decline, year-four earnings significantly exceed both the national median ($38,716) and Ohio's state median ($48,242).

The $8,679 debt load is reasonable for a certificate program and takes just 1.5 months of first-year earnings to repay. The low debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.12 means graduates start with strong financial footing, even if the exceptional first-year wages don't fully hold.

For families considering this program, the key question is whether those initial earnings are sustainable. The small sample size means one or two high earners could skew the numbers considerably. If your child can secure an apprenticeship or union position immediately after graduation—which these early earnings suggest many do—this certificate delivers strong value. Just don't bank on the $70K figure being typical four years out.