Human Resources Management and Services (Associate's Degree) at Waukesha County Technical College

Median Earnings (1yr)

$45,383

73rd percentile

60th percentile in Wisconsin

Median Debt

$12,307

54% below national median

Analysis

Waukesha County Technical College graduates this HR program with less than half the typical debt load—$12,307 versus $26,536 nationally—while earning above-average salaries from day one. Starting at $45,383 puts graduates ahead of 73% of similar programs nationwide, and that climbs to $51,244 by year four. Among Wisconsin's 14 HR programs, this ranks solidly in the 60th percentile, trailing only a handful of technical colleges by narrow margins.

The real standout here is the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.27, meaning graduates owe just three months' salary. That's exceptional for any degree program and particularly impressive given that this still delivers competitive earnings growth. The 13% salary increase over four years isn't dramatic, but paired with such manageable debt, it creates a low-risk entry into a stable field.

The caveat worth noting: this data comes from fewer than 30 graduates, so individual outcomes may vary more than these medians suggest. But the fundamental equation—competitive starting salary, strong earnings trajectory, and minimal debt burden—makes this one of Wisconsin's better bets for students interested in human resources without committing to a bachelor's degree.

Where Waukesha County Technical College Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all human resources management and services associates's programs nationally

Earnings Distribution

How Waukesha County Technical College graduates compare to all programs nationally

Earnings Over Time

How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation

School	1 Year	4 Years	Growth
Waukesha County Technical College	$45,383	$51,244	+13%
Rasmussen University-Wisconsin	$45,969	$49,585	+8%
Fox Valley Technical College	$40,006	$45,379	+13%
Chippewa Valley Technical College	$40,858	$44,119	+8%
Northeast Wisconsin Technical College	$45,651	$37,561	-18%

Compare to Similar Programs in Wisconsin

Human Resources Management and Services associates's programs at peer institutions in Wisconsin (14 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt	Debt/Earnings
Waukesha County Technical CollegePewaukee	$4,720	$45,383	$51,244	$12,307	0.27
Rasmussen University-WisconsinGreen Bay	$11,982	$45,969	$49,585	$26,536	0.58
Northeast Wisconsin Technical CollegeGreen Bay	$4,904	$45,651	$37,561	$13,663	0.30
Western Technical CollegeLa Crosse	$4,716	$44,911	—	—	—
Chippewa Valley Technical CollegeEau Claire	$4,724	$40,858	$44,119	$16,000	0.39
Fox Valley Technical CollegeAppleton	$4,916	$40,006	$45,379	$14,923	0.37
National Median	—	$40,006	—	$26,536	0.66

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with human resources management and services graduates

Compensation and Benefits Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate compensation and benefits activities of an organization.

$140,360/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Human Resources Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate human resources activities and staff of an organization.

$140,030/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Training and Development Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate the training and development activities and staff of an organization.

$127,090/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Labor Relations Specialists

Resolve disputes between workers and managers, negotiate collective bargaining agreements, or coordinate grievance procedures to handle employee complaints.

$93,500/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Business Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in business administration and management, such as accounting, finance, human resources, labor and industrial relations, marketing, and operations research. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Law Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in law. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Compliance Officers

Examine, evaluate, and investigate eligibility for or conformity with laws and regulations governing contract compliance of licenses and permits, and perform other compliance and enforcement inspection and analysis activities not classified elsewhere.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Environmental Compliance Inspectors

Inspect and investigate sources of pollution to protect the public and environment and ensure conformance with Federal, State, and local regulations and ordinances.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Equal Opportunity Representatives and Officers

Monitor and evaluate compliance with equal opportunity laws, guidelines, and policies to ensure that employment practices and contracting arrangements give equal opportunity without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Government Property Inspectors and Investigators

Investigate or inspect government property to ensure compliance with contract agreements and government regulations.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Coroners

Direct activities such as autopsies, pathological and toxicological analyses, and inquests relating to the investigation of deaths occurring within a legal jurisdiction to determine cause of death or to fix responsibility for accidental, violent, or unexplained deaths.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Regulatory Affairs Specialists

Coordinate and document internal regulatory processes, such as internal audits, inspections, license renewals, or registrations. May compile and prepare materials for submission to regulatory agencies.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Waukesha County Technical College, approximately 11% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Sample Size: Based on 25 graduates with reported earnings and 29 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.