Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians (Associate's Degree) at Waukesha County Technical College

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$56,704

Est. from national median (34 programs)

Est. Median Debt

$12,000

Est. from national median (21 programs)

Analysis

Wisconsin's manufacturing sector creates strong demand for production technicians, and comparable programs nationally suggest first-year earnings around $56,700—a solid foundation for an associate degree. With estimated debt of $12,000, graduates would face monthly payments of roughly $135 on a standard plan, consuming just 3% of their take-home pay. This debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.21 ranks among the most manageable you'll find in technical education.

The catch is transparency: with only 34 similar programs reporting earnings data nationally and 21 reporting debt figures, we're working with limited visibility into actual outcomes. Waukesha County Technical College serves a relatively affluent student body (just 11% receive Pell grants), which might suggest either strong local employment connections or a student population with more financial safety nets. The program's location in Wisconsin's manufacturing corridor could strengthen job placement prospects, but without school-specific data, you're making an educated guess rather than an informed choice.

If your child can verify job placement rates and connect with recent graduates directly, the financial math appears favorable. The estimated numbers suggest reasonable risk, but treat this as a starting point for deeper investigation rather than a guarantee. Contact the program director and ask specific questions about employer partnerships and graduate outcomes before committing.

Where Waukesha County Technical College Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all industrial production technologies/technicians associates's programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs Nationally

Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians associates's programs at top institutions nationally

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
Waukesha County Technical CollegePewaukee	$4,720	$56,704*	—	$12,000*	—
Baton Rouge Community CollegeBaton Rouge	$4,221	$103,572*	$114,358	$16,000*	0.15
Arkansas Northeastern CollegeBlytheville	$2,570	$97,406*	—	—*	—
Olympic CollegeBremerton	$4,197	$86,309*	$81,453	$6,875*	0.08
Bismarck State CollegeBismarck	$5,195	$82,310*	$100,657	$12,000*	0.15
Portland Community CollegePortland	$5,040	$78,450*	$72,111	—*	—
National Median	—	$56,704*	—	$13,500*	0.24

* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with industrial production technologies/technicians graduates

Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians

Apply electrical and electronic theory and related knowledge, usually under the direction of engineering staff, to design, build, repair, adjust, and modify electrical components, circuitry, controls, and machinery for subsequent evaluation and use by engineering staff in making engineering design decisions.

$77,180/yrJobs growth:Associate's degree

Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians

Apply engineering theory and principles to problems of industrial layout or manufacturing production, usually under the direction of engineering staff. May perform time and motion studies on worker operations in a variety of industries for purposes such as establishing standard production rates or improving efficiency.

$64,790/yrJobs growth:Associate's degree

Nanotechnology Engineering Technologists and Technicians

Implement production processes and operate commercial-scale production equipment to produce, test, or modify materials, devices, or systems of unique molecular or macromolecular composition. Operate advanced microscopy equipment to manipulate nanoscale objects. Work under the supervision of nanoengineering staff.

$64,790/yrJobs growth:Associate's degree

Semiconductor Processing Technicians

Perform any or all of the following functions in the manufacture of electronic semiconductors: load semiconductor material into furnace; saw formed ingots into segments; load individual segment into crystal growing chamber and monitor controls; locate crystal axis in ingot using x-ray equipment and saw ingots into wafers; and clean, polish, and load wafers into series of special purpose furnaces, chemical baths, and equipment used to form circuitry and change conductive properties.

$51,180/yrJobs growth:High school diploma or equivalent

Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers

Use hand-welding, flame-cutting, hand-soldering, or brazing equipment to weld or join metal components or to fill holes, indentations, or seams of fabricated metal products.

$51,000/yrJobs growth:High school diploma or equivalent

Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other

All engineering technologists and technicians, except drafters, not listed separately.

Non-Destructive Testing Specialists

Test the safety of structures, vehicles, or vessels using x-ray, ultrasound, fiber optic or related equipment.

Photonics Technicians

Build, install, test, or maintain optical or fiber optic equipment, such as lasers, lenses, or mirrors, using spectrometers, interferometers, or related equipment.

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.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the national median of 34 similar programs. Actual outcomes may vary.