Electrical/Electronics Maintenance and Repair Technology at Western Technical College

Western Technical College's electrical maintenance program sits in an unusual position: its graduates earn $38,908 initially—below the national median of $45,298—yet this places them at the 60th percentile among Texas programs. This tells you something about the regional market: electrical maintenance jobs in Texas generally pay less than the national average, but this program's graduates are doing relatively well within that context. The concerning factor is debt. At $26,208, students here borrow nearly twice the national median of $14,907 for similar programs, despite entering a lower-paying regional market.

The trajectory offers some redemption. Earnings climb 22% to $47,262 by year four, crossing the national median and demonstrating genuine skill development. That growth rate is solid and suggests employers value these technicians as they gain experience. Still, the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.67 means graduates start with debt equal to two-thirds of their first year's salary—manageable but not comfortable, especially given that nearly half of students here receive Pell grants.

For an El Paso family, this comes down to alternatives. If your child can access Texas State Technical College (where similar graduates earn less initially), the lower debt there might make more sense. But if Western Technical College is the local option and your student plans to stay in the region, the numbers work—just barely—provided they're prepared for a tight first few years while building experience.