Electrical/Electronics Maintenance and Repair Technology at York Technical College

York Technical College's electrical maintenance certificate punches well above its weight nationally—graduates earn $58,025 their first year, nearly 70% more than the national median for this program and ranking in the 95th percentile. That's exceptional performance for a short-term credential that leaves students with under $8,000 in debt. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.13 means graduates earn back their entire educational investment in less than two months of work.

The state comparison is harder to interpret since York appears to be one of only eight South Carolina schools offering this specific certificate, making it simultaneously at the state median and among the top performers. What matters more is the absolute outcome: nearly $60,000 starting salary for a certificate program represents genuine skilled-trade earnings in a field where experienced technicians remain in high demand.

The major caveat here is sample size—this data reflects fewer than 30 recent graduates. That means a few outliers (say, students who already had industry connections or prior technical experience) could be skewing these numbers upward. For a parent whose child genuinely wants to work with their hands in electrical systems maintenance, this looks like a strong bet. But confirm the program's actual job placement track record and whether typical graduates—not just the top performers—are seeing similar outcomes.