Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians: is this associate's degree worth it?
National picture across 4 reporting college programs.
10-year estimate · Strong payoff
+$185,442 over 10 years
National scenario across reporting associate's degree programs, using median year-4 earnings, their institutions’ average net prices and a typical 2-year duration.
At this price, the reported earnings produce a wide margin over the comparison salary.
3.9 yrsModeled economic break-even
+154%Modeled 10-year ROI
$75,615Observed earnings · year 4
$108,073Maximum annual price for positive 10-year payoff
The price benchmark is $92,721 per year below this threshold.
Includes direct price and earnings forgone while studying. Assumes $45,000 in alternative annual earnings and no wage growth. How we calculate itFour useful answers about Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians
How much do Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians associate's degree graduates earn?
The national median is $75,615 four years after completion across reportable associate's degree programs in this federal field.
How much federal debt do graduates have?
A national median federal-debt figure is not reportable for this degree in the current release.
Does the college matter for Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians?
Yes. The middle half of reporting programs ranges from $64,038 to $83,148 in observed year-4 earnings.
What careers are related to Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians?
DegreeVerdict links this field to 7 displayed occupations using the official federal CIP–SOC crosswalk. Occupational wages are career context, not graduate salary promises.
PRICE SENSITIVITY
The price can change the verdict.
Hold observed earnings constant and see how the modeled ten-year payoff changes as annual price rises.
← Negative payoff$0Positive payoff →
$0Annual price+$216,145
$15,000Current college-wide context+$186,145
$20,000Annual price+$176,145
$40,000Annual price+$136,145
$60,000Annual price+$96,145
$80,000Annual price+$56,145
$100,000Annual price+$16,145
Observed national outcomes
$75,615Median reported earnings · year 4
$64,342Average reported earnings · year 5
Not availableMedian federal debt
93thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
Not availableIPEDS 2023–24 first-major awards across matched colleges
4With year-4 earnings
The award total covers 1 matched college records and is not extrapolated to colleges without a match.
The same field can produce a different equation.
Keep the federal field fixed and compare observed outcomes at every reportable credential level. These are separate graduate cohorts, not a promise that more schooling causes the difference.
Where the middle half of programs lands
Year‑4 earnings differ by college. This band shows the 25th percentile, national median and 75th percentile among reporting programs.
Median
25th percentile$64,038National median$75,61575th percentile$83,148
4 programs report year‑4 earnings.DECISION CHECK
What to compare before choosing a program
The national result is only the starting point. Price, debt and the college-level earnings spread can materially change the payoff.
Put the same degree side by side.
Start with the leading reportable programs, then change the selection to match your shortlist.
Compare 3 programs →Choose colleges offering this exact degree
Narrow one field and credential by location, sector and debt, then compare two to four programs side by side.
4 matchesSelect up to four · showing 25 currently operating colleges
Open the full program search →
See the spread, not just the national number.
1Ferris State University$85,1482Hennepin Technical College$83,1483Southeast Technical College$68,0814Pennsylvania College of Technology$64,038Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations, wages and demand
Official CIP–SOC links show where this field can lead. They do not imply that every graduate enters the same occupation.
Pay and projected demand
Related careers do not share one outlook
Bubble size = annual openings2025–35 national projection
Higher median wage ↑
-9%Projected employment growth →12%
Occupation wages describe workers in these jobs, not graduates of this degree. BLS projections are national estimates and do not guarantee hiring.
Cartographers and Photogrammetrists$81,390 median wage14,260 U.S. jobs · SOC 17-1021+7.4% projected employment, 2025–35 · 0.9k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$53,740–$126,950 10th–90th percentileEngineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other$78,350 median wage59,930 U.S. jobs · SOC 17-3029+2.8% projected employment, 2025–35 · 5.4k annual openingsTypical entry education: Associate's degree$47,030–$118,330 10th–90th percentileSurveyors$75,440 median wage50,830 U.S. jobs · SOC 17-1022+5.8% projected employment, 2025–35 · 3.1k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$46,880–$125,590 10th–90th percentileMechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians$74,510 median wage36,190 U.S. jobs · SOC 17-3027+1.3% projected employment, 2025–35 · 3.1k annual openingsTypical entry education: Associate's degree$48,400–$106,050 10th–90th percentileDrafters, All Other$63,520 median wage14,470 U.S. jobs · SOC 17-3019-7.3% projected employment, 2025–35 · 1k annual openingsTypical entry education: Associate's degree$43,420–$99,380 10th–90th percentileSurveying and Mapping Technicians$54,240 median wage58,010 U.S. jobs · SOC 17-3031+5.8% projected employment, 2025–35 · 6.9k annual openingsTypical entry education: High school diploma or equivalent$37,520–$81,630 10th–90th percentileNO MATCHUnreported U.S. jobs · SOC 99-9999
BLS May 2025 wages and 2025–35 employment projections. Career context is separate from graduate outcomes.
Same degree, different outcomes
Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. ROI uses each institution’s average net price as a scenario, not an individual aid offer.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | 10-year ROI | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ferris State UniversityAssociate's Degree | Big Rapids, MI | $85,148 | Not available | +274% | Strong payoff |
| 2 | Hennepin Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Brooklyn Park, MN | $83,148 | Not available | +245% | Strong payoff |
| 3 | Southeast Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Sioux Falls, SD | $68,081 | Not available | +85% | Positive payoff |
| 4 | Pennsylvania College of TechnologyAssociate's Degree | Williamsport, PA | $64,038 | Not available | +36% | Positive payoff |
This page keeps the field and credential level fixed. Federal categories can still combine multiple catalog programs or concentrations. Automated ROI is limited to associate and bachelor’s degrees because institution-wide annual net price is not a reliable proxy for short certificate prices. ROI is an illustrative scenario, not a federal determination.