Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians: is this master's degree worth it?
National picture across 4 reporting college programs.
Personal baseline needed
$86,133 in median year-4 earnings
A credible return for this credential must start with what the student would otherwise earn. The federal data does not provide that personal baseline.
$86,133Median year-4 earnings
$15,579Average institution net-price context
Not availableMedian federal debt
Observed national outcomes
$86,133Median reported earnings · year 4
$78,838Average reported earnings · year 5
Not availableMedian federal debt
59thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
4Reporting programs
4With year-4 earnings
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.
OPEN PROFILE
Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma
- Year-4 earnings
- $56,635
- Federal debt
- $10,244
- Reporting programs
- 27
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $73,951
- Federal debt
- $13,500
- Reporting programs
- 42
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $81,404
- Federal debt
- $24,250
- Reporting programs
- 55
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $86,133
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 4
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$75,054National median$86,13375th percentile$96,218
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.
See the spread, not just the national number.
1Southern Illinois University-Carbondale$107,4552Appalachian State University$96,2183Eastern Illinois University$76,0474Illinois State University$75,054Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations
Official CIP–SOC links add career context without claiming that every graduate enters the same job.
Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All OtherSOC 17-3029 · 5 crosswalk linksIndustrial Engineering Technologists and TechniciansSOC 17-3026 · 3 crosswalk linksElectrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansSOC 17-3023 · 1 crosswalk linksSemiconductor Processing TechniciansSOC 51-9141 · 1 crosswalk linksWelders, Cutters, Solderers, and BrazersSOC 51-4121 · 1 crosswalk links
Same degree, different outcomes
Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. Automated ROI is withheld when an exact program price or personal earnings baseline is required.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | ROI status | Cost context |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Southern Illinois University-CarbondaleMaster's Degree | Carbondale, IL | $107,455 | Not available | Baseline needed | $13,297 |
| 2 | Appalachian State UniversityMaster's Degree | Boone, NC | $96,218 | Not available | Baseline needed | $16,836 |
| 3 | Eastern Illinois UniversityMaster's Degree | Charleston, IL | $76,047 | Not available | Baseline needed | $12,786 |
| 4 | Illinois State UniversityMaster's Degree | Normal, IL | $75,054 | Not available | Baseline needed | $19,398 |
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.