Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians: is it worth it?
A 0–100 score blending this major’s national earnings, ROI and typical debt. How it’s scored.
National picture across 108 college programs, at a typical net price.
Graduate earnings clearly outpace the cost and debt — this degree pays back quickly.
What Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians pays
Career outlook for Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians graduates
The job market for the occupations Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians graduates typically enter, projected through 2034 — from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. This is the demand side, complementing the IRS-verified graduate earnings above.
Top jobs for this major
| Occupation | U.S. jobs | Growth to 2034 | Median pay | Typical entry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers | 457,300 | +2.2% | $51,000 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians | 93,700 | +0.6% | $77,180 | Associate's degree |
| Industrial engineering technologists and technicians | 74,600 | +1.7% | $64,790 | Associate's degree |
| Engineering technologists and technicians, except drafters, all other | 67,300 | +1.5% | $77,390 | Associate's degree |
| Semiconductor processing technicians | 31,900 | +10.9% | $51,180 | High school diploma or equivalent |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections (2024–34) & the NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk. Occupation pay is the national median wage for the role — not the same as graduate earnings, which we draw from IRS records.
Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians vs similar majors
How Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians stacks up against the closest fields in Engineering Technologies on pay, debt, ROI and the DR Rating. The best figure in each row is highlighted.
| Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians Engineering Technologies · this major | Nuclear Engineering Technology/Technician | Engineering-Related Fields | Construction Engineering Technology/Technician | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DR Rating | 77 B | 97 A | 90 A | 91 A |
| ROI verdict | Strong return | Strong return | Strong return | Strong return |
| Median earnings (5 yr) | $71,050 | $132,815 | $109,982 | $89,857 |
| Median earnings (1 yr) | $57,620 | $101,386 | $89,179 | $71,410 |
| ROI vs cost | +231% | +1,058% | +700% | +461% |
| Typical debt | $18,204 | $10,555 | $25,304 | $22,024 |
| Colleges offering it | 108 | 3 | 52 | 43 |
Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians earnings over time
National median earnings one year after graduating, by cohort year — the consistent measure available across the federal data’s history.
Best colleges for Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians
Ranked by the ROI of this major at each college — its graduate earnings against the cost.
| # | College | Credential | Earnings (5 yr) | Median debt | 10-yr ROI | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spartanburg Community College Spartanburg, SC | Certificate | $75,696 | — | +12,663% | Strong return |
| 2 | BridgeValley Community & Technical College South Charleston, WV | Certificate | $100,697 | — | +12,101% | Strong return |
| 3 | SOWELA Technical Community College Lake Charles, LA | Certificate | $130,442 | — | +11,254% | Strong return |
| 4 | Baton Rouge Community College Baton Rouge, LA | Certificate | $145,200 | $10,250 | +7,486% | Strong return |
| 5 | Olympic College Bremerton, WA | Certificate | $85,925 | — | +5,606% | Strong return |
| 6 | Gateway Community and Technical College Florence, KY | Certificate | $75,125 | — | +5,162% | Strong return |
| 7 | Danville Community College Danville, VA | Certificate | $78,250 | — | +4,886% | Strong return |
| 8 | Olympic College Bremerton, WA | Certificate | $79,811 | — | +4,754% | Strong return |
| 9 | Bismarck State College Bismarck, ND | Certificate | $113,847 | $12,000 | +4,602% | Strong return |
| 10 | Great Basin College Elko, NV | Certificate | $83,596 | — | +4,456% | Strong return |
| 11 | Panola College Carthage, TX | Certificate | $68,580 | — | +4,421% | Strong return |
| 12 | River Parishes Community College Gonzales, LA | Certificate | $108,288 | $9,500 | +4,351% | Strong return |
| 13 | Hudson Valley Community College Troy, NY | Certificate | $82,381 | — | +4,297% | Strong return |
| 14 | Kilgore College Kilgore, TX | Certificate | $66,444 | — | +3,898% | Strong return |
| 15 | Walters State Community College Morristown, TN | Certificate | $65,319 | — | +3,672% | Strong return |
| 16 | Portland Community College Portland, OR | Certificate | $83,086 | — | +3,560% | Strong return |
| 17 | State Fair Community College Sedalia, MO | Certificate | $73,076 | — | +3,416% | Strong return |
| 18 | University of Alaska Fairbanks Fairbanks, AK | Certificate | $79,658 | — | +3,082% | Strong return |
| 19 | University of Alaska Anchorage Anchorage, AK | Certificate | $93,667 | — | +3,081% | Strong return |
| 20 | Weber State University Ogden, UT | Certificate | $98,935 | $18,998 | +3,039% | Strong return |
| 21 | Ferris State University Big Rapids, MI | Certificate | $84,172 | $16,750 | +2,560% | Strong return |
| 22 | Louisiana Delta Community College Monroe, LA | Certificate | $65,073 | — | +2,506% | Strong return |
| 23 | State Fair Community College Sedalia, MO | Certificate | $65,606 | — | +2,481% | Strong return |
| 24 | Nashville State Community College Nashville, TN | Certificate | $62,356 | — | +2,461% | Strong return |
| 25 | Pearl River Community College Poplarville, MS | Certificate | $71,015 | $10,745 | +2,390% | Strong return |
Related majors
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard. ROI is computed by Degree Return — see how. Read the methodology. Data as of 2024.