Heavy Equipment Technology at Elizabethtown Community and Technical College

Elizabethtown, KY · Public · Certificate · Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies

with a smaller student body of 3,775 in Elizabethtown, KY.

Program Analysis

At $59,458 per year, Heavy Equipment Technology graduates from Elizabethtown Community and Technical College earn slightly above the $51,528 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 133.6x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Heavy Equipment Technology programs nationally.

AI disruption models show minimal impact on this program's career paths. The gap between optimistic and pessimistic scenarios is just 0% — this trade's hands-on core resists automation.

The median debt load of $6,760 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios in vocational education.

Ranked #8 of 80 programs, Elizabethtown Community and Technical College's Heavy Equipment Technology program falls in the top 10%, outperforming most peers on financial outcomes.

Heavy Equipment Technology offers 67 registered apprenticeship pathways — an unusually broad set of earn-while-you-learn alternatives to the classroom track.

73 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
72
Low End
73
Score
73
High End
Earnings $59,458/yr (15% vs median)
AI-Proof AI-Proof (89% shielded)
Job Market Large (80,400 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$622K
1.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
133.6x
10-year earnings ÷ tuition
Viable Career Paths
9 of 9
Occupations with strong AI resilience

Projected 10-Year Earnings

Based on actual graduate salary data and Bureau of Labor Statistics growth projections.

Program Tuition (In-State)
$4,656
Out-of-state: $6,192
Median Debt at Graduation
$6,760
1.4 months of Year 1 earnings

Top Career Paths

Top career paths for Heavy Equipment Technology graduates by median salary.

Career Path Median Salary Growth AI-ProofAI
Elevator and escalator installers and repairers $106,580 +5.0% 82%
Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door $74,690 +1.3% 87%
Rail car repairers $65,680 +2.8% 90%
Elevator and escalator installers and repairers
$106,580
+5.0% growth 82% AI-proof
Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door
$74,690
+1.3% growth 87% AI-proof
Rail car repairers
$65,680
+2.8% growth 90% AI-proof

View all 9 career paths with full salary data →

Heavy Equipment Technology Career Guide

From day-one roles to senior positions, Heavy Equipment Technology careers span a range of specializations. Read the complete outlook for graduates entering skilled trades.

Read the full Heavy Equipment Technology career guide →

Compare & Explore

Heavy Equipment Technology Overview

Heavy Equipment Technology at Other Schools

Other Majors at Elizabethtown Community and Technical College

How Does a Bachelor's Degree Compare?

Four-year programs take longer but may unlock different career trajectories. See the data.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Elizabethtown Community and Technical College's Heavy Equipment Technology program score?
At 73/100, this is a high-performing trade program. The TradeSchoolOutlook Score combines earnings, AI resilience, and ROI — and this program delivers on all three.
How AI-proof is a career in Heavy Equipment Technology?
Heavy Equipment Technology rates as "AI-Proof" for AI resilience. With only 11% of tasks exposed to automation, the trade's physical demands provide a natural shield against AI displacement.
What's the typical debt for Heavy Equipment Technology graduates from Elizabethtown Community and Technical College?
At $6,760 in median debt, Heavy Equipment Technology graduates from Elizabethtown Community and Technical College carry minimal financial burden. The debt-to-income ratio of 0.1x is well below the trade program average.
What apprenticeship pathways exist for Heavy Equipment Technology graduates?
If Elizabethtown Community and Technical College's tuition gives you pause, consider that 67 DOL-registered apprenticeship pathways exist for Heavy Equipment Technology. You'd earn while training, avoiding student debt entirely — though completion takes longer than a certificate program.
How many job openings are there for Heavy Equipment Technology graduates?
Job availability for Heavy Equipment Technology is strong — 80,400 positions open annually across the mapped career paths. For Elizabethtown Community and Technical College graduates specifically, local market conditions in KY may shift the picture.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →