Physical Science Technologies/Technicians at Florida State College at Jacksonville

Jacksonville, FL · Public · Certificate

serving 17,739 students in Jacksonville, FL.

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $47,820/yr, roughly in line with the $54,443 national median for Physical Science Technologies/Technicians. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 173.8x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Physical Science Technologies/Technicians programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Physical Science Technologies/Technicians's career paths, with 37% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 0% gap from the optimistic case.

With first-year pay of $47,820 far exceeding the $10,500 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

Ranked #9 of 17 Physical Science Technologies/Technicians programs, Florida State College at Jacksonville falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Physical Science Technologies/Technicians offers 8 registered apprenticeship pathways — an unusually broad set of earn-while-you-learn alternatives to the classroom track.

68 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
65
Low End
68
Score
70
High End
Earnings $47,820/yr (-12% vs median)
AI-Proof Resilient (63% shielded)
Job Market Large (40,600 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$500K
1.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
173.8x
10-year earnings ÷ tuition
Viable Career Paths
7 of 7
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)
$2,878
Out-of-state: $9,992
Median Debt at Graduation
$10,500
2.6 months of Year 1 earnings

Top Career Paths

Top career paths for Physical Science Technologies/Technicians graduates by median salary.

Career Path Median Salary Growth AI-ProofAI
Chemical plant and system operators $73,540 -6.1% 85%
Life, physical, and social science technicians, all other $60,130 +3.5% 45%
Hydrologic technicians $58,570 -2.1% 50%
Chemical plant and system operators
$73,540
-6.1% growth 85% AI-proof
Life, physical, and social science technicians, all other
$60,130
+3.5% growth 45% AI-proof
Hydrologic technicians
$58,570
-2.1% growth 50% AI-proof

View all 7 career paths with full salary data →

About Physical Science Technologies/Technicians Careers

You could spend your day in a clean lab, preparing chemical solutions and running quality control tests on new materials using instruments like chromatographs and spectrometers. Or, you might be on a manufacturing floor as a chemical equipment operator, monitoring pressure gauges and controlling the complex machinery that produces everything from pharmaceuticals to plastics. As a physical science technician, you are the hands-on expert who makes science work in the real world.

Read the full Physical Science Technologies/Technicians career guide →

Compare & Explore

Physical Science Technologies/Technicians Overview

Physical Science Technologies/Technicians at Other Schools

Other Majors at Florida State College at Jacksonville

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the TradeSchoolOutlook Score for Physical Science Technologies/Technicians at Florida State College at Jacksonville?
A score of 68/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but Florida State College at Jacksonville trails the majority of Physical Science Technologies/Technicians programs on relative rankings. Context matters more than the raw number.
How affordable is Physical Science Technologies/Technicians at Florida State College at Jacksonville?
Median debt of just $10,500 against $47,820/yr in starting salary means graduates can clear their loans in under 3 months. This is one of the more affordable paths in our dataset.
What apprenticeship pathways exist for Physical Science Technologies/Technicians graduates?
Physical Science Technologies/Technicians connects to 8 apprenticeship pathways. These DOL-registered programs combine structured training with paid employment — a strong alternative for students who prefer hands-on learning over classroom instruction.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →