Electrical and Power Transmission Installers at Grand Rapids Community College

Grand Rapids, MI · Public · Certificate

serving 10,530 students in Grand Rapids, MI.

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $34,972 place Grand Rapids Community College below the $43,305 national median for Electrical and Power Transmission Installers — worth weighing against tuition and cost of living.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 125.4x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Electrical and Power Transmission Installers programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Electrical and Power Transmission Installers's career paths, with 22% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 29% gap from the optimistic case.

With first-year pay of $34,972 far exceeding the $6,460 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

At #68 of 214 Electrical and Power Transmission Installers programs, Grand Rapids Community College scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Earnings grow from $34,972 to $48,229 over five years — a 38% increase that's moderate and in line with typical trade career progression.

Electrical and Power Transmission Installers offers 31 registered apprenticeship pathways — an unusually broad set of earn-while-you-learn alternatives to the classroom track.

72 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
68
Low End
72
Score
73
High End
Earnings $34,972/yr (-19% vs median)
AI-Proof AI-Proof (78% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (230,700 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$516K
8.4% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
127.0x
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)
$4,059
Out-of-state: $11,859
Median Debt at Graduation
$6,460
2.2 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$48,229
38% growth from Year 1

Top Career Paths

Top career paths for Electrical and Power Transmission Installers graduates by median salary.

Career Path Median Salary Growth AI-ProofAI
Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay $100,940 +5.5% 66%
Electrical power-line installers and repairers $92,560 +6.6% 100%
Signal and track switch repairers $83,600 +1.7% 92%
Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay
$100,940
+5.5% growth 66% AI-proof
Electrical power-line installers and repairers
$92,560
+6.6% growth 100% AI-proof
Signal and track switch repairers
$83,600
+1.7% growth 92% AI-proof

View all 7 career paths with full salary data →

About Electrical and Power Transmission Installers Careers

Your training will put you on a path to becoming a licensed electrician or a specialized power-line installer. As an electrician, you'll work on construction sites or in homes, running conduit, pulling wire, and installing fixtures. If you choose the power transmission route, your 'office' is outdoors, working with a team to maintain the high-voltage lines that power entire communities. After your apprenticeship, you’ll progress to a journeyman, tackling complex projects independently. This is hands-on problem-solving that requires you to be on-site—a skill set that can’t be automated from an office.

Read the full Electrical and Power Transmission Installers career guide →

Compare & Explore

Electrical and Power Transmission Installers Overview

Electrical and Power Transmission Installers at Other Schools

Other Majors at Grand Rapids Community College

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a 72/100 TradeSchoolOutlook Score mean for Electrical and Power Transmission Installers at Grand Rapids Community College?
At 72/100, this is a high-performing trade program. The TradeSchoolOutlook Score combines earnings, AI resilience, and ROI — and this program delivers on all three.
Will AI replace Electrical and Power Transmission Installers jobs?
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers rates as "AI-Proof" for AI resilience. With only 22% of tasks exposed to automation, the trade's physical demands provide a natural shield against AI displacement.
What's the typical debt for Electrical and Power Transmission Installers graduates from Grand Rapids Community College?
Median debt of just $6,460 against $34,972/yr in starting salary means graduates can clear their loans in under 2 months. This is one of the more affordable paths in our dataset.
Why are Electrical and Power Transmission Installers earnings lower at Grand Rapids Community College?
Lower starting pay at Grand Rapids Community College may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.
Can I learn Electrical and Power Transmission Installers through an apprenticeship instead?
There are 31 registered apprenticeships connected to Electrical and Power Transmission Installers occupations. The earn-while-you-learn model means no tuition debt and immediate income, though the training period is typically longer.
How many job openings are there for Electrical and Power Transmission Installers graduates?
The career paths mapped to Electrical and Power Transmission Installers have roughly 230,700 combined annual openings nationally, making this a very large job market. Trade careers in this field benefit from consistent replacement demand as workers retire.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →