Industrial Production Technologies at Mitchell Technical College

Mitchell, SD · Public · Associate Degree · Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians

a compact campus enrolling 953 students in Mitchell, SD.

Program Analysis

Mitchell Technical College's Industrial Production Technologies program produces graduates earning $50,348/yr — within striking distance of the $55,266 national average for this trade.

With a 35.0x return on tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.

The 0% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Industrial Production Technologies career paths face changes, but the trade's physical demands provide a buffer.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $12,000 in median debt clears fast against $50,348 in annual earnings.

A #38 ranking among 47 Industrial Production Technologies programs places Mitchell Technical College in the lower half. Price, proximity, and personal fit become the stronger arguments.

The 30 apprenticeship pathways connected to Industrial Production Technologies reflect strong industry infrastructure for this trade. Apprenticeships typically lead to journeyman-level wages.

56 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
55
Low End
56
Score
57
High End
Earnings $50,348/yr (-9% vs median)
AI-Proof Resilient (73% shielded)
Job Market Large (69,900 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$527K
1.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple
35.0x
10-year earnings ÷ tuition
Viable Career Paths
5 of 5
Occupations with strong AI resilience

Projected 10-Year Earnings

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

Program Tuition
$15,048
Median Debt at Graduation
$12,000
2.9 months of Year 1 earnings

Top Career Paths

Top career paths for Industrial Production Technologies graduates by median salary.

Career Path Median Salary Growth AI-ProofAI
Engineering technologists and technicians, except drafters, all other $77,390 +1.5% 76%
Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians $77,180 +0.6% 59%
Industrial engineering technologists and technicians $64,790 +1.7% 61%
Engineering technologists and technicians, except drafters, all other
$77,390
+1.5% growth 76% AI-proof
Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians
$77,180
+0.6% growth 59% AI-proof
Industrial engineering technologists and technicians
$64,790
+1.7% growth 61% AI-proof

View all 5 career paths with full salary data →

About Industrial Production Technologies Careers

Your career in industrial production puts you at the heart of how things get made. You might start as a welder, using high-heat torches and plasma cutters to fuse steel beams on a construction site or meticulously join components in a sterile manufacturing environment. Alternatively, you could be an electrical engineering technician in a lab, using multimeters and oscilloscopes to test prototypes or troubleshoot the complex robotic arms on an assembly line. This is hands-on problem-solving that can't be outsourced or done by an algorithm.

Read the full Industrial Production Technologies career guide →

Compare & Explore

Industrial Production Technologies Overview

Industrial Production Technologies at Other Schools

Other Majors at Mitchell Technical College

Trade Certificate vs. Bachelor's Degree

Weigh shorter time-to-career against higher earning ceilings. The numbers tell the story.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a 56/100 TradeSchoolOutlook Score mean for Industrial Production Technologies at Mitchell Technical College?
This program scores 56/100 — a respectable number in isolation, but it ranks in the bottom half of Industrial Production Technologies programs nationally. The field is competitive, and stronger options exist.
What's the typical debt for Industrial Production Technologies graduates from Mitchell Technical College?
At $12,000 in median debt, Industrial Production Technologies graduates from Mitchell Technical College carry minimal financial burden. The debt-to-income ratio of 0.2x is well below the trade program average.
Are there apprenticeship options for Industrial Production Technologies?
There are 30 registered apprenticeships connected to Industrial Production Technologies 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 Industrial Production Technologies graduates?
The career paths mapped to Industrial Production Technologies have roughly 69,900 combined annual openings nationally, making this a 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 →