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Heavy Equipment Technology at Northwood Technical College

Rice Lake, WI · Public · Certificate · Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies

with a smaller student body of 2,026 in Rice Lake, WI.

Program Analysis

At $55,793 per year, Heavy Equipment Technology graduates from Northwood Technical College earn slightly above the $51,528 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.

With a 129.0x return on tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.

The 0% spread between best and worst-case AI scenarios signals strong resilience. Most careers in Heavy Equipment Technology involve physical, hands-on work that current AI cannot replicate.

The median debt load of $8,500 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios in vocational education.

Northwood Technical College ranks #14 among 80 Heavy Equipment Technology programs, placing it in the top 5% nationally by our financial outcomes measure.

The 67 apprenticeship pathways connected to Heavy Equipment Technology reflect strong industry infrastructure for this trade. Apprenticeships typically lead to journeyman-level wages.

72 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
71
Low End
72
Score
72
High End
Earnings $55,793/yr (8% vs median)
AI-Proof AI-Proof (89% shielded)
Job Market Large (80,400 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$584K
1.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
129.0x
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)
$4,524
Out-of-state: $6,583
Median Debt at Graduation
$8,500
1.8 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

See the full career breakdown for Heavy Equipment Technology — job titles, salary ranges, and growth projections for graduates from Northwood Technical College and 79 other schools.

Read the full Heavy Equipment Technology career guide →

Compare & Explore

Heavy Equipment Technology Overview

View all 80 schools offering Heavy Equipment Technology →

Heavy Equipment Technology at Other Schools

Warren County Career Center ($70,305) Ranken Technical College ($70,010) Gateway Community and Technical College ($69,378) Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology ($68,422) Dakota County Technical College ($67,618) Gateway Community and Technical College ($66,827) Montcalm Community College ($66,358) Bluegrass Community and Technical College ($65,743)

Other Majors at Northwood Technical College

Nursing ($64,281) Computer Science ($50,239) Criminal Justice ($44,966) Allied Health Professions ($43,765) Precision Metalworking ($42,282) Business Administration ($41,564) IT Management ($41,473) Medical Assisting ($36,070)

How Does a Bachelor's Degree Compare?

Compare Heavy Equipment Technology degree programs on DegreeOutlook →

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

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Northwood Technical College's Heavy Equipment Technology program score?
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.
How safe is Heavy Equipment Technology from automation?
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 Northwood Technical College?
At $8,500 in median debt, Heavy Equipment Technology graduates from Northwood Technical College carry minimal financial burden. The debt-to-income ratio of 0.2x is well below the trade program average.
What makes Northwood Technical College's Heavy Equipment Technology program stand out?
The #14 ranking out of 80 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable, and the job market supports this trade.
What apprenticeship pathways exist for Heavy Equipment Technology graduates?
Beyond Northwood Technical College's classroom route, 67 registered apprenticeships map to Heavy Equipment Technology careers — including Accessibility And Private Residence Lift Technician. Apprenticeships trade shorter program length for longer on-the-job training, typically 2-4 years.
How many job openings are there for Heavy Equipment Technology graduates?
At 80,400 annual openings, Heavy Equipment Technology has a large employment base. Northwood Technical College graduates benefit from broad demand, particularly given infrastructure investment and steady replacement demand as workers retire.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →