Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies 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, Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies 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 Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies 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 Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies programs, placing it in the top 5% nationally by our financial outcomes measure.

The 67 apprenticeship pathways connected to Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies 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 Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies 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 →

About Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies Careers

Your career will be built on keeping the world moving. One day you might be on a factory floor, diagnosing a malfunctioning robotic arm with a laptop and precision tools; the next, you could be in the field, troubleshooting the hydraulics on a massive excavator. As an industrial machinery or mobile heavy equipment mechanic, you'll be the expert who gets critical, multi-ton machines back online.

Read the full Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies career guide →

Compare & Explore

Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies Overview

Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies at Other Schools

Other Majors at Northwood 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 Northwood Technical College's Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies 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 AI-proof is a career in Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies?
Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies 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 Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies graduates from Northwood Technical College?
At $8,500 in median debt, Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies 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 Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies 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 Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies graduates?
There are 67 registered apprenticeships connected to Industrial Equipment Maintenance 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 Equipment Maintenance Technologies graduates?
The career paths mapped to Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies have roughly 80,400 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 →