Industrial Production Technologies at Virginia Western Community College

Roanoke, VA · Public · Associate Degree · Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians

with a smaller student body of 3,777 in Roanoke, VA.

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $49,287 track close to the $55,266 national median for Industrial Production Technologies programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

With a 49.1x 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.

A #32 ranking among 47 Industrial Production Technologies programs places Virginia Western Community 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.

60 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
58
Low End
60
Score
61
High End
Earnings $49,287/yr (-11% vs median)
AI-Proof Resilient (73% shielded)
Job Market Large (69,900 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$516K
1.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
49.1x
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 (In-State)
$10,512
Out-of-state: $22,518

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 Virginia Western Community College

Considering a 4-Year Degree Instead?

Compare how bachelor's degree graduates fare on earnings, ROI, and AI resilience.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the TradeSchoolOutlook Score for Industrial Production Technologies at Virginia Western Community College?
This program scores 60/100 — 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.
Are there apprenticeship options for Industrial Production Technologies?
Yes — 30 registered apprenticeship programs are mapped to Industrial Production Technologies career paths, including Additive 3D Printing Technician. Apprenticeships offer paid on-the-job training as an alternative or complement to certificate programs.
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 →