Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies at CET-Colton

Colton, CA · Private nonprofit · Certificate

a compact campus enrolling 191 students in Colton, CA.

Program Analysis

Starting salaries of $26,336/yr fall 32% below the $38,662 national median for Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies. The financial case depends heavily on whether tuition compensates.

The 36% gap between optimistic and pessimistic AI scenarios is notable. With 14% of typical tasks exposed to automation, AI adoption could meaningfully shift career outcomes for Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies graduates.

At $7,251 in median debt against $26,336 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance quickly — a hallmark of affordable trade programs.

Ranked #391 of 409 Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies programs, CET-Colton falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Earnings grow from $26,336 to $39,279 over five years — a 49% increase that's moderate and in line with typical trade career progression.

Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies offers 64 registered apprenticeship pathways — an unusually broad set of earn-while-you-learn alternatives to the classroom track.

49 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
47
Low End
49
Score
50
High End
Earnings $26,336/yr (-32% vs median)
AI-Proof AI-Proof (86% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (214,000 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$430K
10.5% annual growth
Viable Career Paths
19 of 19
Occupations with strong AI resilience

Projected 10-Year Earnings

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

Median Debt at Graduation
$7,251
3.3 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$39,279
49% growth from Year 1

Top Career Paths

Top career paths for Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies graduates by median salary.

Career Path Median Salary Growth AI-ProofAI
Electrical and electronics installers and repairers, transportation equipment $82,730 +6.1% 76%
Avionics technicians $81,390 +8.2% 76%
Aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians $79,830 +8.1% 68%
Electrical and electronics installers and repairers, transportation equipment
$82,730
+6.1% growth 76% AI-proof
Avionics technicians
$81,390
+8.2% growth 76% AI-proof
Aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians
$79,830
+8.1% growth 68% AI-proof

View all 19 career paths with full salary data →

About Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies Careers

Your career starts on the shop floor, grabbing a diagnostic scanner to pinpoint engine trouble or getting your hands dirty with a wrench during a brake job. As an automotive service technician, your day involves solving complex mechanical and electrical puzzles in a busy garage to get cars safely back on the road. You could also specialize in heavy-duty vehicles, working on the powerful diesel engines that keep our country’s trucks and buses running.

Read the full Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies career guide →

Compare & Explore

Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies Overview

Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies at Other Schools

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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 Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies at CET-Colton?
This program scores 49/100 — on the lower end for Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
Will AI replace Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies jobs?
Highly resilient. Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies careers are fundamentally hands-on — they require physical presence and manual skill that AI cannot replicate. Graduates retain 19 of 19 viable career paths even under conservative assumptions.
What's the typical debt for Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies graduates from CET-Colton?
Median debt of just $7,251 against $26,336/yr in starting salary means graduates can clear their loans in under 3 months. This is one of the more affordable paths in our dataset.
Why are Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies earnings lower at CET-Colton?
First-year earnings trail the national median, but starting salary isn't the full picture. Regional cost of living, career trajectory, and tuition cost all factor in. Check the five-year earnings data when available.
What apprenticeship pathways exist for Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies graduates?
There are 64 registered apprenticeships connected to Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies occupations. The earn-while-you-learn model means no tuition debt and immediate income, though the training period is typically longer.
Is there demand for Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies workers?
The career paths mapped to Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies have roughly 214,000 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 →