Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies at Lake Area Technical College
a smaller institution with 1,710 students in Watertown, SD.
Program Analysis
Graduates earn $47,080/yr, edging above the $38,662 national average for Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand for this trade.
Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 41.0x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies programs nationally.
AI disruption models show minimal impact on this program's career paths. The gap between optimistic and pessimistic scenarios is just 12% — this trade's hands-on core resists automation.
At $12,000 in median debt against $47,080 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance quickly — a hallmark of affordable trade programs.
At #163 of 409 Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies programs, Lake Area Technical College scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.
Five-year earnings of $54,641 are relatively flat compared to the $47,080 starting salary — typical of trades with stable but capped salary bands.
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies offers 64 registered apprenticeship pathways — an unusually broad set of earn-while-you-learn alternatives to the classroom track.
Earnings Overview
Projected 10-Year Earnings
Based on actual graduate salary data and Bureau of Labor Statistics growth projections.
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% |
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 →
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