Industrial Production Technologies at Lone Star College System

The Woodlands, TX · Public · Associate Degree · Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians

one of the larger campuses at 47,486 students in The Woodlands, TX.

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $36,567 place Lone Star College System below the $55,266 national median for Industrial Production Technologies — worth weighing against tuition and cost of living.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 100.1x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Industrial Production Technologies programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Industrial Production Technologies's career paths, with 27% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 40% gap from the optimistic case.

Ranked #30 of 47 Industrial Production Technologies programs, Lone Star College System falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $57,377 show a 57% jump from the $36,567 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration in this trade.

Industrial Production Technologies offers 30 registered apprenticeship pathways — an unusually broad set of earn-while-you-learn alternatives to the classroom track.

62 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
55
Low End
62
Score
64
High End
Earnings $36,567/yr (-34% vs median)
AI-Proof Resilient (73% shielded)
Job Market Large (69,900 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$639K
11.9% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
103.4x
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)
$6,180
Out-of-state: $17,400
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$57,377
57% growth from Year 1

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 Lone Star College System

Explore the Degree Alternative

Not sure if a trade program or four-year degree fits better? Compare both paths.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Lone Star College System's Industrial Production Technologies program score?
A score of 62/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but Lone Star College System trails the majority of Industrial Production Technologies programs on relative rankings. Context matters more than the raw number.
Why are Industrial Production Technologies earnings lower at Lone Star College System?
Starting salary is one data point. If Lone Star College System's tuition is significantly below average, the ROI calculation can still work — lower earnings paired with lower costs can be a reasonable trade.
What apprenticeship pathways exist for Industrial Production Technologies graduates?
Industrial Production Technologies connects to 30 apprenticeship pathways. These DOL-registered programs combine structured training with paid employment — a strong alternative for students who prefer hands-on learning over classroom instruction.
How sensitive is Industrial Production Technologies to AI disruption?
AI sensitivity is moderate-to-notable: a 40% difference between optimistic and pessimistic outcomes. The base case — our most likely scenario — falls between these extremes.
How many job openings are there for Industrial Production Technologies graduates?
With approximately 69,900 annual openings across mapped careers, Industrial Production Technologies offers a large employment pool. Physical trades tend to have steady demand driven by infrastructure and construction cycles.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →