Science Technologies/Technicians, Other at Oakland Community College

Auburn Hills, MI · Public · Associate Degree

enrolling 11,772 students in Auburn Hills, MI.

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $53,078/yr, edging above the $43,624 national average for Science Technologies/Technicians, Other — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand for this trade.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 96.5x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Science Technologies/Technicians, Other programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Science Technologies/Technicians, Other's career paths, with 47% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 6% gap from the optimistic case.

At $10,000 in median debt against $53,078 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance quickly — a hallmark of affordable trade programs.

This program is one of 4 schools offering Science Technologies/Technicians, Other in our dataset — a specialized trade with limited comparison points.

Five-year earnings of $58,322 are relatively flat compared to the $53,078 starting salary — typical of trades with stable but capped salary bands.

One registered apprenticeship pathway (Weather Observer-Metero Tech with a median wage of $60,130/yr) connects to Science Technologies/Technicians, Other careers, offering a paid training alternative to the classroom model.

65 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
60
Low End
65
Score
67
High End
Earnings $53,078/yr (22% vs median)
AI-Proof Moderate (53% shielded)
Job Market Medium (17,900 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$591K
2.4% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
97.9x
10-year earnings ÷ tuition
Viable Career Paths
4 of 4
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)
$6,040
Out-of-state: $11,120
Median Debt at Graduation
$10,000
2.3 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$58,322
10% growth from Year 1

Top Career Paths

Top career paths for Science Technologies/Technicians, Other graduates by median salary.

Career Path Median Salary Growth AI-ProofAI
Life, physical, and social science technicians, all other $60,130 +3.5% 45%
Hydrologic technicians $58,570 -2.1% 50%
Environmental science and protection technicians, including health $49,490 +4.0% 54%
Life, physical, and social science technicians, all other
$60,130
+3.5% growth 45% AI-proof
Hydrologic technicians
$58,570
-2.1% growth 50% AI-proof
Environmental science and protection technicians, including health
$49,490
+4.0% growth 54% AI-proof

View all 4 career paths with full salary data →

About Science Technologies/Technicians, Other Careers

Your career begins where the data is born—out in the field or inside the lab. One day you might be in waders, using probes and GPS to collect soil and water samples for an environmental study. The next, you could be in a clean lab, calibrating sensitive instruments, preparing biological specimens for analysis, or running tests on new materials for a research scientist. Your role is to be the hands-on expert, ensuring the equipment is working perfectly and the raw data is collected with precision.

Read the full Science Technologies/Technicians, Other career guide →

Compare & Explore

Science Technologies/Technicians, Other Overview

Science Technologies/Technicians, Other at Other Schools

Other Majors at Oakland 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 does a 65/100 TradeSchoolOutlook Score mean for Science Technologies/Technicians, Other at Oakland Community College?
At 65/100, Oakland Community College's Science Technologies/Technicians, Other program delivers middling returns. School cost and personal fit become important decision factors.
How vulnerable is Science Technologies/Technicians, Other to AI automation?
With 47% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $555,314 in decade earnings vs $591,479 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
How affordable is Science Technologies/Technicians, Other at Oakland Community College?
Median debt of just $10,000 against $53,078/yr in starting salary means graduates can clear their loans in under 2 months. This is one of the more affordable paths in our dataset.
Is Oakland Community College one of the best schools for Science Technologies/Technicians, Other?
The #1 ranking out of 4 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable, and the job market supports this trade.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →