Plumbing and Related Water Supply Services at Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Elizabethton
a compact campus enrolling 497 students in Elizabethton, TN.
Program Analysis
Starting salaries of $27,133/yr fall 36% below the $42,600 national median for Plumbing and Related Water Supply Services. The financial case depends heavily on whether tuition compensates.
The 33% gap between optimistic and pessimistic AI scenarios is notable. With 13% of typical tasks exposed to automation, AI adoption could meaningfully shift career outcomes for Plumbing and Related Water Supply Services graduates.
Ranked #16 of 19 Plumbing and Related Water Supply Services programs, Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Elizabethton falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.
Earnings grow from $27,133 to $39,045 over five years — a 44% increase that's moderate and in line with typical trade career progression.
Plumbing and Related Water Supply Services offers 22 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 Plumbing and Related Water Supply Services graduates by median salary.
| Career Path | Median Salary | Growth | AI-ProofAI |
|---|---|---|---|
| First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers | $78,690 | +5.3% | 57% |
| Rotary drill operators, oil and gas | $65,010 | +0.2% | 95% |
| Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters | $62,970 | +4.5% | 95% |
About Plumbing and Related Water Supply Services Careers
Your days will be a mix of new construction sites and residential service calls. You could be fitting copper pipes in a new high-rise, using a PEX crimper under a kitchen sink, or running a diagnostic camera down a drain line to pinpoint a stubborn clog. In related fields like septic and sewer service, you’ll operate powerful vacuum trucks and high-pressure water jets to maintain and repair crucial wastewater systems.
Read the full Plumbing and Related Water Supply Services career guide →