Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies at Tidewater Tech-Trades

Norfolk, VA · Private for-profit · Certificate

with a smaller student body of 514 in Norfolk, VA.

Program Analysis

At $30,531 per year, Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies graduates from Tidewater Tech-Trades earn below the $38,662 national average. Lower costs or geographic factors may offset the earnings gap.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 21.1x 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 8% — this trade's hands-on core resists automation.

The median debt load of $14,750 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios in vocational education.

Ranked #386 of 409 Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies programs, Tidewater Tech-Trades falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $34,268 are relatively flat compared to the $30,531 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.

50 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
48
Low End
50
Score
50
High End
Earnings $30,531/yr (-21% vs median)
AI-Proof AI-Proof (86% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (214,000 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$349K
2.9% annual growth
Earnings Multiple
21.4x
10-year earnings ÷ tuition
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.

Program Tuition
$16,337
Median Debt at Graduation
$14,750
5.8 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$34,268
12% 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

Other Majors at Tidewater Tech-Trades

How Does a Bachelor's Degree Compare?

Four-year programs take longer but may unlock different career trajectories. See the data.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the TradeSchoolOutlook Score for Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies at Tidewater Tech-Trades?
This program scores 50/100 — a respectable number in isolation, but it ranks in the bottom half of Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies programs nationally. The field is competitive, and stronger options exist.
How AI-proof is a career in Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies?
This is one of the more automation-resistant trades. Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies work requires physical skill and on-site presence — qualities AI cannot provide. Our model rates it "AI-Proof" overall.
Why are Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies earnings lower at Tidewater Tech-Trades?
Lower starting pay at Tidewater Tech-Trades may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.
Can I learn Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies through an apprenticeship instead?
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 →