Industrial Production Technology — Salary, ROI & AI-Proof Rating at 47 Schools

What Industrial Production Technology Graduates Do

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.

Most graduates begin as a junior technician or apprentice, mastering the tools and processes under supervision. As your skills sharpen, you’ll advance to a senior role, tackling more complex diagnostics and repairs independently. Paths like semiconductor processing are growing rapidly, while welding offers immense and steady demand. Your starting salary is solid, but with specialization in areas like automation or quality control, your earnings can climb toward the level of a senior engineering technologist.

Registered Apprenticeship Pathways

The U.S. Department of Labor recognizes 30 registered apprenticeship occupations related to Industrial Production Technology. Apprenticeships let you earn while you learn — most have zero tuition costs and pay wages from day one.

Apprenticeship	Training Hours	Type	Salary RangeSalary	Growth
Additive 3D Printing Technician RAPIDS 2078HY	2000-4000 hrs	Hybrid	$60K – $77,390 – $98K	1.5%
Calibration Laboratory Technician RAPIDS 895	8000 hrs ~4.0 yrs	Time	$61K – $77,180 – $95K	0.6%
Electrical Instrument Repairer RAPIDS 157	6000 hrs ~3.0 yrs	Time	$61K – $77,180 – $95K	0.6%
Electrical Technician RAPIDS 155	8000 hrs ~4.0 yrs	Time	$61K – $77,180 – $95K	0.6%
Electronics Technician RAPIDS 169	8000 hrs ~4.0 yrs	Time	$61K – $77,180 – $95K	0.6%
Industrial Engineering Technician RAPIDS 259	8000 hrs ~4.0 yrs	Time	$53K – $64,790 – $79K	1.7%
Industrial Engineering Technician RAPIDS 0259CB	8000 hrs ~4.0 yrs	Time	$53K – $64,790 – $79K	1.7%
Industrial Manufacturing Technician RAPIDS 2031HY	2736-3000 hrs	Hybrid	$60K – $77,390 – $98K	1.5%
Industrial Manufacturing Technician (Alternate Title: Manafacturing Production Techician) RAPIDS 2031CB	Competency	Competency	$60K – $77,390 – $98K	1.5%
Instrument Mech, Weapons System RAPIDS 996	8000 hrs ~4.0 yrs	Time	$61K – $77,180 – $95K	0.6%
Instrument Mechanic (Any Ind) RAPIDS 644	8000 hrs ~4.0 yrs	Time	$61K – $77,180 – $95K	0.6%
Instrument Repairer (Any Ind) RAPIDS 775	8000 hrs ~4.0 yrs	Time	$61K – $77,180 – $95K	0.6%
Instrument Technician (Utilities) RAPIDS 252	8000 hrs ~4.0 yrs	Time	$61K – $77,180 – $95K	0.6%
Instrumentation & Controls Technician (Existing Title: Instrument Technician (Utilities)) RAPIDS 0252HY	6000-8000 hrs	Hybrid	$61K – $77,180 – $95K	0.6%
Instrumentation Technician RAPIDS 255	8000 hrs ~4.0 yrs	Time	$61K – $77,180 – $95K	0.6%
It Lab Technician RAPIDS 0169CB	Competency	Competency	$61K – $77,180 – $95K	0.6%
Laboratory Asst, Metallurgical RAPIDS 621	4000 hrs ~2.0 yrs	Time	$60K – $77,390 – $98K	1.5%
Lead Burner RAPIDS 274	8000 hrs ~4.0 yrs	Time	$46K – $51,000 – $62K	2.2%
Non-Destructive Tester RAPIDS 1010	2000 hrs ~1.0 yrs	Time	$60K – $77,390 – $98K	1.5%
Non-Destructive Tester RAPIDS 1010CL	Competency	Competency	$60K – $77,390 – $98K	1.5%
Nondestructive Testing (Ndt) (Existing Title: Non-Destructive Tester) (Military Only) RAPIDS 1010R	5920 hrs ~3.0 yrs	Time	$60K – $77,390 – $98K	1.5%
Optics Manufacturing Technician RAPIDS 2045CB	Competency	Competency	$60K – $77,390 – $98K	1.5%
Quality Control Technician RAPIDS 462	4000 hrs ~2.0 yrs	Time	$53K – $64,790 – $79K	1.7%
Welder (Existing Title: Welder, Combination) (Military Only) RAPIDS 0622R	5920 hrs ~3.0 yrs	Time	$46K – $51,000 – $62K	2.2%
Welder, Arc RAPIDS 620	8000 hrs ~4.0 yrs	Time	$46K – $51,000 – $62K	2.2%
Welder, Combination RAPIDS 622	6000 hrs ~3.0 yrs	Time	$46K – $51,000 – $62K	2.2%
Welder, Combination RAPIDS 0622CB	Competency	Competency	$46K – $51,000 – $62K	2.2%
Welder-Fitter RAPIDS 627	8000 hrs ~4.0 yrs	Time	$46K – $51,000 – $62K	2.2%
Welding (Existing Title: Welder, Combination) RAPIDS **0622R	7328 hrs ~3.7 yrs	Time	$46K – $51,000 – $62K	2.2%
Welding Technician RAPIDS 498	8000 hrs ~4.0 yrs	Time	$60K – $77,390 – $98K	1.5%

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Registered Apprenticeship Partners Information Database (RAPIDS). Wages and job growth from Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024–2034 projections.

Best Schools for Industrial Production Technology

Top 20 of 47 schools ranked by TradeSchoolOutlook Score. Click any row for full earnings projections and AI-proof analysis.

#	School	Score	EarningsEarn	ROI
1	Baton Rouge Community College Baton Rouge, LA	77 72–78	$103,572/yr	171.0x
2	Arkansas Northeastern College Blytheville, AR	77 74–78	$97,406/yr	188.5x
3	Grand Rapids Community College Grand Rapids, MI	76 73–77	$70,622/yr	173.0x
4	Antelope Valley Community College District Lancaster, CA	76 72–77	$63,060/yr	560.0x
5	SOWELA Technical Community College Lake Charles, LA	75 69–77	$75,239/yr	151.9x
6	Antelope Valley Community College District Lancaster, CA	75 71–76	$60,323/yr	267.3x
7	Bismarck State College Bismarck, ND	74 69–75	$82,310/yr	108.6x
8	Olympic College Bremerton, WA	73 71–75	$86,309/yr	101.4x
9	Metropolitan Community College-Kansas City Kansas City, MO	73 71–74	$74,822/yr	102.1x
10	Ivy Tech Community College Indianapolis, IN	73 70–74	$63,796/yr	124.9x
11	Metropolitan Community College-Kansas City Kansas City, MO	72 69–73	$53,967/yr	147.7x
12	Portland Community College Portland, OR	71 68–72	$78,450/yr	81.4x
13	River Parishes Community College Gonzales, LA	71 64–72	$57,379/yr	131.7x
14	Lone Star College System The Woodlands, TX	69 66–71	$43,602/yr	174.0x
15	Danville Community College Danville, VA	68 62–69	$55,860/yr	79.7x
16	Coastal Alabama Community College Bay Minette, AL	67 62–69	$55,570/yr	76.7x
17	Texas State Technical College Waco, TX	67 65–68	$54,068/yr	74.2x
18	Community College of Beaver County Monaca, PA	66 64–67	$75,949/yr	51.1x
19	University of Alaska Anchorage Anchorage, AK	66 60–68	$64,364/yr	60.9x
20	John C Calhoun State Community College Tanner, AL	66 63–67	$59,567/yr	65.3x
21	Nunez Community College Chalmette, LA	66 58–67	$45,491/yr	81.2x
22	Pearl River Community College Poplarville, MS	66 59–68	$44,162/yr	96.3x
23	Hudson Valley Community College Troy, NY	65 59–66	$56,997/yr	60.5x
24	Vincennes University Vincennes, IN	65 59–66	$56,775/yr	58.7x
25	Ivy Tech Community College Indianapolis, IN	65 62–66	$56,633/yr	64.0x
26	Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College Perkinston, MS	65 58–66	$43,631/yr	83.2x
27	Washtenaw Community College Ann Arbor, MI	64 61–65	$42,813/yr	66.7x
28	Texas State Technical College Waco, TX	63 61–64	$64,485/yr	49.0x
29	North Dakota State College of Science Wahpeton, ND	63 61–64	$59,489/yr	49.2x
30	Lone Star College System The Woodlands, TX	62 55–64	$36,567/yr	91.8x
31	University of Central Missouri Warrensburg, MO	61 59–62	$49,157/yr	49.5x
32	Virginia Western Community College Roanoke, VA	60 58–61	$49,287/yr	45.9x
33	South Louisiana Community College Lafayette, LA	60 58–62	$44,022/yr	58.8x
34	ITI Technical College Baton Rouge, LA	59 53–60	$56,225/yr	35.5x
35	Pellissippi State Community College Knoxville, TN	57 56–58	$42,672/yr	45.6x
36	Mitchell Technical College Mitchell, SD	56 55–57	$50,348/yr	32.5x
37	Crowder College Neosho, MO	56 55–58	$36,148/yr	57.5x
38	Pine Technical & Community College Pine City, MN	56 54–57	$32,063/yr	67.5x
39	Laurel Business Institute Uniontown, PA	54 53–56	$42,611/yr	36.1x
40	Northeast State Community College Blountville, TN	54 49–55	$34,861/yr	48.9x
41	Pennsylvania College of Technology Williamsport, PA	53 51–54	$59,063/yr	15.5x
42	Sullivan University Louisville, KY	50 48–52	$47,164/yr	15.6x
43	Wichita State University-Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology Wichita, KS	50 43–52	$24,913/yr	94.5x
44	Goodwin University East Hartford, CT	49 47–50	$41,911/yr	18.8x
45	Southern Arkansas University Tech Camden, AR	49 47–50	$33,148/yr	34.4x
46	New England Institute of Technology East Greenwich, RI	45 42–46	$41,970/yr	4.9x
47	Hohokus School of Trade and Technical Sciences Paterson, NJ	44 41–45	$28,664/yr	—

Highest Earning Industrial Production Technology Programs

Schools where Industrial Production Technology graduates earn the most in their first year after graduation.

School	1-Year Earnings	Score
Baton Rouge Community College	$103,572/yr	77
Arkansas Northeastern College	$97,406/yr	77
Olympic College	$86,309/yr	73
Bismarck State College	$82,310/yr	74
Portland Community College	$78,450/yr	71
Community College of Beaver County	$75,949/yr	66
SOWELA Technical Community College	$75,239/yr	75
Metropolitan Community College-Kansas City	$74,822/yr	73
Grand Rapids Community College	$70,622/yr	76
Texas State Technical College	$64,485/yr	63

Best ROI for Industrial Production Technology

Schools with the highest earnings-to-tuition ratio for Industrial Production Technology.

School	ROI Multiple	Earnings	Score
Antelope Valley Community College District	560.0x	$63,060/yr	76
Antelope Valley Community College District	267.3x	$60,323/yr	75
Arkansas Northeastern College	188.5x	$97,406/yr	77
Lone Star College System	174.0x	$43,602/yr	69
Grand Rapids Community College	173.0x	$70,622/yr	76
Baton Rouge Community College	171.0x	$103,572/yr	77
SOWELA Technical Community College	151.9x	$75,239/yr	75
Metropolitan Community College-Kansas City	147.7x	$53,967/yr	72
River Parishes Community College	131.7x	$57,379/yr	71
Ivy Tech Community College	124.9x	$63,796/yr	73

Related Majors

Explore similar fields of study.

Considering a 4-Year Degree?

Compare the trade route with a bachelor's degree. See how Industrial Production Technology degree programs stack up on earnings, AI disruption risk, and ROI.

Frequently Asked Questions

What do Industrial Production Technology graduates make in their first year?

Across 47 schools, Industrial Production Technology graduates earn an average of $55,266 per year in their first year after completing the program. Earnings range from $24,913 to $103,572 depending on the school.

How AI-proof is a career in Industrial Production Technology?

AI resilience for Industrial Production Technology is classified as "Resilient." Approximately 69% of typical job tasks are hands-on — most the daily work involves skills that current AI technology cannot perform.

What's the top-ranked school for Industrial Production Technology?

Our data ranks Baton Rouge Community College first among 47 Industrial Production Technology programs. Its score of 77/100 reflects strong outcomes across earnings ($103,572/yr), return on investment, and career durability.

Do Industrial Production Technology graduates get a good return on their tuition?

The average 10-year earnings multiple is 92.5x tuition. This is a strong return on investment. The spread between the best and worst programs is wide, so individual school selection has a major impact.