Certificate (1-2 years)-2% vs national median236 grads tracked
Mechanic and Repair Technologies/Technicians at Des Moines Area Community College
Ranked 92nd of 179 certificate (1-2 years) programs in Mechanic and Repair Technologies/Technicians by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$32,077
middle 50%: $24,620 – $38,938
Median · 5 years out
$51,929
middle 50%: $38,233 – $68,659
Median · 10 years out
$63,793
middle 50%: $40,729 – $83,018
Salary trajectory
Median earnings vs the national median for Mechanic and Repair Technologies/Technicians (certificate (1-2 years)) graduates.
This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates
Mechanic and repair technology graduates start with a $32k median salary. Earnings reach $64k by year ten.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau PSEO, release V4.13.0 2025Q4. Earnings are for graduates working in covered states; figures are medians in nominal dollars.
Will the degree pay for itself?
Drag the sliders — payback uses this program's actual salary curve.
Assumes a 6.5% APR loan and this program's median salary trajectory (interpolated between years 1, 5 and 10).
Paid off in
8.3 yrs
≈ $10,097 total interest
Same major at other universities
South Plains College
$52,839 · 5 yrs out
Saint Philip's College
$52,703 · 5 yrs out
SOWELA Technical Community College
$52,508 · 5 yrs out
Delgado Community College
$52,165 · 5 yrs out
Northeast Iowa Community College
$52,064 · 5 yrs out
Rend Lake College
$52,008 · 5 yrs out
Kirkwood Community College
$51,929 · 5 yrs out
Colorado Mesa University
$51,694 · 5 yrs out
Mitchell Technical College
$51,411 · 5 yrs out
City Colleges of Chicago - Richard J. Daley College
$51,223 · 5 yrs out
South Central Louisiana Technical College
$51,223 · 5 yrs out
Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana - Region 7
$51,052 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at Des Moines Area Community College
Fire Protection (Certificate)
$85,523 · 5 yrs out
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services (Certificate)
$81,357 · 5 yrs out
Fire Protection (Associate)
$81,295 · 5 yrs out
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management (Associate)
$78,843 · 5 yrs out
Computer Programming (Certificate)
$72,928 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Certificate)
$71,555 · 5 yrs out
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (Certificate)
$71,212 · 5 yrs out
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (Certificate)
$71,212 · 5 yrs out
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions (Associate)
$68,222 · 5 yrs out
Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$68,098 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Associate)
$67,948 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate)
$66,468 · 5 yrs out
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