Certificate (under 1 year)-9% vs national median202 grads tracked
Mechanic and Repair Technologies/Technicians at Rock Valley College
Ranked 116th of 170 certificate (under 1 year) programs in Mechanic and Repair Technologies/Technicians by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$28,851
middle 50%: $22,920 – $37,297
Median · 5 years out
$47,645
middle 50%: $35,840 – $63,346
Median · 10 years out
$56,877
middle 50%: $40,342 – $82,479
Salary trajectory
Median earnings vs the national median for Mechanic and Repair Technologies/Technicians (certificate (under 1 year)) graduates.
This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates
Mechanic and Repair Technologies graduates start with a median salary of $29k. Ten-year earnings increase to $57k.
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
9.3 yrs
≈ $11,284 total interest
Same major at other universities
Hill College
$48,349 · 5 yrs out
Stark State College
$48,304 · 5 yrs out
Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana - Region 2
$48,276 · 5 yrs out
Lincoln Land Community College
$48,144 · 5 yrs out
Ogden-Weber Technical College
$47,802 · 5 yrs out
Pine Technical and Community College
$47,705 · 5 yrs out
Southwestern Illinois College
$47,416 · 5 yrs out
Western Iowa Tech Community College
$47,087 · 5 yrs out
Minnesota State College Southeast
$46,948 · 5 yrs out
Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana - Region 14
$46,924 · 5 yrs out
Richland Community College
$46,908 · 5 yrs out
Front Range Community College
$46,644 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at Rock Valley College
Construction Trades (Associate)
$101,595 · 5 yrs out
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers (Certificate)
$101,595 · 5 yrs out
Construction Trades (Certificate)
$96,422 · 5 yrs out
Precision Production (Certificate)
$76,015 · 5 yrs out
Precision Metal Working (Certificate)
$76,015 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate)
$74,260 · 5 yrs out
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$73,728 · 5 yrs out
Fire Protection (Associate)
$72,966 · 5 yrs out
Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$71,961 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$70,489 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Associate)
$69,834 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Certificate)
$69,154 · 5 yrs out
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