WhatGradsMake
Certificate (under 1 year)+1% vs national median410 grads tracked

Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians at Trident Technical College

Ranked 27th of 77 certificate (under 1 year) programs in Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$45,300
middle 50%: $32,476 – $58,889
Median · 5 years out
$60,533
middle 50%: $46,717 – $75,808
Median · 10 years out
$72,799
middle 50%: $55,346 – $88,178

Salary trajectory

Median earnings vs the national median for Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians (certificate (under 1 year)) graduates.

This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates

Graduates of Trident Technical College's certificate (under 1 year) program in Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians earn a median $45,300 one year after graduating, rising to $72,799 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 1% above the national median of $59,848 for this field, ranking 27th of 77 reporting programs.

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
6.8 yrs
≈ $7,691 total interest

Same major at other universities

Northeast Iowa Community College
$62,818 · 5 yrs out
Sinclair Community College
$61,827 · 5 yrs out
Wharton County Junior College
$61,250 · 5 yrs out
Tarrant County College District
$61,167 · 5 yrs out
Austin Community College
$61,062 · 5 yrs out
Community College of Denver
$60,590 · 5 yrs out
Rochester Community and Technical College
$60,342 · 5 yrs out
Kilgore College
$59,848 · 5 yrs out
San Antonio College
$59,848 · 5 yrs out
Collin County Community College District
$59,848 · 5 yrs out
Elgin Community College
$59,719 · 5 yrs out
Front Range Community College
$59,443 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at Trident Technical College

Engineering (Certificate)
$91,987 · 5 yrs out
Engineering, General (Certificate)
$91,987 · 5 yrs out
Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies/Technicians (Certificate)
$80,008 · 5 yrs out
Precision Production (Associate)
$78,415 · 5 yrs out
Precision Metal Working (Associate)
$78,415 · 5 yrs out
Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians (Certificate)
$75,634 · 5 yrs out
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers (Certificate)
$75,253 · 5 yrs out
Air Transportation (Certificate)
$75,035 · 5 yrs out
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians (Certificate)
$74,986 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate)
$74,635 · 5 yrs out
Transportation and Materials Moving (Certificate)
$73,565 · 5 yrs out
Construction Trades (Certificate)
$72,871 · 5 yrs out

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