WhatGradsMake
Associate-8% vs national median233 grads tracked

Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians at Western Dakota Technical College

Ranked 112th of 159 associate programs in Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$40,280
middle 50%: $31,376 – $49,666
Median · 5 years out
$53,202
middle 50%: $41,410 – $64,314
Median · 10 years out
$59,149
middle 50%: $42,923 – $77,666

Salary trajectory

Median earnings vs the national median for Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians (associate) graduates.

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

Graduates of Western Dakota Technical College's associate program in Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians earn a median $40,280 one year after graduating, rising to $59,149 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 8% below the national median of $57,805 for this field, ranking 112th of 159 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
7.8 yrs
≈ $8,931 total interest

Same major at other universities

Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana - Region 14
$53,604 · 5 yrs out
Central Ohio Technical College
$53,397 · 5 yrs out
Southwestern Illinois College
$53,343 · 5 yrs out
Queensborough Community College-CUNY
$53,343 · 5 yrs out
Hawkeye Community College
$53,243 · 5 yrs out
Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana
$53,219 · 5 yrs out
Texas State Technical College
$53,181 · 5 yrs out
Kirkwood Community College
$52,939 · 5 yrs out
Mountain View College
$52,745 · 5 yrs out
Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana - Region 12
$52,636 · 5 yrs out
Central Carolina Technical College
$52,508 · 5 yrs out
Des Moines Area Community College
$52,387 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at Western Dakota Technical College

Precision Metal Working (Certificate)
$56,363 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Associate)
$54,051 · 5 yrs out
Precision Production (Certificate)
$53,040 · 5 yrs out
Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications (Associate)
$52,989 · 5 yrs out
Precision Production (Associate)
$52,793 · 5 yrs out
Precision Metal Working (Associate)
$52,793 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$51,947 · 5 yrs out
Fire Protection (Associate)
$51,223 · 5 yrs out
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services (Associate)
$50,940 · 5 yrs out
Criminal Justice and Corrections (Associate)
$50,791 · 5 yrs out
Mechanic and Repair Technologies/Technicians (Certificate)
$50,197 · 5 yrs out
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants (Associate)
$49,855 · 5 yrs out

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