WhatGradsMake
Associate+1% vs national median160 grads tracked

Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians at Tidewater Community College

Ranked 67th of 159 associate programs in Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$40,627
middle 50%: $29,849 – $53,219
Median · 5 years out
$58,659
middle 50%: $40,342 – $73,872
Median · 10 years out
$72,585
middle 50%: $59,848 – $93,589

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 Tidewater Community College's associate program in Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians earn a median $40,627 one year after graduating, rising to $72,585 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 1% above the national median of $57,805 for this field, ranking 67th 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
7.2 yrs
≈ $8,319 total interest

Same major at other universities

Southwestern Community College
$59,187 · 5 yrs out
San Antonio College
$59,105 · 5 yrs out
Three Rivers Community College
$59,105 · 5 yrs out
Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana - Region 10
$59,105 · 5 yrs out
SUNY College of Technology at Alfred
$59,077 · 5 yrs out
L. E. Fletcher Technical Community College
$58,858 · 5 yrs out
Southeastern Community College
$58,363 · 5 yrs out
Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana - Region 7
$58,065 · 5 yrs out
Amarillo College
$57,991 · 5 yrs out
Owens Community College
$57,867 · 5 yrs out
Portland Community College
$57,805 · 5 yrs out
Minnesota State Community and Technical College
$57,726 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at Tidewater Community College

Engineering (Associate)
$81,090 · 5 yrs out
Engineering, General (Associate)
$81,090 · 5 yrs out
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Certificate)
$80,325 · 5 yrs out
Fire Protection (Associate)
$78,072 · 5 yrs out
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$76,554 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate)
$74,996 · 5 yrs out
Construction Trades (Associate)
$74,643 · 5 yrs out
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers (Associate)
$74,643 · 5 yrs out
Environmental Control Technologies/Technicians (Certificate)
$74,301 · 5 yrs out
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Associate)
$72,218 · 5 yrs out
Visual and Performing Arts (Certificate)
$70,012 · 5 yrs out
Electrical/Electronics Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$69,841 · 5 yrs out

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