Environmental Control Technologies/Technicians: earnings, debt, and careers
CIP 15.05. Official graduate outcomes from the U.S. Department of Education across 541 programs, and the careers this field is linked to.
Graduate earnings by credential level
| Credential | Programs | Graduates (recent year) | Median earnings, 1 yr | Median earnings, 4 yrs | Typical program median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate certificate | 316 | 9,511 | $42,256 | $45,268 | $11,250 49 programs |
| Associate's degree | 191 | 1,095 | $47,210 | $55,148 | $15,668 6 programs |
| Bachelor's degree | 21 | 138 | $58,039 | $66,185 | $23,000 3 programs |
| Master's degree | 9 | 52 | $76,343 | $90,955 | Data unavailable |
| Doctoral degree | 1 | 0 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Graduate certificate | 3 | 2 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
National earnings are published by the Department of Education for each field and credential level Verified data. Typical program median debt is ConnectPrep's calculation: the median across programs of each program's median federal debt Calculated estimate. It covers federal loans only.
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, Most Recent Field of Study Data. Varies by measure; see measure definitions. Published October 15, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
Undergraduate certificate programs with the highest early earnings
| School | Median earnings, 1 yr | Median earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| High Plains Technology Center OK · Public · 30 graduates measured | $68,005 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Austin Community College District TX · Public · 23 graduates measured | $58,524 | $65,997 | Data unavailable |
| Ranken Technical College MO · Private, nonprofit · 80 graduates measured | $55,195 | $69,072 | $13,649 |
| Institute for Business and Technology CA · Private, for-profit · 44 graduates measured | $53,235 | Data unavailable | $8,867 |
| Florida Academy FL · Private, for-profit · 146 graduates measured | $48,862 | $59,889 | $6,333 |
| Sullivan University KY · Private, for-profit · 26 graduates measured | $48,236 | $62,521 | Data unavailable |
| Terra State Community College OH · Public · 23 graduates measured | $47,154 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Summit College CA · Private, for-profit · 167 graduates measured | $46,625 | $53,904 | $9,500 |
| Lincoln Technical Institute-Iselin NJ · Private, for-profit · 98 graduates measured | $46,054 | $50,595 | $14,633 |
| Lincoln College of Technology-Marietta GA · Private, for-profit · 98 graduates measured | $46,054 | $50,595 | $14,633 |
| Lincoln College of Technology-Denver CO · Private, for-profit · 1004 graduates measured | $45,662 | $55,887 | $14,250 |
| Lincoln College of Technology-Indianapolis IN · Private, for-profit · 1004 graduates measured | $45,662 | $55,887 | $14,250 |
| Lincoln Technical Institute-Union NJ · Private, for-profit · 1004 graduates measured | $45,662 | $55,887 | $14,250 |
| Lincoln College of Technology-Grand Prairie TX · Private, for-profit · 1004 graduates measured | $45,662 | $55,887 | $14,250 |
| Lincoln Technical Institute-Mahwah NJ · Private, for-profit · 1004 graduates measured | $45,662 | $55,887 | $14,250 |
Ranked by published median earnings one year after completion. Programs with suppressed earnings do not appear, so this is not a ranking of program quality.
Associate's degree programs with the highest early earnings
| School | Median earnings, 1 yr | Median earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ferris State University MI · Public · 23 graduates measured | $58,170 | $66,719 | Data unavailable |
| Ranken Technical College MO · Private, nonprofit · 37 graduates measured | $56,939 | $63,908 | $12,000 |
| Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology PA · Public · 26 graduates measured | $56,386 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| ITI Technical College LA · Private, for-profit · 23 graduates measured | $48,798 | Data unavailable | $15,510 |
| Texas State Technical College TX · Public · 57 graduates measured | $43,613 | $55,209 | Data unavailable |
| New England Institute of Technology RI · Private, nonprofit · 24 graduates measured | $42,339 | $62,399 | Data unavailable |
| College of Business and Technology FL · Private, for-profit · 33 graduates measured | $41,682 | $48,102 | $15,825 |
| College of Business and Technology FL · Private, for-profit · 33 graduates measured | $41,682 | $48,102 | $15,825 |
| Western Technical College TX · Private, for-profit · 97 graduates measured | $37,293 | $47,305 | $24,810 |
Ranked by published median earnings one year after completion. Programs with suppressed earnings do not appear, so this is not a ranking of program quality.
Bachelor's degree programs with the highest early earnings
| School | Median earnings, 1 yr | Median earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Carolina State University at Raleigh NC · Public · 29 graduates measured | $60,183 | $66,491 | Data unavailable |
| Appalachian State University NC · Public · 77 graduates measured | $47,866 | $69,956 | $23,000 |
Ranked by published median earnings one year after completion. Programs with suppressed earnings do not appear, so this is not a ranking of program quality.
Master's degree programs with the highest early earnings
| School | Median earnings, 1 yr | Median earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rochester Institute of Technology NY · Private, nonprofit · 19 graduates measured | $84,717 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| The University of Findlay OH · Private, nonprofit · 18 graduates measured | $77,550 | $107,285 | Data unavailable |
Ranked by published median earnings one year after completion. Programs with suppressed earnings do not appear, so this is not a ranking of program quality.
Careers linked to Environmental Control Technologies/Technicians
| Occupation | Median wage, all workers | Change 2025 to 2035 | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|
| Environmental engineering technologists and technicians | $59,920 | +3.1% | Associate's degree |
| Engineering technologists and technicians, except drafters, all other | $78,350 | +2.8% | Associate's degree |
| Environmental science and protection technicians, including health | $55,090 | +6.9% | Associate's degree |
| Hazardous materials removal workers | $49,450 | +1.5% | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers | $61,010 | +10.9% | Postsecondary nondegree award |
| Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators | $60,020 | -5.7% | High school diploma or equivalent |
Occupations mapped to this field in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. Occupation wages describe all workers, not recent graduates.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics and U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk. CIP 2020 and SOC 2018 taxonomies. Published April 30, 2020. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, National. May 2025 reference period. Published April 30, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, Table 1.2: Occupational projections, 2025-35, and worker characteristics, 2025. Base year 2025, projected year 2035. Published August 27, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
Detailed CIP codes in this field (5)
- 15.0501 Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering Technology/Technician
- 15.0506 Water Quality and Wastewater Treatment Management and Recycling Technology/Technician
- 15.0507 Environmental/Environmental Engineering Technology/Technician
- 15.0508 Hazardous Materials Management and Waste Technology/Technician
- 15.0599 Environmental Control Technologies/Technicians, Other