Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians: earnings, debt, and careers
CIP 47.06. Official graduate outcomes from the U.S. Department of Education across 1,620 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 | 944 | 57,611 | $43,278 | $51,586 | $10,998 186 programs |
| Associate's degree | 651 | 16,766 | $48,683 | $58,424 | $12,000 100 programs |
| Bachelor's degree | 20 | 167 | $71,209 | $80,809 | $13,290 3 programs |
| Master's degree | 3 | 23 | $93,227 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Graduate certificate | 2 | 0 | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southwestern Illinois College IL · Public · 16 graduates measured | $79,057 | $46,619 | $5,500 |
| Ferris State University MI · Public · 22 graduates measured | $74,056 | $83,989 | Data unavailable |
| Vincennes University IN · Public · 26 graduates measured | $72,802 | $72,018 | $11,281 |
| Minneapolis Community and Technical College MN · Public · 16 graduates measured | $70,835 | $100,226 | Data unavailable |
| Mohawk Valley Community College NY · Public · 44 graduates measured | $67,845 | $77,604 | $8,485 |
| West Los Angeles College CA · Public · 25 graduates measured | $66,879 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Cape Cod Community College MA · Public · 21 graduates measured | $65,860 | Data unavailable | $15,000 |
| Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics PA · Private, nonprofit · 243 graduates measured | $65,841 | $81,408 | $12,000 |
| Centura College-Chesapeake VA · Private, for-profit · 226 graduates measured | $65,313 | $71,256 | $31,927 |
| San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia CA · Private, for-profit · 81 graduates measured | $65,033 | Data unavailable | $14,852 |
| San Joaquin Valley College-Trades Education Center CA · Private, for-profit · 81 graduates measured | $65,033 | Data unavailable | $14,852 |
| Northern Wyoming Community College District WY · Public · 48 graduates measured | $64,815 | $64,361 | $5,500 |
| Tarrant County College District TX · Public · 44 graduates measured | $64,765 | $70,953 | $8,579 |
| Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Houston TX · Private, for-profit · 173 graduates measured | $63,917 | $64,835 | $28,500 |
| Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Norfolk VA · Private, for-profit · 122 graduates measured | $61,972 | $65,861 | $21,087 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach FL · Private, nonprofit · 62 graduates measured | $75,552 | $83,749 | $10,062 |
| Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Worldwide FL · Private, nonprofit · 62 graduates measured | $75,552 | $83,749 | $10,062 |
| Minneapolis Community and Technical College MN · Public · 24 graduates measured | $71,326 | $101,982 | Data unavailable |
| Alexandria Technical & Community College MN · Public · 31 graduates measured | $68,272 | $80,688 | $10,906 |
| Utah State University UT · Public · 16 graduates measured | $67,525 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Honolulu Community College HI · Public · 28 graduates measured | $66,905 | $71,687 | Data unavailable |
| Tarrant County College District TX · Public · 24 graduates measured | $66,556 | $90,737 | Data unavailable |
| Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics PA · Private, nonprofit · 173 graduates measured | $66,517 | $79,146 | $14,498 |
| Enterprise State Community College AL · Public · 34 graduates measured | $65,481 | Data unavailable | $11,000 |
| Hennepin Technical College MN · Public · 86 graduates measured | $62,660 | $71,193 | $13,000 |
| Dakota County Technical College MN · Public · 86 graduates measured | $62,622 | $60,744 | $11,734 |
| Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology OK · Public · 47 graduates measured | $62,236 | $75,882 | $9,500 |
| Middle Georgia State University GA · Public · 40 graduates measured | $62,181 | $68,083 | $15,033 |
| Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology CO · Private, for-profit · 178 graduates measured | $61,589 | $83,282 | $27,009 |
| Clark College WA · Public · 17 graduates measured | $61,100 | $58,804 | 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.
Bachelor's degree programs with the highest early earnings
| School | Median earnings, 1 yr | Median earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach FL · Private, nonprofit · 99 graduates measured | $77,491 | $87,797 | $13,290 |
| Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Worldwide FL · Private, nonprofit · 99 graduates measured | $77,491 | $87,797 | $13,290 |
| SUNY Morrisville NY · Public · 23 graduates measured | $51,819 | $61,351 | 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.
Master's degree programs with the highest early earnings
| School | Median earnings, 1 yr | Median earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach FL · Private, nonprofit · 22 graduates measured | $93,613 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Worldwide FL · Private, nonprofit · 22 graduates measured | $93,613 | Data unavailable | 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 Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians
| Occupation | Median wage, all workers | Change 2025 to 2035 | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|
| Insurance appraisers, auto damage | $78,240 | -8.7% | Postsecondary nondegree award |
| Aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians | $82,890 | +11.9% | Associate's degree |
| First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers | $79,860 | +4.1% | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Avionics technicians | $82,280 | +9.4% | Postsecondary nondegree award |
| Electrical and electronics installers and repairers, transportation equipment | $84,890 | +5.4% | Postsecondary nondegree award |
| Electronic equipment installers and repairers, motor vehicles | $48,420 | -14.5% | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Aircraft mechanics and service technicians | $79,870 | +5.4% | Postsecondary nondegree award |
| Automotive body and related repairers | $54,890 | +3.7% | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Automotive glass installers and repairers | $47,630 | +5.7% | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Automotive service technicians and mechanics | $50,620 | +5.0% | Postsecondary nondegree award |
| Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists | $61,770 | +3.6% | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Motorboat mechanics and service technicians | $57,550 | +4.9% | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Motorcycle mechanics | $48,580 | +2.1% | Postsecondary nondegree award |
| Outdoor power equipment and other small engine mechanics | $47,880 | +2.3% | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Bicycle repairers | $42,780 | -5.7% | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Recreational vehicle service technicians | $52,000 | +9.7% | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers | $65,380 | -5.6% | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Engine and other machine assemblers | $53,710 | -17.0% | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Coating, painting, and spraying machine setters, operators, and tenders | $48,250 | +2.5% | 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 (18)
- 47.0600 Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technology/Technician, General
- 47.0603 Autobody/Collision and Repair Technology/Technician
- 47.0604 Automobile/Automotive Mechanics Technology/Technician
- 47.0605 Diesel Mechanics Technology/Technician
- 47.0606 Small Engine Mechanics and Repair Technology/Technician
- 47.0607 Airframe Mechanics and Aircraft Maintenance Technology/Technician
- 47.0608 Aircraft Powerplant Technology/Technician
- 47.0609 Avionics Maintenance Technology/Technician
- 47.0610 Bicycle Mechanics and Repair Technology/Technician
- 47.0611 Motorcycle Maintenance and Repair Technology/Technician
- 47.0612 Vehicle Emissions Inspection and Maintenance Technology/Technician
- 47.0613 Medium/Heavy Vehicle and Truck Technology/Technician
- 47.0614 Alternative Fuel Vehicle Technology/Technician
- 47.0615 Engine Machinist
- 47.0616 Marine Maintenance/Fitter and Ship Repair Technology/Technician
- 47.0617 High Performance and Custom Engine Technician/Mechanic
- 47.0618 Recreation Vehicle (RV) Service Technician
- 47.0699 Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians, Other