Which state pays vehicle maintenance and repair certificate graduates the most?

Minnesota, where the median program pays its graduates $41,672 in their first year, the highest of 7 state rankings. California is next, at $40,206.

How much debt do vehicle maintenance and repair certificate graduates have?

The median program leaves its graduates with $10,501 in federal debt. Across programs, the median debt is 29% of first-year pay.

Highest-Paying Vehicle Maintenance and Repair (Certificate) Programs in the US

Q: Which vehicle maintenance and repair certificate program pays the most?

Ferris State in Michigan reports the highest first-year pay of the 221 programs ranked here, $68,791. Its median federal debt is $26,000.

223 programs report first-year pay
7 state rankings
Certificate in Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians

College Scorecard June 2026 release · BLS wages May 2025

The short answer

The median vehicle maintenance and repair certificate program in the US pays its graduates $35,905 in their first year and $44,862 five years after. Minnesota has the highest state median ($41,672), and Pennsylvania the lowest ($35,687). The median program leaves its graduates with $10,501 in federal debt.

Median first-year pay$35,905Across 223 programs

Median pay after 5 years$44,862Across 229 programs

Median federal debt$10,501Across 135 programs

Debt-to-earnings29%Across 130 programs

All 221 programs, ranked by graduate pay

Each program is ranked by the median pay of its graduates one year after they finished, from College Scorecard. This measures what graduates earn, not how good the teaching is. Pay also depends on where graduates live and work. Programs that don't report a figure are listed last when you sort by it.

#	School	Year 1 pay	After cost of living	Year 5 pay	Debt	Debt to pay
1	Ferris StateBig Rapids, MI · public	$68,791	$71,496	$93,158	$26,000	38%
2	West Los Angeles CollegeCulver City, CA · public	$65,978	$59,590	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
3	Minneapolis Community and Technical CollegeMinneapolis, MN · public	$58,745	Not adjusted	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
4	Mohawk Valley Community CollegeUtica, NY · public	$55,746	$51,654	$54,311	$8,250	15%
5	San Joaquin Valley College-VisaliaVisalia, CA · private for-profit	$54,977	$49,654	Not reported	$20,000	36%
6	Pittsburgh Institute of AeronauticsWest Mifflin, PA · private nonprofit	$53,992	Not adjusted	$67,821	$15,664	29%
7	Metropolitan Community College AreaOmaha, NE · public	$52,060	Not adjusted	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
8	Vincennes UniversityVincennes, IN · public	$51,226	Not adjusted	Not reported	$12,841	25%
9	Tarrant County College DistrictFort Worth, TX · public	$50,956	$52,501	$62,971	$17,000	33%
10	Aviation Institute of Maintenance-PhiladelphiaPhiladelphia, PA · private for-profit	$50,618	$51,878	$61,906	$32,500	64%
11	Dixie Technical CollegeSaint George, UT · public	$50,289	$50,867	$63,049	Not reported	Not reported
12	Victor Valley CollegeVictorville, CA · public	$49,729	$44,914	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
13	National Aviation Academy of Tampa BayClearwater, FL · private for-profit	$48,783	$47,173	$65,128	$22,777	47%
14	Lincoln Land Community CollegeSpringfield, IL · public	$48,308	$48,328	$39,639	$9,500	20%
15	Aviation Institute of Maintenance-IndianapolisIndianapolis, IN · private for-profit	$47,951	$51,378	$50,246	$31,263	65%
16	Gordon Cooper Technology CenterShawnee, OK · public	$47,876	$54,502	$42,115	Not reported	Not reported
17	Iowa Western Community CollegeCouncil Bluffs, IA · public	$47,545	Not adjusted	Not reported	$7,110	15%
18	North Central InstituteClarksville, TN · private for-profit	$47,144	Not adjusted	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
19	Aviation Institute of Maintenance-FremontFremont, CA · private for-profit	$47,109	$42,548	$60,502	$32,500	69%
20	Wichita State University-Campus of Applied Sciences and TechnologyWichita, KS · public	$47,014	$52,198	$57,901	$12,000	26%
21	St Cloud Technical and Community CollegeSaint Cloud, MN · public	$45,960	$46,603	$57,990	$12,000	26%
22	Alexandria Technical & Community CollegeAlexandria, MN · public	$45,951	$46,594	$55,522	$12,000	26%
23	National Aviation Academy of New EnglandConcord, MA · private for-profit	$45,801	$43,308	$63,903	$21,958	48%
24	Fox Valley Technical CollegeAppleton, WI · public	$45,675	$48,541	$63,686	$8,250	18%
25	IYRS School of Technology & TradesNewport, RI · private nonprofit	$45,663	Not adjusted	$46,354	$9,500	21%
26	Rosedale Technical CollegePittsburgh, PA · private nonprofit	$45,479	$46,611	$41,069	$15,958	35%
27	Minnesota State Community and Technical CollegeFergus Falls, MN · public	$44,661	Not adjusted	$44,862	Not reported	Not reported
28	Aviation Institute of Maintenance-NorfolkNorfolk, VA · private for-profit	$44,572	$44,085	$51,423	$29,728	67%
29	Bismarck State CollegeBismarck, ND · public	$44,309	$49,808	$55,078	$6,275	14%
30	Jefferson Community and Technical CollegeLouisville, KY · public	$44,238	$49,067	$44,686	$9,625	22%
31	Aviation Institute of Maintenance-OrlandoCasselberry, FL · private for-profit	$44,097	$42,641	$51,767	$30,941	70%
32	Gateway Technical CollegeKenosha, WI · public	$43,965	$46,724	Not reported	$9,333	21%
33	Western Suffolk BOCESNorthport, NY · public	$43,952	$40,726	$61,136	$16,717	38%
34	Northeast Iowa Community CollegeCalmar, IA · public	$43,536	$49,607	$57,150	$5,500	13%
35	Northern Wyoming Community College DistrictSheridan, WY · public	$43,506	Not adjusted	$68,385	Not reported	Not reported
36	Aviation Institute of Maintenance-DallasIrving, TX · private for-profit	$43,460	$44,778	$53,334	$32,500	75%
37	Amarillo CollegeAmarillo, TX · public	$43,443	$44,760	$52,468	$10,500	24%
38	San Diego Miramar CollegeSan Diego, CA · public	$43,285	$39,094	$55,590	Not reported	Not reported
39	Northland Community and Technical CollegeThief River Falls, MN · public	$43,254	$43,859	$52,470	$11,302	26%
40	Central Georgia Technical CollegeWarner Robins, GA · public	$42,493	$44,129	$43,471	$8,250	19%
41	Hennepin Technical CollegeBrooklyn Park, MN · public	$42,294	$42,885	$49,002	$11,129	26%
42	Guilford Technical Community CollegeJamestown, NC · public	$42,264	$44,806	$56,024	$10,702	25%
43	Aims Community CollegeGreeley, CO · public	$42,120	$40,873	Not reported	$8,125	19%
44	Blue Ridge Community College (Virginia)Weyers Cave, VA · public	$41,801	$41,345	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
45	Front Range Community CollegeWestminster, CO · public	$41,745	$40,509	Not reported	$10,501	25%
46	Central Lakes College-BrainerdBrainerd, MN · public	$41,672	$42,255	$55,050	$6,500	16%
47	Rock Valley CollegeRockford, IL · public	$41,625	$41,642	$76,119	$8,745	21%
48	Saint Paul CollegeSaint Paul, MN · public	$41,572	$42,153	$61,551	$12,000	29%
49	Tennessee College of Applied Technology-MemphisMemphis, TN · public	$41,268	$44,920	$47,728	$10,106	24%
50	Northshore Technical Community CollegeLacombe, LA · public	$41,225	$46,737	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
51	Universal Technical Institute of ArizonaAvondale, AZ · private for-profit	$41,147	$40,870	$54,442	$14,243	35%
52	Austin Community College DistrictAustin, TX · public	$40,720	$41,955	Not reported	$11,000	27%
53	Metro Technology CentersOklahoma City, OK · public	$40,624	$46,246	$67,434	$12,500	31%
54	Universal Technical Institute of TexasHouston, TX · private for-profit	$40,469	$41,696	$53,251	$16,000	40%
55	Emily Griffith Technical CollegeDenver, CO · public	$40,358	$39,163	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
56	Spartan College of Aeronautics & TechnologyInglewood, CA · private for-profit	$40,206	$36,313	$59,421	$20,009	50%
57	Greenville Technical CollegeGreenville, SC · public	$40,140	$42,816	$57,694	$9,500	24%
58	West Georgia Technical CollegeWaco, GA · public	$40,092	$41,635	$37,378	Not reported	Not reported
59	Pinellas Technical College-ClearwaterClearwater, FL · public	$40,025	$38,704	$36,335	Not reported	Not reported
60	University of Northwestern OhioLima, OH · private nonprofit	$39,960	Not adjusted	$54,470	$17,417	44%
61	Baker CollegeOwosso, MI · private nonprofit	$39,719	$41,281	$50,127	$5,500	14%
62	GateWay Community CollegePhoenix, AZ · public	$39,690	$39,423	$48,731	Not reported	Not reported
63	San Jacinto Community CollegePasadena, TX · public	$39,562	$40,762	$57,367	Not reported	Not reported
64	Aviation Institute of Maintenance-AtlantaDuluth, GA · private for-profit	$39,480	$41,000	$56,962	$32,376	82%
65	Universal Technical Institute-CantonCanton, MI · private for-profit	$39,405	$40,954	$57,466	$21,570	55%
66	Davidson-Davie Community CollegeThomasville, NC · public	$39,326	$41,692	$29,007	$15,750	40%
67	Gwinnett Technical CollegeLawrenceville, GA · public	$39,268	$40,780	$35,924	Not reported	Not reported
68	Idaho StatePocatello, ID · public	$39,256	$41,108	$47,443	$11,000	28%
69	Minnesota West Community and Technical CollegeGranite Falls, MN · public	$39,165	$39,713	$46,376	$9,500	24%
70	Advanced Technology InstituteVirginia Beach, VA · private for-profit	$38,942	$38,517	$46,328	$14,619	38%
71	Fort Myers Technical CollegeFort Myers, FL · public	$38,900	$37,616	$42,047	Not reported	Not reported
72	Bridgerland Technical CollegeLogan, UT · public	$38,707	$39,152	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
73	Aviation Institute of Maintenance-HoustonHouston, TX · private for-profit	$38,623	$39,794	$52,893	$32,500	84%
74	George Stone Technical CollegePensacola, FL · public	$38,536	$37,264	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
75	Pickens Technical CollegeAurora, CO · public	$38,503	$37,363	$31,741	Not reported	Not reported
76	Ozarks Technical Community CollegeSpringfield, MO · public	$38,457	$42,346	$42,011	$11,000	29%
77	Orange Technical College-South CampusOrlando, FL · public	$38,454	$37,185	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
78	Chippewa Valley Technical CollegeEau Claire, WI · public	$38,091	$40,481	$42,645	$9,500	25%
79	Ridgewater CollegeWillmar, MN · public	$38,001	$38,532	$49,744	$9,885	26%
80	Middle Georgia StateMacon, GA · public	$37,977	$39,439	Not reported	$11,000	29%
81	Grand Rapids Community CollegeGrand Rapids, MI · public	$37,927	$39,418	$43,271	$6,460	17%
82	Pima Community CollegeTucson, AZ · public	$37,826	$37,572	$56,784	$9,125	24%
83	Delgado Community CollegeNew Orleans, LA · public	$37,769	$42,819	Not reported	$13,905	37%
84	Southwest Wisconsin Technical CollegeFennimore, WI · public	$37,745	$40,114	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
85	Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community CollegeAsheville, NC · public	$37,714	$39,983	$50,414	Not reported	Not reported
86	Automotive Training Center-ExtonExton, PA · private for-profit	$37,484	$38,417	$50,592	$15,641	42%
87	Lakeshore Technical CollegeCleveland, WI · public	$37,431	$39,780	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
88	Northwest Technical InstituteSpringdale, AR · public	$37,388	$43,006	$42,968	Not reported	Not reported
89	Houston City CollegeHouston, TX · public	$37,377	$38,510	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
90	Davis Technical CollegeKaysville, UT · public	$37,371	$37,800	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
91	Ivy Tech Community CollegeIndianapolis, IN · public	$37,317	$39,984	$47,148	$7,000	19%
92	Great Oaks Career CampusesCincinnati, OH · public	$37,307	$40,213	$51,343	$8,250	22%
93	Spokane Community CollegeSpokane, WA · public	$37,228	$34,788	$51,033	$16,433	44%
94	Ranken Technical CollegeSaint Louis, MO · private nonprofit	$37,055	$40,802	$42,498	$13,208	36%
95	Rochester Community and Technical CollegeRochester, MN · public	$37,029	$37,547	$54,143	$12,000	32%
96	Madison Area Technical CollegeMadison, WI · public	$37,001	$39,323	Not reported	$9,500	26%
97	Dallas CollegeDallas, TX · public	$36,956	$38,077	$53,737	$9,508	26%
98	Kansas City Kansas Community CollegeKansas City, KS · public	$36,954	$41,029	$39,447	$4,849	13%
99	Hillsborough CollegeTampa, FL · public	$36,894	$35,676	$40,315	$7,876	21%
100	Pennco Tech-BlackwoodBlackwood, NJ · private for-profit	$36,800	$33,822	$39,906	$13,675	37%
101	Tennessee College of Applied Technology NashvilleNashville, TN · public	$36,772	$40,026	$43,743	Not reported	Not reported
102	Tennessee College of Applied Technology-KnoxvilleKnoxville, TN · public	$36,758	$40,011	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
103	College of Western IdahoNampa, ID · public	$36,676	$38,407	$50,627	$8,500	23%
104	Community Care CollegeTulsa, OK · private nonprofit	$36,587	$41,650	$40,116	$13,437	37%
105	Elizabethtown Community and Technical CollegeElizabethtown, KY · public	$36,574	$40,566	Not reported	$8,849	24%
106	Tulsa Technology CenterTulsa, OK · public	$36,437	$41,480	$40,856	$7,500	21%
107	Santa Ana CollegeSanta Ana, CA · public	$36,380	$32,858	$47,602	Not reported	Not reported
108	Aviation Institute of Maintenance-ManassasManassas, VA · private for-profit	$36,285	$35,889	$53,839	$32,500	90%
109	Perry Technical InstituteYakima, WA · private nonprofit	$36,253	$33,877	$46,000	$7,892	22%
110	Western Technical College (Wisconsin)La Crosse, WI · public	$36,011	$38,271	$48,346	$5,500	15%
111	West Kentucky Community and Technical CollegePaducah, KY · public	$35,929	$39,851	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
112	Lincoln College of Technology-IndianapolisIndianapolis, IN · private for-profit	$35,905	$38,471	$47,664	$13,560	38%
113	Northern Virginia Community CollegeAnnandale, VA · public	$35,887	$35,495	$61,320	Not reported	Not reported
114	Washburn UniversityTopeka, KS · public	$35,875	$39,831	$48,275	$7,000	20%
115	Universal Technical Institute-PhoenixAvondale, AZ · private for-profit	$35,784	Not adjusted	$47,333	$13,875	39%
116	Northeast Wisconsin Technical CollegeGreen Bay, WI · public	$35,759	$38,003	$45,326	$9,000	25%
117	Northwood Technical CollegeRice Lake, WI · public	$35,702	$37,943	$57,842	$7,000	20%
118	Palm Beach State CollegeLake Worth, FL · public	$35,687	$34,509	$45,108	Not reported	Not reported
119	Western Iowa Tech Community CollegeSioux City, IA · public	$35,550	$40,507	$48,346	$5,500	15%
120	WyoTechLaramie, WY · private for-profit	$35,524	Not adjusted	$48,863	$6,800	19%
121	Crowder CollegeNeosho, MO · public	$35,469	$39,055	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
122	Milwaukee Area Technical CollegeMilwaukee, WI · public	$35,427	$37,650	$45,595	$8,375	24%
123	Lawson State Community CollegeBirmingham, AL · public	$35,347	$39,795	$40,432	Not reported	Not reported
124	Northern Michigan UniversityMarquette, MI · public	$35,338	Not adjusted	Not reported	$11,000	31%
125	Century College (Minnesota)White Bear Lake, MN · public	$35,241	$35,734	$48,032	Not reported	Not reported
126	Traviss Technical CollegeLakeland, FL · public	$35,210	$34,048	$47,874	Not reported	Not reported
127	South Louisiana Community CollegeLafayette, LA · public	$35,177	$39,880	Not reported	$5,500	16%
128	Miller-Motte College-ChattanoogaChattanooga, TN · private for-profit	$35,147	$38,257	$39,477	$15,333	44%
129	Fred K Marchman Technical CollegeNew Port Richey, FL · public	$35,060	$33,903	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
130	Chattanooga State Community CollegeChattanooga, TN · public	$35,028	$38,128	$41,542	$5,500	16%
131	Aviation Institute of Maintenance-TeterboroHasbrouck Heights, NJ · private for-profit	$34,982	$32,151	Not reported	$13,304	38%
132	Gateway Community and Technical CollegeFlorence, KY · public	$34,954	$38,769	Not reported	$6,000	17%
133	Savannah Technical CollegeSavannah, GA · public	$34,926	$36,271	$40,119	Not reported	Not reported
134	Tidewater Community CollegeNorfolk, VA · public	$34,696	$34,317	Not reported	$7,000	20%
135	Ocean County Vocational-Technical SchoolToms River, NJ · public	$34,603	$31,803	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
136	Iowa Lakes Community CollegeEstherville, IA · public	$34,586	Not adjusted	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
137	Lorenzo Walker Technical CollegeNaples, FL · public	$34,371	$33,236	$49,324	Not reported	Not reported
138	Ohio Technical CollegeCleveland, OH · private for-profit	$34,312	$36,984	$43,294	$12,000	35%
139	Atlantic Technical CollegeCoconut Creek, FL · public	$34,269	$33,138	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
140	Motoring Technical Training InstituteSeekonk, MA · private for-profit	$34,078	Not adjusted	$40,447	$9,152	27%
141	Porter & Chester InstituteBridgeport, CT · private for-profit	$34,030	$32,844	$43,193	$13,910	41%
142	Lake Superior CollegeDuluth, MN · public	$33,889	$34,363	$48,332	$12,000	35%
142	YTI Career Institute-YorkYork, PA · private for-profit	$33,889	Not adjusted	$41,889	Not reported	Not reported
144	Advanced Training InstituteLas Vegas, NV · private for-profit	$33,760	$33,767	Not reported	$12,849	38%
145	Tennessee College of Applied Technology-DicksonDickson, TN · public	$33,621	$36,596	$38,734	Not reported	Not reported
146	Texas State Technical CollegeWaco, TX · public	$33,599	$34,618	$44,695	$7,334	22%
147	Porter & Chester Institute of HamdenHamden, CT · private for-profit	$33,379	$32,216	$37,274	$13,910	42%
148	Tennessee College of Applied Technology-HohenwaldHohenwald, TN · public	$33,196	$36,134	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
149	Ridge Technical CollegeWinter Haven, FL · public	$33,118	$32,025	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
150	Tennessee College of Applied Technology-MorristownMorristown, TN · public	$33,037	$35,961	$38,374	Not reported	Not reported
151	Lincoln Technical Institute-New BritainNew Britain, CT · private for-profit	$32,767	$31,625	$43,226	$14,130	43%
152	TCAT AthensAthens, TN · public	$32,320	$35,180	$39,188	Not reported	Not reported
153	Virginia Highlands Community CollegeAbingdon, VA · public	$32,277	$31,925	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
154	Withlacoochee Technical CollegeInverness, FL · public	$32,263	$31,198	$34,371	Not reported	Not reported
155	New York Automotive and Diesel InstituteJamaica, NY · private for-profit	$32,073	$29,719	$46,326	$15,723	49%
156	Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Kansas CityKansas City, MO · private for-profit	$32,011	$35,248	$52,500	$31,494	98%
157	Tennessee College of Applied Technology-MurfreesboroMurfreesboro, TN · public	$31,992	$34,823	$35,307	Not reported	Not reported
158	East Mississippi Community CollegeScooba, MS · public	$31,830	Not adjusted	Not reported	$5,500	17%
158	Laramie County Community CollegeCheyenne, WY · public	$31,830	$34,340	$43,513	$5,500	17%
160	Texarkana CollegeTexarkana, TX · public	$31,775	$32,738	Not reported	$6,166	19%
161	Sheridan Technical CollegeHollywood, FL · public	$31,684	$30,638	$43,253	Not reported	Not reported
162	Forsyth Technical Community CollegeWinston-Salem, NC · public	$31,633	$33,536	Not reported	$10,840	34%
163	Tennessee College of Applied Technology-HarrimanHarriman, TN · public	$31,598	$34,394	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
164	Robert Morgan Educational Center and Technical CollegeMiami, FL · public	$31,513	$30,473	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
165	Daytona State CollegeDaytona Beach, FL · public	$31,485	Not adjusted	$42,478	Not reported	Not reported
166	Tennessee College of Applied Technology NorthwestNewbern, TN · public	$31,480	$34,266	$32,705	Not reported	Not reported
167	Gadsden State Community CollegeGadsden, AL · public	$31,387	$35,337	$48,539	Not reported	Not reported
168	Northeast Technology CenterPryor, OK · public	$31,330	$35,666	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
169	Manatee Technical CollegeBradenton, FL · public	$31,290	$30,257	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
170	Laredo CollegeLaredo, TX · public	$31,288	$32,237	$35,692	Not reported	Not reported
171	Fletcher Technical Community CollegeSchriever, LA · public	$31,215	$35,388	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
172	North American Trade SchoolsBaltimore, MD · private for-profit	$31,003	$29,538	$49,374	$10,547	34%
173	National Park CollegeHot Springs, AR · public	$30,913	$35,558	$31,622	Not reported	Not reported
174	Somerset Community CollegeSomerset, KY · public	$30,857	$34,225	$45,846	$9,586	31%
175	Midlands Technical CollegeWest Columbia, SC · public	$30,639	$32,682	Not reported	$10,506	34%
176	UEI College-Huntington ParkHuntington Park, CA · private for-profit	$30,636	$27,670	Not reported	$9,500	31%
177	Tidewater Tech-TradesNorfolk, VA · private for-profit	$30,531	$30,198	$34,268	$14,750	48%
178	Georgia Piedmont Technical CollegeClarkston, GA · public	$30,515	$31,690	$37,485	Not reported	Not reported
179	School of Automotive Machinists & TechnologyHouston, TX · private for-profit	$30,420	$31,342	$47,929	$10,500	35%
180	Virginia Western Community CollegeRoanoke, VA · public	$30,414	$30,082	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
181	Intellitec College-Grand JunctionGrand Junction, CO · private for-profit	$30,348	$29,449	Not reported	$10,422	34%
181	Northwest Louisiana Technical Community CollegeMinden, LA · public	$30,348	Not adjusted	$34,410	Not reported	Not reported
183	Tom P. Haney Technical CollegePanama City, FL · public	$30,088	Not adjusted	$40,984	Not reported	Not reported
184	Apex Technical SchoolLong Island City, NY · private nonprofit	$30,036	$27,831	$35,513	$9,500	32%
185	Lake Technical CollegeEustis, FL · public	$29,912	$28,925	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
186	Okaloosa Technical CollegeFort Walton Beach, FL · public	$29,858	Not adjusted	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
187	Erwin Technical CollegeTampa, FL · public	$29,565	$28,589	$44,088	Not reported	Not reported
188	Osceola Technical CollegeKissimmee, FL · public	$29,447	$28,475	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
189	Francis Tuttle Technology CenterOklahoma City, OK · public	$29,418	$33,489	$30,793	Not reported	Not reported
190	William T McFatter Technical CollegeDavie, FL · public	$29,283	$28,316	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
191	Grand River Technical SchoolChillicothe, MO · public	$29,083	$32,024	$38,814	Not reported	Not reported
192	South Georgia Technical CollegeAmericus, GA · public	$28,841	$29,951	$48,285	Not reported	Not reported
193	American Advanced Technicians InstituteHialeah, FL · private for-profit	$28,380	$27,443	$32,645	$6,519	23%
194	Lively Technical CollegeTallahassee, FL · public	$28,179	$27,249	$50,984	Not reported	Not reported
195	Pennco Tech-BristolBristol, PA · private for-profit	$27,834	$28,527	$33,892	$10,200	37%
196	UEI College-GardenaGardena, CA · private for-profit	$27,550	$24,883	$36,251	$9,500	34%
197	North Georgia Technical CollegeClarkesville, GA · public	$27,454	$28,511	$42,209	Not reported	Not reported
198	Atlanta Technical CollegeAtlanta, GA · public	$27,448	$28,505	$36,539	$11,790	43%
199	Suncoast Technical CollegeSarasota, FL · public	$27,214	$26,316	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
200	Tennessee College of Applied Technology-ElizabethtonElizabethton, TN · public	$27,142	$29,544	$40,589	Not reported	Not reported
201	Louisiana Delta Community CollegeMonroe, LA · public	$26,413	$29,944	$33,956	$10,750	41%
202	CET-San JoseSan Jose, CA · private nonprofit	$26,336	$23,786	$39,279	$7,257	28%
203	South Texas CollegeMcAllen, TX · public	$26,091	$26,882	$41,838	Not reported	Not reported
204	Pinellas Technical College-St. PetersburgSaint Petersburg, FL · public	$25,968	$25,111	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
205	Mobile Technical TrainingSouth Hackensack, NJ · private for-profit	$24,432	Not adjusted	Not reported	$2,420	10%
206	Wilkes Community CollegeWilkesboro, NC · public	$24,245	$25,703	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
207	Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Henry/CarrollParis, TN · public	$24,229	$26,373	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
208	Tennessee College of Applied Technology-JacksboroJacksboro, TN · public	$23,655	$25,748	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
209	Erie Institute of TechnologyErie, PA · private for-profit	$23,370	$23,952	Not reported	$9,500	41%
210	UEI College-FresnoFresno, CA · private for-profit	$22,329	$20,167	Not reported	$9,500	43%
211	Southwest Texas CollegeUvalde, TX · public	$21,826	$22,488	$40,290	Not reported	Not reported
212	University of Arkansas-Pulaski Technical CollegeNorth Little Rock, AR · public	$21,483	Not adjusted	Not reported	$9,949	46%
213	Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Upper CumberlandCrossville, TN · public	$21,168	$23,041	$34,049	Not reported	Not reported
214	Texas Southmost CollegeBrownsville, TX · public	$20,461	$21,081	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
215	Philadelphia Technician TrainingPhiladelphia, PA · private nonprofit	$19,999	$20,497	$24,727	$9,500	48%
216	Hazard Community and Technical CollegeHazard, KY · public	$18,263	$20,256	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
217	Mech-Tech CollegeCaguas, PR · private for-profit	$17,011	Not adjusted	$23,651	$3,794	22%
218	Indian Capital Technology Center-MuskogeeMuskogee, OK · public	$16,315	Not adjusted	$29,355	Not reported	Not reported
219	Hinds Community CollegeRaymond, MS · public	$15,553	$17,887	$32,190	$7,483	48%
220	Automeca Technical College-BayamonBayamon, PR · private for-profit	$15,287	Not adjusted	$23,354	$3,000	20%
221	Liceo de Arte y TecnologiaSan Juan, PR · private for-profit	$11,000	Not adjusted	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported

Pay after cost of living divides first-year pay by the Bureau of Economic Analysis price level of the school's state, where the US average is 100. It is shown for 194 programs where at least half of the graduates who work are working in the school's state. The other 27, whose graduates mostly work in other states or whose state has no price level, are listed last when you sort by it.

92 programs report pay but not debt, so they are ranked only by pay.

College Scorecard withholds pay for programs with too few graduates, to protect their privacy, so those programs can't be ranked. 2 more programs report pay but aren't listed, because College Scorecard's school file doesn't name their schools. The national medians above still count them.

Vehicle Maintenance and Repair (Certificate) programs by state

Each row is the median across the state's vehicle maintenance and repair certificate programs. State names link to the full ranking of that state's programs.

#	State	Programs	Year 1 pay	Debt
1	Minnesota	13	$41,672	$11,651
2	California	11	$40,206	$9,500
3	Michigan	5	$39,405	$11,000
4	Wisconsin	10	$37,216	$8,688
5	Texas	16	$37,167	$10,500
6	Virginia	9	$35,887	$14,750
7	Pennsylvania	8	$35,687	$15,641

Programs in 33 more states and territories report pay, but too few to rank. A state ranking needs at least five programs that report both pay and debt.

Quick picks nationwide

Lowest median debt

Baker College, MI$5,500
Western Technical College (Wisconsin), WI$5,500
Texarkana College, TX$6,166
Grand Rapids Community College, MI$6,460
Central Lakes College-Brainerd, MN$6,500
Northwood Technical College, WI$7,000
Tidewater Community College, VA$7,000
CET-San Jose, CA$7,257
Texas State Technical College, TX$7,334
Fox Valley Technical College, WI$8,250

Lowest debt for the pay

Baker College, MI14%
Western Technical College (Wisconsin), WI15%
Central Lakes College-Brainerd, MN16%
Grand Rapids Community College, MI17%
Fox Valley Technical College, WI18%
Texarkana College, TX19%
Northwood Technical College, WI20%
Tidewater Community College, VA20%
Gateway Technical College, WI21%
Texas State Technical College, TX22%

Only the 52 programs with their own page here are included. "Debt for the pay" is median debt divided by first-year pay.

Careers this field leads to

These are the jobs that the federal crosswalk from fields of study to occupations links to vehicle maintenance and repair, largest first. Pay is the median across the US and all experience levels.

Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics

$50,620

Median pay in the US. 704,640 people work in this job in the US. Nationally, jobs are projected to grow 5% from 2025 to 2035, with about 66,200 openings a year. Typical education to start: postsecondary nondegree award.

Bottom 10%: $34,660Top 10%: $81,790

First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers

$79,860

Median pay in the US. 617,500 people work in this job in the US. Nationally, jobs are projected to grow 4% from 2025 to 2035, with about 48,900 openings a year. Typical education to start: high school diploma or equivalent, plus less than 5 years of related work experience.

Bottom 10%: $49,600Top 10%: $126,790

Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists

$61,770

Median pay in the US. 289,960 people work in this job in the US. Nationally, jobs are projected to grow 4% from 2025 to 2035, with about 24,400 openings a year. Typical education to start: high school diploma or equivalent.

Bottom 10%: $44,530Top 10%: $88,740

Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

$48,250

Median pay in the US. 158,740 people work in this job in the US. Nationally, jobs are projected to grow 3% from 2025 to 2035, with about 15,300 openings a year. Typical education to start: high school diploma or equivalent.

Bottom 10%: $36,260Top 10%: $74,730

Common questions

The median vehicle maintenance and repair certificate program in the US pays its graduates $35,905 in their first year and $44,862 five years after.

Vehicle Maintenance and Repair (Associate's) programs in the US, ranked130 programs by pay and debt

About this data

Earnings and debt only include students who received federal financial aid, and earnings only count graduates who were working and not enrolled in more school.
Debt only includes federal loans. Private loans and credit cards are not counted.
Medians are across programs, not students: each program counts once, however many graduates it has.
National medians include every program in the 50 states, DC, and US territories, including schools that have since closed. Schools with several campuses that report one combined figure are counted once.
Programs are ranked by College Scorecard median pay one year after graduation. Pay after cost of living uses the price level of the school's state.
Scorecard figures describe graduating classes from several years ago. BLS wages are from May 2025. Price levels are the Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities for 2024.

Sources

U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, field of study and institution files, June 2026 release
Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025
Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025 to 2035
NCES, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk
Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities, 2024