Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration at East Central College
MO · Associate's Degree · CIP 47.02
Executive Summary
Graduates with a Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration degree from East Central College earn a median salary of $47,392 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in MO, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $53,130. The degree typically pays for itself in 11.5 years.
Quick Insights
How this degree looks at a glance
A fast read on salary range, break-even speed, living-cost impact, and where graduates from this school usually land.
Salary Ranges
Starting Range
$31,275
Typical Career
$47,392
Top Performers
$66,976
Estimated break-even: 11.5 years.
Debt-to-Income Check
$316
Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment
Typical monthly pay is approximately $3,949. Most students can comfortably afford about a $316 monthly loan payment with this degree.
Comparison Bench
This degree earns 1.2x more than the average US high school graduate and 0.6x more than the average college graduate.
Purchasing Power Context
A dollar in Missouri buys what costs $0.89 nationally.
Industry Breadcrumbs
Top industries for bachelor's graduates from this school: Manufacturing, Health Care & Social Assistance, Public Administration.
Where Associate's Graduates from This School Work
Institution-wide industry mix for graduates, 5 years after graduation. This is not major-specific. Source: Census PSEO Flows.
5-Year Median Salary — National Purchasing Power Equivalent
$53,130
Nominal: $47,392 in Missouri (COL 89.2% of national avg) · 12.1% higher purchasing power
10-Year Earnings Curve
Break-Even Timeline
How long until cumulative earnings advantage exceeds total college investment (tuition + opportunity cost vs. entering workforce directly after high school).
Total Investment
$155,168
4yr tuition + 4yr opportunity cost
HS Graduate Baseline
$38,792/yr
BLS 2023 median, HS diploma
View Raw Data: Median Earnings by Year
| Timeframe | 25th Pct. | Median (50th) | 75th Pct. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Year After Graduation | $30,828 | $40,170 | $57,063 |
| 5 Years After Graduation | $31,275 | $47,392 | $66,976 |
| 10 Years After Graduation | $46,435 | $64,085 | $81,671 |
Source: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO), 2025 release. Earnings shown for Bachelor's degree graduates (all cohorts combined).
How We Calculate Purchasing Power
The median salary of $47,392 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in MO, which has a cost-of-living index of 89.2% of the national average.
Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $47,392 × (1.0 ÷ 0.8920)
= $53,130 National Average equivalent.
COL index source: BLS Regional Consumer Price Index & MIT Living Wage Project, 2023. Full methodology →
Career Verdict
The program's graduates primarily enter the Health Care & Social Assistance (30.1%), Manufacturing (20.9%), and Manufacturing (19.4%) industries, reflecting a diverse job market. With an estimated break-even point of about 11.5 years compared to a high school-only path, the return on investment for this vocational training appears favorable. Overall, pursuing a career in this field offers a promising financial outlook and access to stable employment opportunities.
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Data sources: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO). Cost-of-living index: BLS Regional CPI & MIT Living Wage Project. Cost of attendance: IPEDS. For informational use only; data may be suppressed for small cohort sizes.