Science Technologies, Other at New River Community and Technical College
WV · Associate's Degree · CIP 41.99
Executive Summary
Graduates with a Science Technologies, Other degree from New River Community and Technical College earn a median salary of $41,019 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in WV, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $45,985. The degree typically pays for itself in 21.9 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
$28,276
Typical Career
$41,019
Top Performers
$49,703
Estimated break-even: 21.9 years.
Debt-to-Income Check
$273
Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment
Typical monthly pay is approximately $3,418. Most students can comfortably afford about a $273 monthly loan payment with this degree.
Comparison Bench
This degree earns 1.1x more than the average US high school graduate and 0.5x more than the average college graduate.
Purchasing Power Context
A dollar in West Virginia buys what costs $0.89 nationally.
Industry Breadcrumbs
Top industries for bachelor's graduates from this school: Health Care & Social Assistance, Retail Trade, Educational Services.
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
$45,985
Nominal: $41,019 in West Virginia (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 | $21,778 | $29,948 | $41,695 |
| 5 Years After Graduation | $28,276 | $41,019 | $49,703 |
| 10 Years After Graduation | $38,967 | $50,050 | $62,571 |
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 $41,019 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in WV, which has a cost-of-living index of 89.2% of the national average.
Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $41,019 × (1.0 ÷ 0.8920)
= $45,985 National Average equivalent.
COL index source: BLS Regional Consumer Price Index & MIT Living Wage Project, 2023. Full methodology →
Career Verdict
The primary industries for graduates are Health Care & Social Assistance, which accounts for 66.5% of employment, followed by an additional 34.5% in the same sector, and Retail Trade at 13.0%. The estimated break-even point for graduates compared to those with only a high school diploma is approximately 50.1 years, indicating a long-term return on investment. This suggests that while the initial earnings may not be significantly higher than other paths, the potential for growth in a stable industry could provide a viable career option for those interested in this field.
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Other Degrees at New River Community and Technical College
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.