Data Processing at Tri-County Technical College
SC · Associate's Degree · CIP 11.03
Executive Summary
Graduates with a Data Processing degree from Tri-County Technical College earn a median salary of $48,703 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in SC, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $51,159. The degree typically pays for itself in 13.2 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
$34,325
Typical Career
$48,703
Top Performers
$60,449
Estimated break-even: 13.2 years.
Debt-to-Income Check
$325
Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment
Typical monthly pay is approximately $4,059. Most students can comfortably afford about a $325 monthly loan payment with this degree.
Comparison Bench
This degree earns 1.3x more than the average US high school graduate and 0.6x more than the average college graduate.
Purchasing Power Context
A dollar in South Carolina buys what costs $0.95 nationally.
Industry Breadcrumbs
Top industries for bachelor's graduates from this school: Health Care & Social Assistance, Manufacturing, 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
$51,159
Nominal: $48,703 in South Carolina (COL 95.2% of national avg) · 5% 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 | $27,827 | $36,419 | $47,276 |
| 5 Years After Graduation | $34,325 | $48,703 | $60,449 |
| 10 Years After Graduation | $44,568 | $57,688 | $75,006 |
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 $48,703 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in SC, which has a cost-of-living index of 95.2% of the national average.
Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $48,703 × (1.0 ÷ 0.9520)
= $51,159 National Average equivalent.
COL index source: BLS Regional Consumer Price Index & MIT Living Wage Project, 2023. Full methodology →
Career Verdict
Graduates primarily enter the Health Care & Social Assistance sectors, with 69.2% and 30.7% of graduates finding roles in these areas, alongside 21.2% in Manufacturing. The estimated break-even point for those pursuing this path versus a high-school-only education is approximately 21.1 years, suggesting a long-term return on investment for students. Overall, while the initial earnings may not be exceptionally high, the growth potential and industry demand indicate a viable career path for those interested in data processing.
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Other Degrees at Tri-County 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.