Energy Systems Technologies/Technicians at Iowa Lakes Community College
Estherville, IA · Public · Associate Degree
TradeSchoolWorth Score (Base Case)
59
Strong Growth
59
Base Case
58
Conservative
Earnings
$60,039/yr (-4% vs median)
AI-Proof
Resilient (78% shielded)
Job Market
Medium (19,100 openings/yr)
Future-Proof Earnings
Three scenarios modeling future earnings based on technology adoption rates and job market trends for Energy Systems Technologies/Technicians graduates.
| Strong Growth Full Stability |
Base Case Moderate Changes |
Conservative Max Disruption |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-Year Earnings | $688K | $596K | $520K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 47.8x | 41.4x | 36.1x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 45.0x | 39.0x | 34.0x |
| Viable Career Paths | 6 of 6 | 6 of 6 | 6 of 6 |
| TradeSchoolWorth Score | 59 | 59 | 58 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as technology and market conditions evolve over time.
Program Tuition (In-State)
$14,392
Out-of-state: $15,288
Career Paths
Where Energy Systems Technologies/Technicians graduates typically work. Raw data — no blending. The scenarios above model how these factors interact. This field has roughly 19,100 combined openings per year.
| Career Path | Wage | Openings/yr | Growth | AI-Proof |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay | $100,940 | 2,000 | +5.5% | 66% |
| Power plant operators | $99,670 | 2,500 | -11.2% | 90% |
| Commercial and industrial designers | $79,450 | 2,500 | +3.2% | 53% |
| Engineering technologists and technicians, except drafters, all other | $77,390 | 5,700 | +1.5% | 76% |
| Wind turbine service technicians | $62,580 | 2,300 | +49.9% | 96% |
| Solar photovoltaic installers | $51,860 | 4,100 | +42.1% | 89% |
Compare & Explore
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the TradeSchoolWorth Score for Energy Systems Technologies/Technicians at Iowa Lakes Community College?
This program scores 59/100 in the Base Case scenario, factoring in earnings, AI resilience, job market size, and earnings multiple. The score ranges from 58 (conservative) to 59 (strong growth) depending on market conditions.
How AI-proof is a career in Energy Systems Technologies/Technicians?
We model three scenarios: Strong Growth (full career stability), Base Case (moderate changes), and Conservative (maximum disruption). In the base case, Energy Systems Technologies/Technicians graduates retain 6 of 6 viable career paths. 10-year earnings range from $519,812 (conservative) to $688,279 (strong growth).
How many job openings are there for Energy Systems Technologies/Technicians graduates?
The career paths mapped to Energy Systems Technologies/Technicians have roughly 19,100 combined job openings per year nationally, making this a medium job market.
Is Energy Systems Technologies/Technicians at Iowa Lakes Community College worth it?
In the Base Case, this program earns 41.4x its tuition over 10 years. Even in the Conservative scenario, the multiple is 36.1x. The narrow spread between scenarios shows how stable trade careers are compared to desk jobs.
Data: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (earnings, debt), Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024-2034
(employment projections), OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs research (AI task exposure), Felten et al. AIOE.
Scenarios model earnings resilience using AI exposure data and BLS job growth projections.
"Earnings Multiple" is total 10-year projected earnings divided by tuition — not a discounted financial ROI.
Last updated 2026.