Home Schools Western Kentucky University Industrial Production Technology
Engineering Technology · Industrial Production Technology Rank #23 of 48

Industrial Production Technologyat Western Kentucky University

Graduates earn $60,675/yr in their first year — about 1.0% above the national Industrial Production Technology average. Base-case 10-year earnings $630K; scenarios range from $585K to $637K depending on AI disruption.

Bowling Green, KY Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
63 SOLID
64
Optimistic
63
Pessimistic
Earnings
$60,675
1-year post-graduation
ROI
14.9x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$630K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
Moderate
31% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Western Kentucky University

First-year earnings of $60,675 track close to the $60,266 national median for Industrial Production Technology programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

The 13.8x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 27% task exposure — and the 8% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

Ranked #23 out of 48 programs, Western Kentucky University's Industrial Production Technology offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $60,675 to $72,873 shows 20% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

AI Outlook Integration

Three scenarios, ten years out

Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$585K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score63/100
Earnings Multiple12.8x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$630K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score63/100
Earnings Multiple13.8x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$637K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score64/100
Earnings Multiple13.9x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Western Kentucky University's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Industrial Production Technology graduates typically work

Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.

1
Engineering technologists and technicians, except drafters, all other
+1.5% 10-yr growth · 5,700 openings/yr
$77,390/yr
Low
2
Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians
+0.6% 10-yr growth · 8,400 openings/yr
$77,180/yr
Moderate
3
Industrial engineering technologists and technicians
+1.7% 10-yr growth · 6,300 openings/yr
$64,790/yr
Moderate
4
Semiconductor processing technicians
+10.9% 10-yr growth · 3,900 openings/yr
$51,180/yr
Low
5
Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers
+2.2% 10-yr growth · 45,600 openings/yr
$51,000/yr
Low
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Industrial Production Technology

How Western Kentucky University stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
Brigham Young University-Idaho
ID · Private nonprofit
63
DW Score
$85K
1-yr earn
44.9x
ROI
Lamar University
TX · Public
71
DW Score
$85K
1-yr earn
21.8x
ROI
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
CA · Public
59
DW Score
$79K
1-yr earn
16.8x
ROI
Ferris State University
MI · Public
69
DW Score
$79K
1-yr earn
15.7x
ROI
Top score
Weber State University
UT · Public
72
DW Score
$75K
1-yr earn
35.3x
ROI
Also at Western Kentucky University

Other top programs at Western Kentucky University

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Western Kentucky University, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.

Consider the trade route

Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Industrial Production Technology offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.

Compare Industrial Production Technology trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →
FAQ

Frequently asked about Industrial Production Technology at Western Kentucky University

How does Western Kentucky University's Industrial Production Technology program score?

This program scores 63/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Industrial Production Technology graduates.