Agricultural Mechanization at Kirkwood Community College
Cedar Rapids, IA · Public · Associate Degree
TradeSchoolWorth Score (Base Case)
62
Strong Growth
62
Base Case
60
Conservative
Earnings
$54,829/yr (7% vs median)
AI-Proof
Resilient (78% shielded)
Job Market
Large (51,600 openings/yr)
Future-Proof Earnings
Three scenarios modeling future earnings based on technology adoption rates and job market trends for Agricultural Mechanization graduates.
| Strong Growth Full Stability |
Base Case Moderate Changes |
Conservative Max Disruption |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-Year Earnings | $628K | $562K | $490K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 52.5x | 47.0x | 40.9x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 39.4x | 35.3x | 30.7x |
| Viable Career Paths | 6 of 6 | 6 of 6 | 6 of 6 |
| TradeSchoolWorth Score | 62 | 62 | 60 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as technology and market conditions evolve over time.
Program Tuition (In-State)
$11,960
Out-of-state: $15,936
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$61,665
12% growth from Year 1
Career Paths
Where Agricultural Mechanization graduates typically work. Raw data — no blending. The scenarios above model how these factors interact. This field has roughly 51,600 combined openings per year.
| Career Path | Wage | Openings/yr | Growth | AI-Proof |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agricultural sciences teachers, postsecondary | $86,350 | 800 | +4.1% | 50% |
| Aircraft mechanics and service technicians | $78,680 | 11,300 | +4.0% | 87% |
| Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines | $63,980 | 16,500 | +5.8% | 90% |
| Career/technical education teachers, postsecondary | $61,490 | 8,800 | +0.7% | 51% |
| Farm equipment mechanics and service technicians | $52,080 | 3,700 | +11.0% | 88% |
| Agricultural equipment operators | $42,580 | 10,500 | +7.7% | 100% |
Compare & Explore
Agricultural Mechanization Overview
Agricultural Mechanization at Other Schools
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the TradeSchoolWorth Score for Agricultural Mechanization at Kirkwood Community College?
This program scores 62/100 in the Base Case scenario, factoring in earnings, AI resilience, job market size, and earnings multiple. The score ranges from 60 (conservative) to 62 (strong growth) depending on market conditions.
How AI-proof is a career in Agricultural Mechanization?
We model three scenarios: Strong Growth (full career stability), Base Case (moderate changes), and Conservative (maximum disruption). In the base case, Agricultural Mechanization graduates retain 6 of 6 viable career paths. 10-year earnings range from $489,757 (conservative) to $628,003 (strong growth).
How many job openings are there for Agricultural Mechanization graduates?
The career paths mapped to Agricultural Mechanization have roughly 51,600 combined job openings per year nationally, making this a large job market.
Is Agricultural Mechanization at Kirkwood Community College worth it?
In the Base Case, this program earns 47.0x its tuition over 10 years. Even in the Conservative scenario, the multiple is 40.9x. 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.