HUMANITIES Specialization

Communications Technologies/Technicians and Support

Only 27 colleges in the country offer Communications Technologies/Technicians and Support, which means graduates enter the workforce from a smaller, more specialized pool. Median earnings four years out: $47,916.

About Communications Technologies/Technicians and Support

This page covers Communications Technologies/Technicians and Support as a course of study: what it costs, where it is taught, and what graduates go on to earn. It sits inside the wider field of Communications Tech and how it pays overall, which is the better comparison if you are still choosing between subjects.

Communications Technologies/Technicians and Support is a focused area of study within Communications Tech. Pick this and you can expect to earn around $47,916 four years out, a modest return for a focused credential. You will not have trouble finding it: 27 colleges offer this program, from community colleges to research universities. About 188 students complete it each year, most walking away with a associate's. The focus is on writing, analysis, and communication that transfer across industries.


Median Earnings · 1yr
$30,890
Median Earnings · 4yr
$47,916
Colleges Offering
27
Graduates / Year
188
Avg Net Price / yr
$14,049

How Much Do Communications Technologies/Technicians and Support Graduates Earn?

Four years after finishing Communications Technologies/Technicians and Support, a typical graduate earns $47,916, below average for bachelor's degree holders. Half of earners land somewhere between $31,933 and $65,026, so where you end up depends on the job and the employer. Do not judge the field on a starting paycheck alone: pay tends to jump in the first few years, climbing from $30,890 at one year out to $47,916 by year four. Source: College Scorecard.

What that figure means in practice depends on what the degree cost to get, which is a matter of lifetime earnings against total outlay.

$30,890
1 Year After Graduation

Starting salaries only. Earnings in this field grow substantially in the first 3 to 5 years.

$47,916
4-Year National Median

Below average for bachelor's degree holders.

$46,448
4-Year Institutional Median

Median of per-school medians. Each reporting college counts equally, regardless of size.


Earnings Range

Not every Communications Technologies/Technicians and Support graduate ends up in the same place. Earnings spread out a moderate amount, so know what pushes people to one end or the other. Career path divergence explains most of the range. Law, consulting, and tech-adjacent roles pull the top end up; writing, education, and nonprofit roles tend to sit near the bottom.


A Solid Financial Return

Solid ROI. At median 4-year earnings of $47,916 and an estimated $56,196 four-year net cost, the typical graduate reaches earnings breakeven in roughly 3.1 years.

Based on outcomes from 11 schools. Colleges with fewer than 30 graduates are excluded from national averages.

Who Studies This? Credential Breakdown

Of the 188 students who complete Communications Technologies/Technicians and Support programs each year, the majority (55%) earn a associate's degree. The breakdown below shows the full credential distribution.

Associate's 55%
Bachelor's 27%
Master's 13%

What Can You Do With a Communications Technologies/Technicians and Support Degree?

This degree does not lock you into one job. Communications Technologies/Technicians and Support graduates show up in 8 different occupations, and Multimedia Artist & Animator pays the most at $102,030/yr median. Expand any card below to see daily responsibilities, in-demand skills, and 10-year growth projections.

The best-paid of these is what a Multimedia Artist & Animator earns and how fast the role is growing, though entry requirements vary across the list.

↗ +3.7%
$75,420
$53K $105K 25th–75th pct.
Bachelor's degree 3,100 openings/yr 26K employed nationally
↗ +1.3%
$74,990
$51K $107K 25th–75th pct.
Bachelor's degree 2,500 openings/yr 22K employed nationally
↘ -3.1%
$73,130
$50K $100K 25th–75th pct.
Postsecondary nondegree award 1,000 openings/yr 13K employed nationally
↘ -4.8%
$68,060
$53K $96K 25th–75th pct.
Postsecondary nondegree award 600 openings/yr 9K employed nationally
↘ -3.1%
$59,570
$40K $84K 25th–75th pct.
Associate's degree 1,600 openings/yr 21K employed nationally
↗ +3.9%
$58,100
$46K $78K 25th–75th pct.
Postsecondary nondegree award 6,600 openings/yr 70K employed nationally

Top Colleges for Communications Technologies/Technicians and Support

Not sure where to study Communications Technologies/Technicians and Support? These 10 colleges graduate the most students in it each year. Scroll right to compare acceptance rate, net price, and median earnings side by side.

Ranked by score, that list starts with the cost and outcomes at Anne Arundel Community College, and the rest follow the same measures.

# College Graduates Acceptance Net Price/yr Earnings 10yr
1 Anne Arundel Community College Arnold, MD · Public 35 Open $14,915 $46,219
2 Framingham State University Framingham, MA · Public 28 83.6% $16,114 $52,349
3 University of Kentucky Lexington, KY · Public 14 92.9% $18,851 $59,025
4 Harford Community College Bel Air, MD · Public 14 Open $9,234 $44,608
5 Community College of Baltimore County Baltimore, MD · Public 12 Open $9,844 $43,729
6 Montgomery College Rockville, MD · Public 8 Open $8,027 $50,159
7 DePaul University Chicago, IL · Nonprofit 6 75.9% $30,902 $68,751
8 State University of New York at Oswego Oswego, NY · Public 3 80.6% $16,236 $57,566
9 Luzerne County Community College Nanticoke, PA · Public 2 Open $9,433 $40,437
10 Community College of Beaver County Monaca, PA · Public 1 Open $6,937 $45,090

Ranked by Communications Technologies/Technicians and Support graduate volume. Scroll right to compare key stats. Read our methodology →

Plan Your Path

Decide with data, not guesswork. These tools turn the numbers on this page into a personal plan. Estimate the real cost of a Communications Technologies/Technicians and Support program, compare colleges side-by-side, weigh the long-term payoff, and find schools that match your profile.

Communications Technologies/Technicians and Support Degree: Pros & Cons

Communications Technologies/Technicians and Support carries financial trade-offs prospective students should weigh carefully. The 3 strengths and 4 concerns below are drawn from College Scorecard earnings, BLS job growth data, and IPEDS completion counts.

PROS
  • Strong salary growth Median earnings climb from $30,890 at graduation to $47,916 four years later, a clear sign of career momentum in this field.
  • Strong hiring volume Related occupations generate more than 21,400 job openings per year combined, creating consistent demand for graduates.
  • Flexible credential paths Programs are available from certificate and associate levels through bachelor's and graduate degrees, giving students real options based on timeline and goals.
CONS
  • Modest median earnings Four-year median of $47,916 lags STEM and business fields, affecting ROI at higher-cost programs.
  • Declining roles in some areas 5 related careers show negative 10-year employment projections. Research specific roles before committing.
  • High earnings variance Gap between 25th ($31,933) and 75th ($65,026) percentile is wide. Where you land depends heavily on employer, role, and location.
  • Limited program availability Only 27 colleges offer this program nationally, which may limit geographic flexibility when choosing a school.

Communications Technologies/Technicians and Support Degree: Frequently Asked Questions

How much do Communications Technologies/Technicians and Support graduates earn?
$47,916 four years after finishing the program. Half of graduates land between $31,933 and $65,026, so employer, role, and location move that number more than the degree itself. Source: College Scorecard.
What is the starting salary for a Communications Technologies/Technicians and Support degree?
$30,890 in the first year out. That grows to $47,916 by year four, so do not judge this field on the entry-level number alone. Most of the gain shows up once you clear the first few years and move past entry-level roles. Source: College Scorecard.
What jobs can you get with a Communications Technologies/Technicians and Support degree?
Multimedia Artist & Animator is one path, and it pays a median of $102,030 a year. It is not the only one: the Career Paths section below lists every occupation graduates actually go into, with wages and 10-year growth for each.
How long does a Communications Technologies/Technicians and Support program take?
Two years full-time at a community college for a Communications Technologies/Technicians and Support associate degree. Many students use it as a stepping stone, transferring to a four-year school afterward to finish a bachelor's.
How many colleges offer Communications Technologies/Technicians and Support?
27 colleges and universities, so you are not short on options. That range runs from community colleges granting certificates and associate degrees to research universities with full doctoral tracks. Source: IPEDS.
Is a Communications Technologies/Technicians and Support degree worth it?
$47,916 median earnings four years out against $14,049 a year in average net price. That is a reasonable payback window, best at lower-cost schools and in high-demand roles. Use the Top Colleges section below to compare specific schools before deciding. Source: College Scorecard.
What is the difference between Communications Technologies/Technicians and Support and Communications Tech?
Communications Technologies/Technicians and Support is the narrower of the two: Communications Tech covers the full discipline, while this program limits the curriculum to Communications Technologies/Technicians and Support-specific courses, skills, and career tracks. Pick the specialization once you already know this is the direction you want; it gets you a more targeted credential, not a broader one.
What skills do employers look for in Communications Technologies/Technicians and Support graduates?
Coursework alone will not get you hired. Employers hiring Communications Technologies/Technicians and Support graduates consistently look for writing, critical analysis, and cross-cultural communication. Employers value the ability to synthesize complex information clearly, skills that transfer into communications, law, consulting, and content roles. Build those into your coursework and internships now, and the job search later gets easier.
What is the job outlook for Communications Technologies/Technicians and Support graduates?
Outlook is slow overall: related occupations average -0.3% projected job growth over the next 10 years. Audio and Video Technicians are among the strongest-growth roles at +3.9%. That average hides real differences by role and location, so check the Career Paths section below for the projection on each specific occupation before you count on any single number.

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