by our College Data Analytics Team
[Vehicle Maintenance Repair Tech](/majors/mechanical-repair-technologies/vehicle-maintenance-repair-tech/) graduates earn very different salaries depending on where they study. A top-earning program sends graduates into careers with strong starting pay.
College Factual analyzed 4 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the highest-paying vehicle maintenance repair tech schools.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose vehicle maintenance repair tech graduates go on to earn the most.
For graduate earnings in vehicle maintenance repair tech, no school beat Lake Area Technical Institute this year. Located in the town of Watertown, Lake Area Technical Institute is a public institution. Students who complete the vehicle maintenance repair tech program here go on to a median salary of roughly $54,641.
Southeast Technical Institute came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying vehicle maintenance repair tech schools. Set in the city of Sioux Falls, Southeast Technical Institute is a public institution. Vehicle Maintenance Repair Tech graduates of Southeast Technical Institute earn a median of about $54,505 a year early in their careers.
Strong graduate earnings at Western Dakota Technical Institute earned it the #3 place for vehicle maintenance repair tech. Located in the city of Rapid City, Western Dakota Technical Institute is a public institution. Vehicle Maintenance Repair Tech graduates of Western Dakota Technical Institute earn a median of about $57,387 a year early in their careers.
Mitchell Technical Institute came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying vehicle maintenance repair tech schools. Set in the town of Mitchell, Mitchell Technical Institute is a public institution. Students who complete the vehicle maintenance repair tech program here go on to a median salary of roughly $47,853.
This ranking is produced by College Factual, 2026 edition. Schools are ranked on the median early-career earnings of their vehicle maintenance repair tech graduates, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 4 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.