Providing for family motivates successful TSTC alumnus

(MARSHALL, Texas) – Joseph Aguirre’s salary was not enough to support his family, so he enrolled in Texas State Technical College’s Industrial Systems program.

“I was already working as an industrial maintenance technician at the time,” the Marshall native said. “I started off at about $12 an hour, and after three years I’d moved up to about $12.50 an hour. I figured something had to change, and I figured the only thing that could change was my education.”

Aguirre continued to work in maintenance to support his family while attending TSTC. After receiving his Associate of Applied Science degree in 2014, he landed a job in Fort Worth and doubled his previous salary. 

Aguirre continued to push himself, earning his bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas Permian Basin and his master’s from Louisiana State University, all while maintaining a full-time job.

“I had a family to feed, so in doing that I wanted to invest in myself so I could invest more in my family,” Aguirre said. “Everything that I do as far as my career journey was 100% putting my family first.”

Aguirre now works as a principal engineer for Megger, a manufacturer of electronic testing and measuring equipment, at its Dallas location.

Jason Aaron, a cable infrastructure project manager for Megger, has worked with Aguirre for five years.

“He’s doing the kinds of things that most people don’t do whenever they find success,” Aaron said about Aguirre. “He continues to try to get better. He’s always studying or reading. He never says no to anyone that asks for help.”

In addition to managing his team, Aguirre regularly gives presentations and has published multiple technical reports of his own.

“Everybody’s journey is going to be different; nobody knows what their journey is going to entail,” he said. “I could not be where I’m at today without the knowledge that I learned from TSTC.”

According to onetonline.org, industrial machinery mechanics earn a median salary of $60,480 in Texas, where the number of these jobs was projected to grow 35% between 2020 and 2030.

Industrial Systems is available at TSTC’s Abilene, East Williamson County, Fort Bend County, Marshall, New Braunfels, North Texas and Waco campuses. Depending on campus location, the program offers Associate of Applied Science degrees with different specializations. Several certificates of completion are also offered. 

Registration for TSTC’s fall semester is underway. For more information, go to tstc.edu.