Precision Metal Working: is this associate's degree worth it?
National picture across 74 reporting college programs.
10-year estimate · Positive payoff
+$2,130 over 10 years
National scenario across reporting associate's degree programs, using median year-4 earnings, their institutions’ average net prices and a typical 2-year duration.
The estimate clears the cost within ten years, though your price and time to finish may change the result.
9.8 yrsModeled economic break-even
+2%Modeled 10-year ROI
$56,479Observed earnings · year 4
$12,393Maximum annual price for positive 10-year payoff
The price benchmark is $1,065 per year below this threshold.
Includes direct price and earnings forgone while studying. Assumes $45,000 in alternative annual earnings and no wage growth. How we calculate itFour useful answers about Precision Metal Working
How much do Precision Metal Working associate's degree graduates earn?
The national median is $56,479 four years after completion across reportable associate's degree programs in this federal field.
How much federal debt do graduates have?
The median reported federal debt is $12,000. The figure excludes private loans and does not describe every graduate.
Does the college matter for Precision Metal Working?
Yes. The middle half of reporting programs ranges from $51,467 to $63,811 in observed year-4 earnings.
What careers are related to Precision Metal Working?
DegreeVerdict links this field to 12 displayed occupations using the official federal CIP–SOC crosswalk. Occupational wages are career context, not graduate salary promises.
PRICE SENSITIVITY
The price can change the verdict.
Hold observed earnings constant and see how the modeled ten-year payoff changes as annual price rises.
← Negative payoff$0Positive payoff →
$0Annual price+$24,785
$8,000Annual price+$8,785
$11,000Current college-wide context+$2,785
$16,000Annual price−$7,215
$24,000Annual price−$23,215
$32,000Annual price−$39,215
$40,000Annual price−$55,215
Observed national outcomes
$56,479Median reported earnings · year 4
$54,240Average reported earnings · year 5
$12,000Median federal debt
67thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
25IPEDS 2023–24 first-major awards across matched colleges
74With year-4 earnings
The award total covers 5 matched college records and is not extrapolated to colleges without a match.
The same field can produce a different equation.
Keep the federal field fixed and compare observed outcomes at every reportable credential level. These are separate graduate cohorts, not a promise that more schooling causes the difference.
OPEN PROFILE
Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma
- Year-4 earnings
- $47,927
- Federal debt
- $9,329
- Reporting programs
- 398
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $56,479
- Federal debt
- $12,000
- Reporting programs
- 74
Non-Credential Program (Preparatory Coursework/Teacher Certification)
- Year-4 earnings
- $61,829
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 2
Where the middle half of programs lands
Year‑4 earnings differ by college. This band shows the 25th percentile, national median and 75th percentile among reporting programs.
Median
25th percentile$51,467National median$56,47975th percentile$63,811
74 programs report year‑4 earnings.DECISION CHECK
What to compare before choosing a program
The national result is only the starting point. Price, debt and the college-level earnings spread can materially change the payoff.
PRICE × EARNINGS MAP
Where colleges sit for this exact degree
Move left for a lower annual college-wide net price and up for higher observed year-4 earnings.
$75,002Observed year-4 earnings$39,299
Ferris State University$8,624 price · $86,941 earningsDel Mar College$3,399 price · $79,303 earningsHennepin Technical College$10,272 price · $76,020 earningsDes Moines Area Community College$11,171 price · $75,145 earningsIvy Tech Community College$7,258 price · $75,002 earningsDunwoody College of Technology$26,939 price · $70,886 earningsClark College$11,465 price · $70,504 earningsPennsylvania College of Technology$25,110 price · $70,298 earningsAustin Community College District$6,390 price · $69,185 earningsRanken Technical College$18,795 price · $68,297 earningsThaddeus Stevens College of Technology$14,104 price · $68,071 earningsWestmoreland County Community College$5,167 price · $66,589 earningsIdaho State University$12,193 price · $66,138 earningsSanta Ana College$3,133 price · $65,618 earningsPortland Community College$10,405 price · $64,659 earningsVincennes University$11,225 price · $64,198 earningsCentral New Mexico Community College$4,621 price · $64,190 earningsGreenville Technical College$11,713 price · $63,910 earningsNorthwest College$7,463 price · $63,897 earningsSoutheast Community College Area$9,171 price · $63,811 earningsState Technical College of Missouri$15,190 price · $63,519 earningsGrand Rapids Community College$8,621 price · $63,350 earningsSouthwestern Illinois College$10,427 price · $62,981 earningsFox Valley Technical College$11,407 price · $62,504 earningsCentral Maine Community College$6,975 price · $61,562 earningsNorth Dakota State College of Science$11,261 price · $61,509 earningsBeal University$40,109 price · $61,300 earningsCentral Lakes College-Brainerd$13,869 price · $60,088 earningsMohawk Valley Community College$8,987 price · $60,081 earningsCommunity College of Denver$9,450 price · $59,364 earningsKennebec Valley Community College$3,910 price · $59,020 earningsIndian Hills Community College$10,693 price · $58,822 earningsSpokane Community College$5,473 price · $58,458 earningsTexas State Technical College$13,508 price · $57,743 earningsColorado Mesa University$15,103 price · $56,832 earningsNew Castle School of Trades$8,361 price · $56,532 earningsOzarks Technical Community College$6,936 price · $56,425 earningsKirkwood Community College$9,705 price · $55,888 earningsCentral Community College$7,024 price · $55,682 earningsTulsa Welding School-Tulsa$34,776 price · $55,612 earningsMetropolitan Community College Area$4,982 price · $54,754 earningsSouth Texas College$1,751 price · $54,464 earningsCollege of Eastern Idaho$8,778 price · $54,229 earningsOhio Technical College$34,972 price · $53,428 earningsCentral Piedmont Community College$3,345 price · $53,400 earningsPueblo Community College$12,045 price · $53,160 earningsLake Washington Institute of Technology$6,817 price · $53,007 earningsSUNY College of Technology at Alfred$15,016 price · $52,635 earningsWestern Dakota Technical College$12,670 price · $51,988 earningsSUNY College of Technology at Delhi$17,225 price · $51,978 earningsMontana State University Billings$16,524 price · $51,467 earningsLake Area Technical College$15,979 price · $51,201 earningsMinneapolis Community and Technical College$13,812 price · $51,059 earningsAsheville-Buncombe Technical Community College$11,602 price · $48,371 earningsVernon College$6,404 price · $47,552 earningsPima Community College$3,405 price · $46,450 earningsCollege of Western Idaho$8,500 price · $46,366 earningsRanger College$6,182 price · $45,941 earningsPikes Peak State College$6,007 price · $45,322 earningsTrinity Valley Community College$4,092 price · $43,964 earningsSouthern Technical College$20,623 price · $40,511 earningsNew Mexico State University-Dona Ana$6,048 price · $39,299 earningsNew Mexico State University-Main Campus$8,889 price · $39,299 earningsPeninsula College$9,246 price · $38,488 earningsHelena College University of Montana$11,593 price · $36,385 earningsMech-Tech College$10,697 price · $30,912 earnings
$3,399Annual college-wide average net price$25,110
Put the same degree side by side.
Start with the leading reportable programs, then change the selection to match your shortlist.
Compare 3 programs →Choose colleges offering this exact degree
Narrow one field and credential by location, sector and debt, then compare two to four programs side by side.
67 matchesSelect up to four · showing 25 currently operating colleges
Open the full program search →
See the spread, not just the national number.
1Ferris State University$86,9412Del Mar College$79,3033Hennepin Technical College$76,0204Des Moines Area Community College$75,1455Ivy Tech Community College$75,0026Dunwoody College of Technology$70,8867Clark College$70,5048Pennsylvania College of Technology$70,2989Austin Community College District$69,18510Ranken Technical College$68,297Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations, wages and demand
Official CIP–SOC links show where this field can lead. They do not imply that every graduate enters the same occupation.
Pay and projected demand
Related careers do not share one outlook
Bubble size = annual openings2025–35 national projection
Higher median wage ↑
-13%Projected employment growth →12%
Occupation wages describe workers in these jobs, not graduates of this degree. BLS projections are national estimates and do not guarantee hiring.
Metal Workers and Plastic Workers, All Other$45,950 median wage15,900 U.S. jobs · SOC 51-4199-7.1% projected employment, 2025–35 · 1.3k annual openingsTypical entry education: High school diploma or equivalent$35,350–$65,510 10th–90th percentileLayout Workers, Metal and Plastic$63,870 median wage5,970 U.S. jobs · SOC 51-4192-3.4% projected employment, 2025–35 · 0.5k annual openingsTypical entry education: High school diploma or equivalent$39,980–$93,860 10th–90th percentileMachinists$58,750 median wage287,050 U.S. jobs · SOC 51-4041+1.0% projected employment, 2025–35 · 26.1k annual openingsTypical entry education: High school diploma or equivalent$39,200–$80,010 10th–90th percentileStructural Metal Fabricators and Fitters$51,330 median wage52,360 U.S. jobs · SOC 51-2041-6.2% projected employment, 2025–35 · 4.8k annual openingsTypical entry education: High school diploma or equivalent$37,960–$72,280 10th–90th percentileComputer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators$50,690 median wage169,450 U.S. jobs · SOC 51-9161-9.4% projected employment, 2025–35 · 12.5k annual openingsTypical entry education: High school diploma or equivalent$38,140–$73,890 10th–90th percentileRolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$50,140 median wage25,250 U.S. jobs · SOC 51-4023-8.3% projected employment, 2025–35 · 1.9k annual openingsTypical entry education: High school diploma or equivalent$37,690–$70,310 10th–90th percentileHeat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$48,750 median wage14,000 U.S. jobs · SOC 51-4191-9.5% projected employment, 2025–35 · 1.1k annual openingsTypical entry education: High school diploma or equivalent$35,180–$66,350 10th–90th percentileMultiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$47,180 median wage124,590 U.S. jobs · SOC 51-4081+0.6% projected employment, 2025–35 · 11.6k annual openingsTypical entry education: High school diploma or equivalent$35,780–$74,450 10th–90th percentileGrinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$46,550 median wage67,000 U.S. jobs · SOC 51-4033-10.8% projected employment, 2025–35 · 4.5k annual openingsTypical entry education: High school diploma or equivalent$36,110–$62,600 10th–90th percentileCutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$46,330 median wage171,200 U.S. jobs · SOC 51-4031-10.5% projected employment, 2025–35 · 13.2k annual openingsTypical entry education: High school diploma or equivalent$35,760–$65,510 10th–90th percentileComputer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers$68,120 median wage28,500 U.S. jobs · SOC 51-9162+5.9% projected employment, 2025–35 · 2.7k annual openingsTypical entry education: Postsecondary nondegree award$47,530–$100,320 10th–90th percentileTool and Die Makers$64,050 median wage56,930 U.S. jobs · SOC 51-4111-9.2% projected employment, 2025–35 · 4.3k annual openingsTypical entry education: Postsecondary nondegree award$44,680–$92,680 10th–90th percentile
BLS May 2025 wages and 2025–35 employment projections. Career context is separate from graduate outcomes.
Where this degree has enough data to compare
State pages are published only when at least five operating colleges report year-4 earnings for this exact field and credential.
Same degree, different outcomes
Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. ROI uses each institution’s average net price as a scenario, not an individual aid offer.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | 10-year ROI | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ferris State UniversityAssociate's Degree | Big Rapids, MI | $86,941 | $17,500 | +291% | Strong payoff |
| 2 | Del Mar CollegeAssociate's Degree | Corpus Christi, TX | $79,303 | Not available | +254% | Strong payoff |
| 3 | Hennepin Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Brooklyn Park, MN | $76,020 | Not available | +181% | Strong payoff |
| 4 | Des Moines Area Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Ankeny, IA | $75,145 | Not available | +168% | Strong payoff |
| 5 | Ivy Tech Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Indianapolis, IN | $75,002 | $6,810 | +187% | Strong payoff |
| 6 | Dunwoody College of TechnologyAssociate's Degree | Minneapolis, MN | $70,886 | $12,000 | +80% | Positive payoff |
| 7 | Clark CollegeAssociate's Degree | Vancouver, WA | $70,504 | Not available | +126% | Strong payoff |
| 8 | Pennsylvania College of TechnologyAssociate's Degree | Williamsport, PA | $70,298 | $14,750 | +80% | Positive payoff |
| 9 | Austin Community College DistrictAssociate's Degree | Austin, TX | $69,185 | $14,122 | +135% | Strong payoff |
| 10 | Ranken Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Saint Louis, MO | $68,297 | $15,000 | +83% | Positive payoff |
| 11 | Thaddeus Stevens College of TechnologyAssociate's Degree | Lancaster, PA | $68,071 | $12,000 | +95% | Positive payoff |
| 12 | Westmoreland County Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Youngwood, PA | $66,589 | Not available | +115% | Strong payoff |
| 13 | Idaho State UniversityAssociate's Degree | Pocatello, ID | $66,138 | Not available | +85% | Positive payoff |
| 14 | Santa Ana CollegeAssociate's Degree | Santa Ana, CA | $65,618 | Not available | +114% | Strong payoff |
| 15 | Portland Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Portland, OR | $64,659 | Not available | +77% | Positive payoff |
| 16 | Vincennes UniversityAssociate's Degree | Vincennes, IN | $64,198 | $12,000 | +71% | Positive payoff |
| 17 | Central New Mexico Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Albuquerque, NM | $64,190 | $6,440 | +93% | Positive payoff |
| 18 | Greenville Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Greenville, SC | $63,910 | Not available | +67% | Positive payoff |
| 19 | Northwest CollegeAssociate's Degree | Powell, WY | $63,897 | Not available | +80% | Positive payoff |
| 20 | Southeast Community College AreaAssociate's Degree | Lincoln, NE | $63,811 | $11,650 | +74% | Positive payoff |
| 21 | State Technical College of MissouriAssociate's Degree | Linn, MO | $63,519 | $11,474 | +54% | Positive payoff |
| 22 | Grand Rapids Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Grand Rapids, MI | $63,350 | Not available | +71% | Positive payoff |
| 23 | Southwestern Illinois CollegeAssociate's Degree | Belleville, IL | $62,981 | Not available | +62% | Positive payoff |
| 24 | Fox Valley Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Appleton, WI | $62,504 | Not available | +55% | Positive payoff |
| 25 | Central Maine Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Auburn, ME | $61,562 | Not available | +59% | Positive payoff |
| 26 | North Dakota State College of ScienceAssociate's Degree | Wahpeton, ND | $61,509 | $11,246 | +47% | Positive payoff |
| 27 | Beal UniversityAssociate's Degree | Bangor, ME | $61,300 | $13,541 | -4% | Negative payoff |
| 28 | Central Lakes College-BrainerdAssociate's Degree | Brainerd, MN | $60,088 | Not available | +28% | Positive payoff |
| 29 | Mohawk Valley Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Utica, NY | $60,081 | Not available | +40% | Positive payoff |
| 30 | Community College of DenverAssociate's Degree | Denver, CO | $59,364 | Not available | +32% | Positive payoff |
| 31 | Kennebec Valley Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Fairfield, ME | $59,020 | Not available | +43% | Positive payoff |
| 32 | Indian Hills Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Ottumwa, IA | $58,822 | Not available | +24% | Positive payoff |
| 33 | Spokane Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Spokane, WA | $58,458 | Not available | +33% | Positive payoff |
| 34 | Texas State Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Waco, TX | $57,743 | $9,168 | +9% | Positive payoff |
| 35 | Colorado Mesa UniversityAssociate's Degree | Grand Junction, CO | $56,832 | Not available | -2% | Negative payoff |
| 36 | New Castle School of TradesAssociate's Degree | New Castle, PA | $56,532 | $9,931 | +8% | Positive payoff |
| 37 | Ozarks Technical Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Springfield, MO | $56,425 | Not available | +10% | Positive payoff |
| 38 | Kirkwood Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Cedar Rapids, IA | $55,888 | $13,500 | -0% | Negative payoff |
| 39 | Central Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Grand Island, NE | $55,682 | $5,500 | +3% | Positive payoff |
| 40 | Tulsa Welding School-TulsaAssociate's Degree | Tulsa, OK | $55,612 | $19,357 | -33% | Negative payoff |
| 41 | Metropolitan Community College AreaAssociate's Degree | Omaha, NE | $54,754 | Not available | -2% | Negative payoff |
| 42 | South Texas CollegeAssociate's Degree | McAllen, TX | $54,464 | Not available | +1% | Positive payoff |
| 43 | College of Eastern IdahoAssociate's Degree | Idaho Falls, ID | $54,229 | Not available | -14% | Negative payoff |
| 44 | Ohio Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Cleveland, OH | $53,428 | $7,667 | -47% | Negative payoff |
| 45 | Central Piedmont Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Charlotte, NC | $53,400 | Not available | -13% | Negative payoff |
| 46 | Pueblo Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Pueblo, CO | $53,160 | $11,300 | -28% | Negative payoff |
| 47 | Lake Washington Institute of TechnologyAssociate's Degree | Kirkland, WA | $53,007 | Not available | -23% | Negative payoff |
| 48 | SUNY College of Technology at AlfredAssociate's Degree | Alfred, NY | $52,635 | $12,000 | -36% | Negative payoff |
| 49 | Western Dakota Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Rapid City, SD | $51,988 | $12,000 | -39% | Negative payoff |
| 50 | SUNY College of Technology at DelhiAssociate's Degree | Delhi, NY | $51,978 | $12,000 | -44% | Negative payoff |
| 51 | Montana State University BillingsAssociate's Degree | Billings, MT | $51,467 | Not available | -47% | Negative payoff |
| 52 | Lake Area Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Watertown, SD | $51,201 | $11,001 | -49% | Negative payoff |
| 53 | Minneapolis Community and Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Minneapolis, MN | $51,059 | Not available | -48% | Negative payoff |
| 54 | Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Asheville, NC | $48,371 | Not available | -70% | Negative payoff |
| 55 | Vernon CollegeAssociate's Degree | Vernon, TX | $47,552 | $5,500 | -75% | Negative payoff |
| 56 | Pima Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Tucson, AZ | $46,450 | Not available | -85% | Negative payoff |
| 57 | College of Western IdahoAssociate's Degree | Nampa, ID | $46,366 | $8,000 | -87% | Negative payoff |
| 58 | Ranger CollegeAssociate's Degree | Ranger, TX | $45,941 | Not available | -91% | Negative payoff |
| 59 | Pikes Peak State CollegeAssociate's Degree | Colorado Springs, CO | $45,322 | Not available | -97% | Negative payoff |
| 60 | Trinity Valley Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Athens, TX | $43,964 | Not available | -111% | Negative payoff |
| 61 | Southern Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Orlando, FL | $40,511 | $20,000 | -134% | Negative payoff |
| 62 | New Mexico State University-Dona AnaAssociate's Degree | Las Cruces, NM | $39,299 | Not available | -156% | Negative payoff |
| 63 | New Mexico State University-GrantsAssociate's Degree | Grants, NM | $39,299 | Not available | -163% | Negative payoff |
| 64 | New Mexico State University-Main CampusAssociate's Degree | Las Cruces, NM | $39,299 | Not available | -153% | Negative payoff |
| 65 | Peninsula CollegeAssociate's Degree | Port Angeles, WA | $38,488 | Not available | -160% | Negative payoff |
| 66 | Helena College University of MontanaAssociate's Degree | Helena, MT | $36,385 | Not available | -176% | Negative payoff |
| 67 | Mech-Tech CollegeAssociate's Degree | Caguas, PR | $30,912 | Not available | -226% | Negative payoff |
| 68 | Pittsburgh Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | , | $56,574 | $14,499 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 69 | Triangle Tech Inc-GreensburgAssociate's Degree | , | $51,550 | $18,262 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 70 | Triangle Tech Inc-BethlehemAssociate's Degree | , | $51,550 | $18,262 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 71 | Triangle Tech Inc-DuboisAssociate's Degree | , | $51,505 | $12,000 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 72 | Triangle Tech Inc-SunburyAssociate's Degree | , | $51,505 | $12,000 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 73 | Triangle Tech Inc-PittsburghAssociate's Degree | , | $46,982 | $13,944 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 74 | Triangle Tech-ChambersburgAssociate's Degree | , | $46,982 | $13,944 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
This page keeps the field and credential level fixed. Federal categories can still combine multiple catalog programs or concentrations. Automated ROI is limited to associate and bachelor’s degrees because institution-wide annual net price is not a reliable proxy for short certificate prices. ROI is an illustrative scenario, not a federal determination.