This program compared with the national picture
| Measure | This program | National median, same field and credential |
|---|---|---|
| Median earnings 1 year after completion | $42,986 | $42,421 |
| Median earnings 4 years after completion | $50,571 | $48,702 |
| Median federal loan debt (Stafford and Grad PLUS) | $5,368 | $8,331 Median of programs |
| Estimated monthly payment on median debt (10-year standard) | $61 | |
| Graduates in the most recent year | 56 | 61,864 across 1,041 programs |
Earnings cohorts: Treasury AY2020-21, AY2021-22 pooled earnings cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars. Debt cohort: NSLDS pooled AY2022-23, AY2023-24 cohort. Debt covers federal loans only and excludes private loans and Parent PLUS loans. Earnings are for graduates working and not enrolled, before taxes.
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, Most Recent Field of Study Data. Varies by measure; see measure definitions. Published October 15, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
Careers this field prepares students for
From the official CIP to SOC crosswalk. Graduates do not all enter these occupations, and occupation wages describe all workers, not new graduates. Official crosswalk
| Occupation | Median wage, all workers | Change 2025 to 2035 |
|---|---|---|
| Sheet metal workers | $61,800 | +2.5% |
| Structural metal fabricators and fitters | $51,330 | -6.2% |
| Extruding and drawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic | $47,720 | +0.7% |
| Forging machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic | $49,030 | -17.2% |
| Rolling machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic | $50,140 | -8.3% |
| Cutting, punching, and press machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic | $46,330 | -10.5% |
| Drilling and boring machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic | $49,080 | -9.5% |
| Grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic | $46,550 | -10.8% |
| Lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic | $50,620 | -11.3% |
| Milling and planing machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic | $52,800 | -13.2% |
| Machinists | $58,750 | +1.0% |
| Model makers, metal and plastic | $63,340 | -17.3% |
Source: National Center for Education Statistics and U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk. CIP 2020 and SOC 2018 taxonomies. Published April 30, 2020. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, National. May 2025 reference period. Published April 30, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, Table 1.2: Occupational projections, 2025-35, and worker characteristics, 2025. Base year 2025, projected year 2035. Published August 27, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
Comparable programs with the highest early earnings
| School | Median earnings, 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|
| Ferris State University MI · Public | $72,223 | $16,757 |
| Lee College TX · Public | $70,412 | Data unavailable |
| Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College KY · Public | $69,657 | $8,750 |
| Jefferson Community and Technical College KY · Public | $65,286 | $8,250 |
| Hennepin Technical College MN · Public | $64,415 | $14,750 |
| Eastern Iowa Community College District IA · Public | $61,035 | Data unavailable |
| Gateway Community and Technical College KY · Public | $60,680 | $7,125 |
| Bluegrass Community and Technical College KY · Public | $60,604 | $10,786 |
| Idaho State University ID · Public | $59,367 | $6,500 |
| Elizabethtown Community and Technical College KY · Public | $59,272 | $7,224 |
See all Precision Metal Working programs and national outcomes
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