Precision Metal Working
Precision Production
Median earnings by degree level
| Degree | Median earnings | Typical range | Schools | Clear the bar |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma | $47,330 | $41,948 to $52,668 | 399 | 94% |
| Associate's Degree | $55,888 | $47,962 to $63,854 | 75 | 97% |
"Clear the bar" is the share of programs whose graduates out-earn a typical high-school graduate (the federal earnings-premium test). Typical range is the 25th to 75th percentile of program medians.
Job outlook
Projected employment growth -11% (2023 to 2033), about 164,200 openings a year across the occupations this field commonly leads to.
| Occupation | Median pay | Growth | Openings/yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $48,940 | +2.2% | 45,600 |
| Machinists | $50,840 | +0% | 29,500 |
| Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $42,400 | -12.1% | 14,400 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators | $48,550 | -10.7% | 13,500 |
| Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $41,600 | -0.5% | 12,800 |
| Sheet Metal Workers | $58,780 | +2.4% | 10,600 |
Occupation pay and outlook: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS wages, Employment Projections). A field maps to several occupations, so this lists where the major commonly leads, not any one graduate's job.
Earnings source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (release 2026-06-10), median earnings of graduates measured up to four years after completing. Figures describe past graduates and are never a promise. Method: methodology. Report an error.