Arkansas · Precision Metal Working

Best colleges for Precision Metal Working in Arkansas

Ranked by graduate earnings

Arkansas Northeastern College, Arkansas Welding Academy and University of Arkansas at Monticello are the top Precision Metal Working programs in Arkansas by graduate earnings. Arkansas Northeastern College leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $47,110, College Scorecard. Black River Technical College, Arkansas State University Mid-South and Cossatot Community College of the University of Arkansas award the most Precision Metal Working degrees and certificates in Arkansas: 227, 158 and 141 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 26 Arkansas colleges offer Precision Metal Working and award 2,005 degrees and certificates a year in all.

The Precision Metal Working program focuses on the skills and techniques needed for various metalworking occupations. This program is ideal for students interested in hands-on work involving machinery, fabrication, and assembly of metal…

Institutions
26
offering CIP 48.05
States offered
50
with a program page
Degrees / yr
2,005
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median starting salary
$26,579
1 yr after graduation, College Scorecard
With earnings data
6
College Scorecard
Median net price
$34,546
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
49%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · Sheet Metal Workers
$45,800
BLS OEWS May 2025

Top 6 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings

Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.

Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionStarting salary (1 yr)Graduates / yrGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1Arkansas Northeastern College
Blytheville Public · Certificate
$47,1105849%——
2Arkansas Welding Academy
Jacksonville Private for-profit · Certificate
$33,1876794%$34,546$7,933
3University of Arkansas at Monticello
Monticello Public · Certificate
$31,0839449%——
4University of Arkansas-Pulaski Technical College
North Little Rock Public · Certificate
$26,5795836%—$4,142
5Southern Arkansas University Tech
Camden Public · Certificate
$26,0013162%——
6Cossatot Community College of the University of Arkansas
De Queen Public · Certificate
$22,34114154%——

Colleges awarding the most Precision Metal Working degrees in Arkansas

Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.

Graduates / yr: degrees and certificates awarded in a year, IPEDS completions. Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionGraduates / yrStarting salary (1 yr)
1Black River Technical College
Pocahontas Public
227Not reported
2Arkansas State University Mid-South
West Memphis Public
158Not reported
3Cossatot Community College of the University of Arkansas
De Queen Public
141$22,341
4South Arkansas College
El Dorado Public
137Not reported
5National Park College
Hot Springs Public
121Not reported
6University of Arkansas at Monticello
Monticello Public
94$31,083
7University of Arkansas-Fort Smith
Fort Smith Public
83Not reported
8North Arkansas College
Harrison Public
81Not reported
9University of Arkansas Hope-Texarkana
Hope Public
79Not reported
10Arkansas State University - Mountain Home
Mountain Home Public
69Not reported
Show the other 16 Arkansas colleges offering Precision Metal Working

Career outlook

What this program leads to: Sheet Metal Workers (SOC 47-2211).

Projected growth (2024–2034)
+2.4%
About as fast as average
Openings / yr (US)
~10,600
BLS Employment Projections
US median wage
$60,850
typically High school diploma or equivalent

Top skills

Reading ComprehensionCritical ThinkingMonitoringMathematicsActive ListeningSpeaking

What Sheet Metal Workers earn in Arkansas

Jobs in Arkansas
1,230
BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
$45,800
median $45,820
Best-paying metro
$47,860
Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR

Related careers

Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers
$50,020 avg · 6,150 jobs
Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
$44,480 avg · 3,020 jobs
Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators
$51,460 avg · 2,180 jobs
Machinists
$55,180 avg · 2,150 jobs
Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
$43,950 avg · 1,570 jobs
Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
$51,460 avg · 1,270 jobs

Common questions

Answers for students comparing Precision Metal Working programs in Arkansas.

Which Arkansas colleges award the most Precision Metal Working degrees?+

Black River Technical College (227 graduates a year), Arkansas State University Mid-South (158 graduates a year) and Cossatot Community College of the University of Arkansas (141 graduates a year) award the most Precision Metal Working degrees and certificates in Arkansas, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 26 Arkansas colleges offer Precision Metal Working.

What is the best college for Precision Metal Working in Arkansas?+

By graduate earnings, Arkansas Northeastern College leads among Precision Metal Working programs in Arkansas, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $47,110, College Scorecard. Arkansas Welding Academy and University of Arkansas at Monticello follow. By degrees awarded, Black River Technical College is the largest, with 227 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).

Which Precision Metal Working program in Arkansas has the highest-earning graduates?+

By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Arkansas Northeastern College tops the list at $47,110. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.

How much do Sheet Metal Workers earn in Arkansas?+

The average annual wage for Sheet Metal Workers in Arkansas is $45,800 (median $45,820), across about 1,230 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.

What is the focus of the Precision Metal Working program?+

The Precision Metal Working program focuses on the skills and techniques needed for various metalworking occupations. This program is ideal for students interested in hands-on work involving machinery, fabrication, and assembly of metal…

What skills will I develop in this program?+

You will develop reading comprehension, critical thinking, monitoring, mathematics, and related professional skills.

What is the job outlook for Sheet Metal Workers?+

The national job outlook is about +2.4% growth with around 10,600 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).

What is the typical education requirement?+

A High school diploma or equivalent is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).

About the data on this page

Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.

IPEDSFall 2025–26 release, published July 28, 2026
Enrollment, completions, graduation rates, tuition, financial aid, staffing, and finance for every U.S. institution in federal student aid programs.
College ScorecardJune 10, 2026 release (merged 2025–26 files)
Institution and field-of-study costs, graduate earnings, debt, completion, and admissions outcomes compiled from federal aid records, tax data, and IPEDS.
PSEO graduate earnings2019–21 graduation cohorts (release V4.13.0)
Earnings and employment outcomes of graduates by institution, degree level, and field of study, measured from state wage records.
BLS wages & outlookOEWS May 2025 release
Occupational employment and wage estimates plus 10-year job outlook, used to connect programs to real-world earnings.
FVT/GE program performanceProvisional preview, May 18, 2026 release
Program-level debt-to-earnings and earnings-premium measures behind the FVT/GE and STATS accountability frameworks.

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