California · Precision Metal Working

Best institutions to study Precision Metal Working in California

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
80
offering CIP 48.05
States offered
50
with a program page
Degrees / yr
4,407
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median grad earnings
$35,194
1 year after graduation
With earnings data
12
College Scorecard
Median net price
$24,830
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
44%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · Sheet Metal Workers
$85,580
BLS OEWS May 2025

Top 10 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings

Earnings = median 1 year after graduation (College Scorecard).

#InstitutionGrad earnings (1 yr)CompletionsGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1Santa Ana College
Santa Ana Public · Certificate degree
$45,8649731%
2The Fab School
Rancho Cucamonga Private for-profit · Certificate degree
$39,59213895%$37,485$4,449
3Universal Technical Institute of California Inc
Rancho Cucamonga Private for-profit · Certificate degree
$37,56819172%$24,830$10,593
4Universal Technical Institute - Southern California
Long Beach Private for-profit · Certificate degree
$37,56820763%$26,553
5Summit College
San Bernardino Private for-profit · Certificate degree
$37,50224462%$25,402$7,600
6Institute of Technology
Clovis Private for-profit · Certificate degree
$35,1943573%$24,518$9,703
7CET - San Diego
San Diego Private not-for-profit · Certificate degree
$32,8178887%$21,055$8,424
8CET - El Centro
El Centro Private not-for-profit · Certificate degree
$32,8175293%$19,396$8,424
9CET - Colton
Colton Private not-for-profit · Certificate degree
$32,8173572%$17,280$8,424
10CET - Watsonville
Watsonville Private not-for-profit · Certificate degree
$32,8172983%$1,680$8,424

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 California

Jobs in California
8,390
BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
$85,580
median $76,590
Best-paying metro
$105,760
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA

Related careers

Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers
$61,120 avg · 26,060 jobs
Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators
$57,400 avg · 21,680 jobs
Machinists
$61,380 avg · 18,950 jobs
Sheet Metal Workers
$85,580 avg · 8,390 jobs
Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
$48,450 avg · 7,800 jobs
Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
$51,620 avg · 7,710 jobs

Common questions

Answers for students comparing Precision Metal Working programs in California.

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

By median earnings one year after graduation (College Scorecard), Santa Ana College tops the list at $45,864. Compare it against completions, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.

How much do Sheet Metal Workers earn in California?+

The average annual wage for Sheet Metal Workers in California is $85,580 (median $76,590), across about 8,390 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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