Idaho · Precision Metal Working

Best colleges for Precision Metal Working in Idaho

Ranked by graduate earnings

College of Western Idaho, Idaho State University and College of Southern Idaho award the most Precision Metal Working degrees and certificates in Idaho: 124, 54 and 37 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 7 Idaho colleges offer Precision Metal Working and award 264 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
7
offering CIP 48.05
States offered
50
with a program page
Degrees / yr
264
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median starting salary
$39,310
1 yr after graduation, College Scorecard
With earnings data
2
College Scorecard
Median net price
$6,760
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
39%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · Sheet Metal Workers
$55,090
BLS OEWS May 2025

Top 2 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
1Idaho State University
Pocatello Public · Certificate
$64,5815439%—$9,000
2College of Western Idaho
Nampa Public · Certificate
$39,31012431%—$7,000

Colleges awarding the most Precision Metal Working degrees in Idaho

Top 7 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)
1College of Western Idaho
Nampa Public
124$39,310
2Idaho State University
Pocatello Public
54$64,581
3College of Southern Idaho
Twin Falls Public
37Not reported
4North Idaho College
Coeur d'Alene Public
18Not reported
5College of Eastern Idaho
Idaho Falls Public
16Not reported
6Lewis-Clark State College
Lewiston Public
13Not reported
7Brigham Young University - Idaho
Rexburg Private not-for-profit
2Not reported

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 Idaho

Jobs in Idaho
1,290
BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
$55,090
median $46,350
Best-paying metro
$56,910
Boise City, ID

Related careers

Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers
$54,290 avg · 3,300 jobs
Sheet Metal Workers
$55,090 avg · 1,290 jobs
Machinists
$59,480 avg · 1,070 jobs
Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
$42,920 avg · 720 jobs
Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators
$57,520 avg · 480 jobs
Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
$51,240 avg · 480 jobs

Common questions

Answers for students comparing Precision Metal Working programs in Idaho.

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

College of Western Idaho (124 graduates a year), Idaho State University (54 graduates a year) and College of Southern Idaho (37 graduates a year) award the most Precision Metal Working degrees and certificates in Idaho, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 7 Idaho colleges offer Precision Metal Working.

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

By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Idaho State University tops the list at $64,581. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.

How much do Sheet Metal Workers earn in Idaho?+

The average annual wage for Sheet Metal Workers in Idaho is $55,090 (median $46,350), across about 1,290 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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