Iowa · Precision Metal Working

Best institutions to study Precision Metal Working in Iowa

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
16
offering CIP 48.05
States offered
50
with a program page
Degrees / yr
1,365
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median grad earnings
$41,613
1 year after graduation
With earnings data
8
College Scorecard
Median net price
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
46%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · Sheet Metal Workers
$65,480
BLS OEWS May 2025

Top 8 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings

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

#InstitutionGrad earnings (1 yr)CompletionsGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1Kirkwood Community College
Cedar Rapids Public · Associate degree
$48,1148443%$13,500
2Marshalltown Community College
Marshalltown Public · Certificate degree
$45,9729542%
3Hawkeye Community College
Waterloo Public · Certificate degree
$45,5098543%$7,874
4Northeast Iowa Community College
Calmar Public · Certificate degree
$43,5881951%$5,479
5Western Iowa Tech Community College
Sioux City Public · Certificate degree
$41,6133650%$7,910
6Des Moines Area Community College
Ankeny Public · Certificate degree
$39,39752339%$5,500
7Iowa Western Community College
Council Bluffs Public · Certificate degree
$27,7617740%$5,500
8Iowa Central Community College
Fort Dodge Public · Certificate degree
$27,4045442%

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 Iowa

Jobs in Iowa
1,650
BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
$65,480
median $66,460
Best-paying metro
$73,460
Cedar Rapids, IA

Related careers

Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers
$55,580 avg · 9,270 jobs
Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators
$53,230 avg · 4,750 jobs
Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
$49,140 avg · 4,460 jobs
Machinists
$56,960 avg · 2,880 jobs
Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
$47,960 avg · 2,030 jobs
Sheet Metal Workers
$65,480 avg · 1,650 jobs

Common questions

Answers for students comparing Precision Metal Working programs in Iowa.

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

By median earnings one year after graduation (College Scorecard), Kirkwood Community College tops the list at $48,114. Compare it against completions, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.

How much do Sheet Metal Workers earn in Iowa?+

The average annual wage for Sheet Metal Workers in Iowa is $65,480 (median $66,460), across about 1,650 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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