Kansas · Precision Metal Working

Best colleges for Precision Metal Working in Kansas

Ranked by graduate earnings

Washburn Institute of Technology, Flint Hills Technical College and Kansas City Kansas Community College are the top Precision Metal Working programs in Kansas by graduate earnings. Washburn Institute of Technology leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $39,720, College Scorecard. Wichita State University - Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology, Washburn Institute of Technology and Hutchinson Community College award the most Precision Metal Working degrees and certificates in Kansas: 350, 126 and 113 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 26 Kansas colleges offer Precision Metal Working and award 1,636 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
1,636
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median starting salary
$36,248
1 yr after graduation, College Scorecard
With earnings data
5
College Scorecard
Median net price
$21,379
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
49%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · Sheet Metal Workers
$68,590
BLS OEWS May 2025

Top 5 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
1Washburn Institute of Technology
Topeka Public · Certificate
$39,72012668%—$6,642
2Flint Hills Technical College
Emporia Public · Certificate
$36,7313768%——
3Kansas City Kansas Community College
Kansas City Public · Certificate
$36,2484042%——
4Manhattan Area Technical College
Manhattan Public · Certificate
$34,0775774%—$8,250
5Wichita State University - Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology
Wichita Public · Certificate
$30,51535043%—$5,564

Colleges awarding the most Precision Metal Working degrees in Kansas

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)
1Wichita State University - Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology
Wichita Public
350$30,515
2Washburn Institute of Technology
Topeka Public
126$39,720
3Hutchinson Community College
Hutchinson Public
113Not reported
4Cowley County Community College
Arkansas City Public
106Not reported
5Neosho County Community College
Chanute Public
106Not reported
6Fort Hays State University - Northwest Kansas Technical College
Goodland Public
92Not reported
7Johnson County Community College
Overland Park Public
81Not reported
8Barton County Community College
Great Bend Public
58Not reported
9Manhattan Area Technical College
Manhattan Public
57$34,077
10Salina Area Technical College
Salina Public
56Not reported
Show the other 16 Kansas colleges offering Precision Metal Working
InstitutionCityControlGraduates / yr
Coffeyville Community CollegeCoffeyvillePublic52
Fort Scott Community CollegeFort ScottPublic48
Dodge City Community CollegeDodge CityPublic46
Heartland Welding AcademyAndoverPrivate for-profit46
Labette Community CollegeParsonsPublic43
Garden City Community CollegeGarden CityPublic40
Kansas City Kansas Community CollegeKansas CityPublic40
Flint Hills Technical CollegeEmporiaPublic37
Colby Community CollegeColbyPublic36
Seward County Community CollegeLiberalPublic25
Pratt Community CollegePrattPublic24
Fort Hays Tech North CentralBeloitPublic21
Highland Community CollegeHighlandPublic14
Butler Community CollegeEl DoradoPublic13
Cloud County Community CollegeConcordiaPublic4
Independence Community CollegeIndependencePublic2

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 Kansas

Jobs in Kansas
1,730
BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
$68,590
median $62,670
Best-paying metro
$73,860
Manhattan, KS

Related careers

Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers
$52,780 avg · 6,370 jobs
Machinists
$54,780 avg · 3,870 jobs
Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators
$51,380 avg · 2,540 jobs
Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
$48,770 avg · 1,900 jobs
Sheet Metal Workers
$68,590 avg · 1,730 jobs
Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
$45,960 avg · 1,140 jobs

Common questions

Answers for students comparing Precision Metal Working programs in Kansas.

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

Wichita State University - Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology (350 graduates a year), Washburn Institute of Technology (126 graduates a year) and Hutchinson Community College (113 graduates a year) award the most Precision Metal Working degrees and certificates in Kansas, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 26 Kansas colleges offer Precision Metal Working.

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

By graduate earnings, Washburn Institute of Technology leads among Precision Metal Working programs in Kansas, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $39,720, College Scorecard. Flint Hills Technical College and Kansas City Kansas Community College follow. By degrees awarded, Wichita State University - Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology is the largest, with 350 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).

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

By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Washburn Institute of Technology tops the list at $39,720. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.

How much do Sheet Metal Workers earn in Kansas?+

The average annual wage for Sheet Metal Workers in Kansas is $68,590 (median $62,670), across about 1,730 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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